#finn shelby one shot
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corrupte3d-mindz · 6 months ago
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About Me:
I’m a 16 year old who loves writing about my favorite characters that live in my head rent free. I’m currently ending my sophomore year and moving to junior year; I found out that I’ll be 17 as a senior which is kinda weird. I speak English as a first language but I have a bit of dyslexia so I tend to add a word that didn’t need to be there or I forgot a word. If you notice it and I haven’t just hit me up and I’ll fix it along with that kind gesture I’ll also ask for you to give me a prompt/idea that you may want me to write, I love hearing other’s ideas and helping them to put it to paper. I tend to be very step by step writer because I like to give a very good visual representation of what’s going down but I tend to do it badly but it’s in the process of becoming more refined and better.
MASTERLIST BELOW
Warnings:
Some of these series have very sensitive topics like rape, drug abuse, gore, and death. If you do not like those topics then please stay away from them, I don’t want to deal with complaining. Half of my stuff will be dark, depraved, and depressing. Reading this and choosing to go further is all up to you. If you need to step away from one of my posts because you are struggling to make it through then drop it entirely, it will only get worse from there.
Any dark and depraved depictions of certain characters who are not like that normally will most likely happen in my blog , but for the ones that do have it, it’ll be worse. The ones that don’t normally have it I do not see them in that light. I just write them in that light.
For the depraved people like myself, you may continue on and please enjoy my work that I love to do. Thank you and have a wonderful day/night.
Codes:
𑁍 — Fluff
𖥻 — Humor
𖤐 — Angst
☹︎ — Dark
♧ — Smut
♔ — Headcanons
〇 — One-Shots
⧉ — Potential Series
꩜ — Series
Color Codes:
Red: Extreme non-con elements or just extremely dark themes
Orange: Some dark elements mentioned or conveyed.
Blue: Barely any dark themes at all; probably just the mention of alcohol, drugs, or blood. It’s the bare fucking bones.
Pink: Either it’s mainly smut or a shitty plot with smut..
Green: Nothing bad at all, it’s just fluff and kind things happening around here.
White: Either I haven’t written it yet, in the process or just have no clue what I want to put it under as yet.
Who I write for:
Celebrities
Cillian Murphy
Series:
Cost of Fame Part 2 ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
One-shots:
On My Dime 〇,𑁍
Lavish Love 〇,♧,𑁍
My fucking baby! 〇,𑁍
Red Carpet Rush 〇,♧,𑁍
Ageless Beauty 〇,♧,𖥻,𑁍
Falling on deaf ears 〇,𑁍
BTS of Peaky Blinders 〇,𑁍
Lights, Camera, Cillian 〇,𑁍
Behind Closed Doors 〇,☹︎,𖤐,♧
Headcanons:
Tom Hardy
Series:
One-shots:
Headcanons:
Venom
Eddie Brock
Serious:
One-shots:
Headcanons:
Peaky Blinders
Thomas Shelby
Series:
Wild & Free ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
Bloodlines ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
Nocturnal Allies ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
A Deal with the Devil ꩜,☹︎,𖤐,♧,𑁍
One-Shots:
His Angel 〇,𑁍
Silent Vows 〇,𑁍,♧
Blood Brothers 〇,☹︎,𖤐
Sleepless Nights 〇,𑁍
Burning Embers 〇,𖤐,𑁍
Little White Lies 〇,𖤐
Needle & Thread 〇,⧉,𑁍
Forever a Shelby 〇,𑁍,𖥻
The Ghost of You 〇,𖤐,𑁍
Uncharted Territory ⧉,𑁍
Veil of Deception 〇,𑁍,♧
Shadows of Ambition
Tangled Memories
Headcanons:
John Shelby
Series:
The Crimson Crown ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
One-Shots:
Blood and Whiskey
Headcanons:
Finn Shelby
Series:
One-Shots:
To The Bone 〇
Headcanons:
Micheal Gray
Series:
One-Shots:
The Unseen Enemy 〇
Blood and Business 〇
The Cost of Loyalty 〇
Whiskey and Secrets 〇
Whispers in the Night 〇
Gray Days & Dark Nights 〇
Headcanons:
Luka Changretta
Series:
Sins in the Shadows ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
One-shots:
Silent Threat 〇,𖤐,♧
Headcanons:
Alfie Solomons
Series:
Old Wounds ꩜,♧,𖤐,𑁍
One-Shots:
The Last Toast ⧉,𖤐,♧,𑁍
A King Among Men 〇,𖤐,♧,𑁍
A Pint and a Promise 〇,𖤐,♧,𑁍
Headcanons:
Sir Oswald Mosley
Series:
The Enemy Within ꩜,𖤐,♧,𑁍
One-Shots:
Daddy’s Girl 〇,𖤐,♧,𑁍
Pillow Princess 〇,𖤐,♧,𑁍
Echoes in the Alley ⧉,𖤐,♧,𑁍
Tempting the Tyrant ⧉,𖤐,♧,☹︎,𑁍
Headcanons:
The Dark Knight Trilogy or The Batman Trilogy
Dr. Jonathan Crane
Series:
Nightmare in Gotham ꩜,☹︎,𖤐,♧,𑁍
In Your Shadow part 2 ꩜,☹︎,𖤐,♧,𑁍
One-Shots:
Headcanons:
A Quiet Place Part ||
Emmett Abbott
Series:
One-Shots:
Headcanons:
Watching the Detectives
Neil Lewis
Series:
One-Shots:
Headcanons:
Inception
Robert Fischer
Series:
The Siren Files 2 ꩜,𖤐,♧,𑁍
One-Shots:
Hell on Wheels 〇,𖥻,𑁍
Actually Burning 〇,𖥻,𑁍
The Illusion of Control 〇,𖤐,♧,𑁍
Headcanons:
Red Eye
Jackson Rippner
Series:
Unmasked ꩜,☹︎,𖤐,♧,𑁍
One-Shots:
Headcanons:
This master-list will be updated once I have a couple of stories out to the public then this message will disappear.
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padfootdaredmetoo · 1 year ago
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Fathers & Family Master Post! All the family stories I have are below! (Peaky Blinders & Bullet Train)
Peaky Blinders
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Grab an End - Thomas Shelby & Teen Ruby Shelby
Ruby sneaks off to a party and needs Tommy’s help - Hurt / Comfort / Father daughter feels / coming of age
Moving Out - Thomas Shelby & Little Ruby Shelby
Little Ruby has had enough of Tommy’s BS - Hurt / Comfort - father-daughter feels / fix it/ happy ending
Sick - Thomas Shelby & Little Ruby Shelby
Ruby is on death's door, Tommy and family try to nurse her back to health
Da - Thomas Shelby & Little Teddy Shelby
The Kid’s first words & Tommy’s reaction - Super Fluff
We Are Not Good Men - Thomas Shelby & Adopted Teen Daughter Pt.2
 Reader is adopted when Tommy discovers that she had been working for him as a maid at 15 years old. Extreme fluff & hurt comfort. Hugs. Nondescriptive mentions of assault and beatings
A Vacation - Thomas Shelby X Reader & Family
Tommy needs to step up as a father, when his wife is pregnant again and put on bedrest a vacation is in order. Tommy takes them to stay in Cornwall and the reader watches everyone change for the better.
A Day at the Fair - Shelby boys & Finn
The boys promise him a day at the fair and it doesn’t go as planned - featuring lots of Tommy and Lizzy, plus Arthur and John
London Calling - Shelby Sister Reader
 (Shelby sister) has had enough of her family’s nonsense, she escapes to do things on her own. Only to find out years later the cause of her pain wasn’t what she thought it was.
First Hit - Finn Shelby Comming of Age
An outing takes an unexpected turn and Finn thinks its him time to step up. Featuring lots of kid Finn, buckets of innocence, lots of Tommy, and Lizzy to the rescue.
A Monster Under the Bed - Thomas X Reader & Daughter
Tommy helps a girl with an unexpected request that leads his heart somewhere it hasn’t been before
Closing Walls & Ticking Clocks - Thomas X Lizzie & Adopted Reader
who knew verbally assaulting a nun would win you the perfect family - Series
Growing Pains - Shelby Family & Reader Sister
Reader is the youngest of the Shelby clan and is often excluded due to her softer nature. When she gets hurt at the pub one day it quickly becomes everyone’s problem to fix it and make things right
Dad? - Tommy Shelby & Little Baby Sister
The last Shelby is born just before the war, when Tommy comes back caring for her is one of the only things he finds peace in.
Red - Thomas Shelby X Pregnant Reader
Redhead Reader finds out she’s pregnant with Tommy’s babe. This follows their wonders about what their child will be like.
Betrayal - Thomas Shelby & Reader Daughter
Reader is Tommy’s daughter. When she gets involved with a boy from a rival family, she knows that there is a lot on the line. Unfortunately for her, things don’t end well, causing Tommy to recall what it was like being in love with someone who stabs you in the back
Teddy Bear - Alfie & Little Girl from the Streets - Pt. 2
The reader gets lost wandering the streets, when she sees what she assumes is a bakery she sneaks in hoping to steal some scraps…. She gets caught by Alfie, initially terrified of his big size and loud voice she realizes he’s not so bad after all.
Allergies - Tommy Shelby X Reader Daughter
Thomas meets an unspeakable setback as he welcomes his new daughter into the world
Nonsense - Reader & Little Charlie Shelby
No one can understand what’s bothering little Charlie - no one except the reader
American Girl - Shelby Family & Sister Reader
The reader finds out more about her distant family after her Grandparents pass.
Her Father's Daughter - Thomas Shelby & Little Ruby Shelby
Follow up head cannons about how much Ruby adores her father.
Dresses - Thomas Shelby & Reader Daughter
While the ladies of the Shelby family are on vacation you realize you still need to find a ballgown for the big dance. Thankfully your dad is available.
Not a Child Anymore - Thomas Shelby & Reader Daughter
Tommy struggles with his daughter as she starts exploring the world of dating - After falling for Isaiah he catches them and all hell breaks loose
Me, Adopted? - Thomas Shelby & Reader Son
Charlie & Ruby play a prank on their little brother and tell him he's adopted.
I don't want to grow up - Tommy's daughter finds herself in an uncomfortable position while all the women are out of town - father-daughter comfort fic
Bullet Train
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Values - Tangerine X Reader - Series
Tangerine can't help himself and decides to mess around while on the job - resulting in a very pregnant reader trying to track him down.
Adopt a Fruit - Tangerine & Lemon & Small reader child
A young girl falls into the hands of our two favorite assassins
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mindful-of-ideas · 1 year ago
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Hot Summer Days
Peaky Blinders One Shot
Summary: At the end of the summer, Thomas decides it's time for the family to go on a well-deserved beach vacation. While you only work for him, you wound up getting invited.
A/N: I tried to leave this open in regards to pairing, hopefully it worked but maybe it feels like everyone is flirting with you. Also, this was supposed to be an imagine but you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find the proper gif sometimes.
It came to you as a surprise when you heard that the Shelby family was planning a trip to the beach. Sure, you knew they could use the break and deserve some time away from the city, especially Finn, but that they would acknowledge that was surprising. Almost unsettling if you were being honest.
If something suspicious was looming under this trip, you had to make sure no one was going to get hurt.
Not physically, of course, but emotionally. This had slowly became your job ever since you got hired by Thomas Shelby himself. Officially, you were his secretary. Making sure papers were in order, reminding him of official and officious meetings, seeing that the boys weren’t too rowdy in the betting shop. Just your average secretary job. Things changed when it became apparent that you needed a desk and the only place available was near the entrance of the betting shop. Now, your job included greeting everyone as they came in. Slowly, you picked up on their habits. Arthur was not to be talked to before he had his coffee. Thomas would always greet you but only nod in your direction if something was on his mind. John would always take the time to talk to you. Finn would stop running up and down the shop if you took the time to ask him what he learned today. Ada only popped by when she needed something from Thomas or when she was sad and needed someone to listen to her. Esme, even if she would never admit it, always gushed over all of John's kids. Arthur takes his coffee black but with one sugar; it’s nicer on his stomach he says.
So if this trip the the beach was just a cover-up for something bigger, something nastier, you had to know. Otherwise, life could become unbearable at the betting shop.
You barely had a foot in the door when a loud voice yapped at you.
“Y/N, my office,” said Thomas sternly, “Now.”
The room had gone quiet. You quickly glanced at John but he looked as confused as you did. Could Thomas have known about what you were planning on asking him? Could he take offence to that? Maybe you got too eager, put your nose where you shouldn’t have? Could he even fire you for that? You couldn’t afford to lose this job. You couldn’t afford to get fired by the Shelbys out of all people.
You stepped into Thomas’ office shaking, your palms sweating.
“Please, sit down,” Thomas said gesturing to the chair facing him across his desk.
You did, maybe a little bit too slowly. You stared at your shoes, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Y/N, is everything okay? You look pale.”
If there was genuine worry in his voice, you couldn’t hear it over the buzzing that was now in your ears.
“I’m… I’m fine…” you finally said, “Just a bit tired I guess…”
“That’s perfect then,” he said clapping his hands together and making you jump, “Not that you are tired of course, that’s not what I meant… I…”
Now hearing his hesitation, you looked up. Thomas seemed uncomfortable. He was slowly scratching the back of his head, looking down, almost as if he was embarrassed.
“I meant… I was planning on taking everyone, the whole family, away on a vacation. To the beach as you may have heard. And I real vacation I might add. Just the sun, the waves, and… what I mean is… would you come with us?”
With his question, he looked up at you but your gaze had gone back to the floor.
“Y/N?” he asked quite firmly.
You looked up again.
“That’s better,” he said, “Now, will you come?”
But you were too stoned to say anything. Not only the vacation plan was real but you could go with them as well.
“It’s just that, you know, Finn really seems to like you,” Thomas started, “And so does Ada and Esme… it would be really nice if you could make it…“
Was he trying to convince you?
“… can get a word out of Arthur before noon. And with John, you’re just…”
“Yes!” you blurted out before he could finish, “I’ll be there!”
“Great!” he said smiling at you, “We leave tomorrow morning. Be here at 6:30 sharp.”
He gestured towards the door, inviting you to leave before getting back to his work.
As you got out of the office, you couldn’t help but smile. Yes, you were thrilled to get the time off and to go out with people you might just start calling friends, but mostly you were happy to know that your work had not gone unnoticed. But you barely had time to enjoy the moment. You could only take a few steps towards your desk before feeling a hard slap on your back. You turned around, a bit angry only to see a beaming Arthur.
“Moving up the ladder I see,” he said excitedly, “Next thing you know you’ll be part of the family! I can’t wait for tomorrow,” he added more quietly.
As soon as the day was over, you rushed home. 6:30 a.m. was early. Way too early. You still had to find clothes and your swimsuit. You hoped it still fit you. Living in Birmingham, there are not many opportunities to go to the beach. The last time you saw the ocean was probably well over ten years ago. You were still a child back then. But your mother had always told you to be ready for anything, so a few years back, after seeing that it was on sale, you bought a swimsuit. Just in case. Just in case you got invited by Thomas fucking Shelby to go to the beach with his family. In what world could something like this happen.
This one apparently. And your mother would tell you to seize the day and not look back. You grab the only bag big enough to fit all your things. Swimsuit, check. Towel, check. Sunglasses, check. Sandals, check. Hat, check. You went down your list until everything was in your bag. In the end, it was much and the bag closed easily. It was already past midnight when you finally laid on your bed and went to sleep.
At 6:30 a.m. sharp, the cars left for the ocean. You ended up squeezed between an overexcited Finn and a less-than-happy Arthur. It was way too early for him.
The ride wasn’t too long, just a little over two hours. As soon as you got out of the car, you were met with a whirling wind. Your hair danced crazily in front of your eyes. With one hand holding your bag you struggled to keep it under control.
“Here,” said Esme, “give your bag to John, I’ll help you.”
Still half blind, you lifted up your bag in front of you, hoping that this was where John was.
“Now,” said Esme raking her hands through your hair, “let me take care of this for you.”
Gently, she combed your hair back and started braiding it. A few strands from the front of your head escaped and started dancing in the wind again.
“You tell me if I hurt you,” she said. But you couldn’t hear a thing over the wind that has now picked up again.
“What!” you said hoping to be loud enough.
She leaned in closer to you.
“Tell me to stop if it hurts, okay?” she whispered gently in your ear.
You nodded slightly, not wanting to move too much and ruin your hair. A few moments later, she was done. You felt the cold wind on your neck before Esme wrapped her arm around it.
“Let’s go find the boys now!” she said before forcing you down the sandy hills and towards the beach.
When you got there, Thomas and John were already laying blankets under beach umbrellas while Arthur was still struggling to put his up. You knew asking him if he needed help was a bad idea but you had no other choice.
“Need a hand,” you asked gently.
He was struggling with keeping the umbrella at the right angle while hammering it down for it to stay in place. He grumbled something you couldn’t quite hear but took as a ‘yes’. You got to your knees and grabbed the umbrella with both hands. Arthur inclined it properly before hammering down a rock on its top. It took a few hits but it eventually was deep enough in the sand for it to hold in place.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, “You’ll wanna sit with me?”
“Sure,” you said grinning.
You placed down your towel by his before grabbing your bag again.
“Does anyone know where we can get changed?” you asked, mostly looking towards Ada and Esme.
“There’s a hut right by there,” Thomas answered first, vaguely pointing behind him towards yet more sandy hills.
“I guess I’ll have to figure it out myself,” you mumbled passing right by him.
And you did. Not far from where you had settled, there were a dozen of brightly coloured cabins all lined up neatly by a boardwalk. You quickly changed, keeping on an oversized shirt to cover your shoulder from the sun. It used to be your dad and went down to your mid-thigh. After a quick glance at yourself, you decided it was best to leave the last few buttons open. It looked better, but mostly it felt more comfortable.
You walked back down to the beach, your arms interlaced with Ada and Esme’s. Even from far away, you could see the boys running on the beach. What they were running for was however unclear.
“Are they…?” you started, not sure how to finish your question.
“Playing football?” Ada completed, “Yes! It’s been such a long time since I played with them too, come on!”
With that, she started running, dragging Esme and you behind her. Quickly, the teams were changed as you ended up facing Thomas, John and Esme. Your team was losing. Badly. Something about being too aggressive and not having enough strategy. As Ada and Arthur blocked the other team, you managed to get ahold of the ball. Without missing a beat, you ran up your makeshift field. As you were about to kick the ball, and hopefully score, John came out of nowhere, trying to steal it from you. You struggled to push him back, unknowingly drifting towards the water.
“It’s over Y/N!” roared John.
“Unless…” you started while trying to outsmart him.
You kicked the ball in between John’s legs and took a step forward trying to get control of it. But John stepped forward too, making you tumble backwards. Next thing you knew, you were in the water, John over you.
“Oh shit, sorry,” said John quickly getting up and offering you a hand.
“It’s… it’s okay,” you said between two coughs.
He pulled you up with a little bit more strength than you expected. You stumbled forward, catching yourself on John’s chest.
“Woah, easy there,” he said taking your hand and his.
“Sorry…” you said feeling the red rise to your cheeks.
“I’m messing with you, come on!” he said gently pushing the ball towards you.
Quickly, you took the ball back and sprinted towards the goal, scoring. The game went on, the score tied. As you tried to get in one last goal, you and Finn kicked the ball at the same time, sending it flying away.
“I’ll get it,” you both said at the same time, sprinting towards the ball.
The ball came to a stop in front of three tall men, all dressed in black suits.
“So sorry to have disturbed you,” you said politely, “We’ll just get the ball back…”
But one of the men put his feet on it before picking it up from the ground.
“Look, we don’t want any trouble…” you said now more quietly feeling that the situation was escaping your control.
“And what can someone as pretty as you give me in exchange for the ball?” the man asked stepping towards you.
You stepped back, but Finn stepped in front of you.
“Kid, move out the way,” the man said, pushing Finn to the side.
Finn struggled to keep his balance but came right back by your side.
“Now, come on,” the man went on, “I’m sure you can think of something.”
“It’s okay, Y/N,” Finn whispered in your ear, “If they get too close, I’ll fight them off.”
You had trouble believing him after what you had just witnessed, but the thought was still comforting.
“You know what,” the man said, “Maybe I’ll just take what I want.”
He dropped the ball and made his way up to you. Finn grasped your hand and you held it as tight as you could. Before you could even will your body to run away, a loud voice snapped at the man.
“Don’t take another step,” Thomas said from behind you.
The man stopped dead in his tracks. He hesitated for a moment and then started laughing.
“Oh, come on man. I’ll let you have a turn after if that’s what you want.”
You looked over your shoulder. Thomas looked serious, dead serious, but you could tell there was a point of anger in him.
“Finn, get a move on,” he said walking towards you.
Finn went running back to his family. Thomas wrapped an arm around your shoulder, making you realize that you were shivering.
“Now,” Thomas said calmly, “you have two choices. Either you turn around and leave this beach, or you take another step forward and I make sure you, your friends and your whole family can never see the sun again.”
“Mate, come on! We were just having some fun,” the man said still smiling.
Somehow, that creeped you out even more and made you want to disappear from that man’s sight. You made yourself as small as possible against Thomas.
“Mate…” the man said now hesitating as Thomas’s face was still serious.
“Have you heard of the Peaky Blinders?” Thomas asked slowly.
But before you knew it, the men had turned away and were gone.
“You’re okay Y/N?” Thomas asked, looking down at you.
“Yeah… yeah I think I’m fine.”
“Let’s get back to the others,” he said.
“Y-yes.”
He kept his arm wrapped around your shoulders, his fingers lightly grasping your shirt sleeve.
The rest of the day went by quietly. Before you knew it, it was time to leave and go back to gloomy Birmingham.
“Can we get like ten more minutes?” Ada asked Thomas.
“No,” he answered simply.
“Five then,” she pleaded, “I promise, just five more minutes.”
“Fine,” Thomas finally agreed.
“Y/N, with me,” she ordered as she ran up the beach.
You were back by the boardwalk, but Ada made you turn away from the rainbow cabins this time. After just a few steps, you understood why she had brought you here. Ice cream.
“We’ll take two vanilla, two chocolate and one strawberry,” she said, “and it’s my treat,” she added before you could even say anything.
“Wha- well thanks,” you said slightly embarrassed.
As the vendor started handing the ice creams to her, she stuffed two in your hands.
“Yours and mine,” she said.
“Strawberry,” you said smiling, “you remembered.”
“Of course I did!” she said, “Now let’s go before they melt.
Giggling you made your way back down the hill. This truly had been the most amazing summer day.
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collecting-stories · 2 years ago
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The Lakes - Finn Shelby
Summary: reader contemplates all the ways they’ve fallen in love with Finn.
A/N: this is just some fluff nonsense that I found half finished in my drafts.
← Folklore Masterlist | TS Anthology Series →
✰ and I want you right here ✰
“You know what that’ll do to you?” Finn was already lighting up your cigarette as he asked the question, watching you draw in a breath of smog before blowing it back out, hazy and white in the dusk of Small Heath. His own cigarette lingered between his fingers as he waited for your answer, as if he was dependent upon a reply.  
“I’ve a mind to find out,” you replied, looking away momentarily, back down the street where he’d come from, the looming church in the distance. “My mum says it’s not proper.”  
You could hear her voice in the back of your head, lithe but shrill, warning you that bad habits would chase away good suitors. There was only one you had in mind, the same one you’d been saying since you were small. You could remember still, even looking at him now all tall and lean like his brothers (save for Tommy who’d inherited his mother’s height), toking on a cigarette as if he were contemplating the whole of the world, the way your heart had pounded up into your chest the first time you laid eyes on Finn Shelby in a different light.  
Ten years old, troublemakers in your own rights, Polly used to remark that the pair of you were thick as thieves whenever she saw you playing together. When you were little, dirty knees and scraped palms seemed like the perfect forever. You couldn’t imagine a different kind of life, the world was only as big as Small Heath and you had everything you needed right on Watery Lane. It wasn’t all true anymore, you’d seen London and Edinburgh and heard stories from Grace about America. The world was vast and you had an itch that begged for exploration. But everything you needed was still right there, in the middle of Watery Lane behind a black door. Tall and lean and ginger, with a smile that melted your insides and made your heart feel warm. He had freckles like constellations across his face and shoulders and other places that would make your mother blush if she knew you’d seen them. 
“If your mum wanted you to be proper she’d have kept a closer eye on you,” he teased, eyes lighting up as he smiled.  
“You think that would’ve stopped me?” You asked, as if Finn wasn’t as magnetic as the sun, pulling you into his orbit with little effort. A smile directed at you was enough for him to have your whole heart.  
“Not at all,” he replied, curls bouncing as he shook his head. His hair was unusually unkempt, soft ginger curls enticing and free of gel. His typically shaved sides and back grown out just enough that you could run your fingers through it but not grasp it yet. He’d trim it by the weekend for the party but for now, he’d let it go. Finn liked the uniform look of the blinders, mostly because it meant that people recognised him immediately. If not instantly as the youngest Shelby brother than at least as a blinder. But he knew you liked when he didn’t bother with fixing his hair. The beeswax tended to make you break out in hives when you came in contact with it and more than looking like a blinder, Finn liked the feeling of your hands in his hair.  
He was rewarded for going without the product when you reached out and brushed some fringe out of his eyes, fingers dancing along the freckles on his face as you cupped his cheek. Your other hand held your cigarette, somewhat over the idea of smoking with Finn. You’d suggested it, if only because he said he had to get back home and you were trying to stall him.  
“Are you still going to London this weekend?” You asked, a faint smile gracing your features as he turned his head into your hand and pressed a kiss to your fingers.  
He hummed, green eyes meeting yours, “are you going to come with me?” He’d been asking you to go back to London with him whenever the opportunity arose. You’d been once with your family and once with him (something that your mother had not been thrilled to discover) and Finn had been clear about wanting to take you back to the city.  
There was a charm about London that didn’t exist in Small Heath. This town was your whole world but sometimes it felt suffocating, everyone knew Finn and by association, you. There wasn’t a place you could go that you could just disappear into the crowd, where it could just be you and Finn without the pressure his brothers provided.  
London meant work but it was also a city too big for everyone to know who Finn was. When he got away from whatever his brothers needed him for and it was just the two of you, there was something distinctly peaceful about it.  
“My mum’s not keen on me going down to London,” you replied, even though it was silly to mention. Finn was well aware of your mum’s opinions though it always surprised him that she didn’t try to keep the two of you apart.  
“Is that a no?” He asked, taking another drag of his cigarette when you pulled your hand away.  
You placed your own between your lips but then removed it just as quickly, as if it was only a place holder while you were debating what to say. “No.” You shook your head, “I’ll go.”  
Finn’s face lit up, eyes sparkling and smile ear to ear. You swore a little piece of your heart ached at the look of absolute happiness he gave you, so much like the ten year old boy you once knew, and folded away the image for another time. You could’ve spent the rest of your life carefully annotating every look that crossed Finn Shelby’s face, every emotion that he felt charted for you to recall someday when he wasn’t with you anymore and it was all memories.  
“Someday you won’t have to worry about your mum’s permission,” Finn mentioned it as if it was something he’d considered before.  
“Doubt it’ll matter if I’m married, she’ll be there giving me her two cents about whatever I’m doing,” you replied, “though I’ll hopefully not be under the same roof.”  
“Pol‘ll just drive you mad instead,” he mused, “though she’s always had a soft spot for you.”  
“I’m moving in with Polly when I get married?” You asked, mirroring back the happy expression he’d had moments ago. 
“Maybe just at first, then we’ll get a place. Like Tommy, out in the country and away from the smog.”  
“Wouldn’t matter to me,” you mused, “I’d brave the smog for you.”  
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kmhappybunny240 · 1 year ago
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Mrs.Francesca Shelby
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This is for @zablife 2k celebration. I based it off of the Hozier song Francesca. Hope you all enjoy. It's also great for spooky season. A little ghost haunting.
One shot. Thomas Shelby peaky blinders fandom
If someone asked me at the end
I'll tell them put me back in it Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah If I could hold you for a minute Darling, I'd go through it again, ah, ah I would still be surprised I could find you, darling In any life If I could hold you for a minute Darling, I would do it again, ah, ah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Francesca Shelby stared down at Gina. The supernatural apparition took pleasure in Gina pain as she bled out on the stone walk way. Just below the balcony Gina fell from. She constantly felt the former Mrs Shelby eyes on her. That damned portrait . Telling her she didn't belong in this house. Didn't belong near her children. The evil bitch wouldn't leave her alone. She wouldn't even grant her a peaceful death.
Gina Nelson hated being married to Thomas Shelby. It was an arranged marriage by her uncle Jack. A bloody street war would have crippled her family and their hold in Boston. So she was offered up on a silver platter. Jack had a sister who would have been better suited but Gina had been going through a wild phase and was nearing thirty so it was decided for her. At first she was presented with Michael the cousin but his controlling mother pulled some magic trick with tea leaves and ran her out of Michael's home.
Then there was Finn. A foolish boy who was five years her junior. He was easy to manipulate. She fooled around with him a couple times and nearly got a proposal until some dumb girl named Billie showed up on his doorstep with a five month baby bump. Her uncle Jack nearly knocked Finns teeth out for the transgression that happened months before she stepped foot onto British soil. The next available Shelby male was Tommy oldest son Charlie but sadly he was too young. Only sixteen. The last man standing was Tommy. At least he was handsome and rich.
He charmed her some in the beginning of their short courtship. If you could call it that. Four dinners, two lunches, A tour of Birmingham, and a night at the opera . Where he proposed. She didn't understand what the story was. Something about lovers who were murdered by the woman husband and sent to a circle in hell. The lovers tried to find their way back to each other.
It was a tragic morbid story. Ripped away from your true love and suffering the ultimate punishment. Fighting your way through hell to be reunited. The emotions emitted from the stage got to Gina and Tommy she noticed. The small tear falling from the corner of his eye that she wanted to wipe away. A small ounce of hope bloomed strangely. She could reach him. As charming as he had been she didn't see his infamous steel mask fall once . Now there was a bit of emotion she could work with. She could get her way in the marriage.
As they were leaving the building he stopped her in the lobby. In front of hundreds of people. He gave her a great speech. She almost believed in his promise of devotion. The crowd whispered and few gasped were heard when he got down on bended knee. A gorgeous diamond was laid upon her finger. She said yes. Of course she it. She had rehearsed her reaction in the mirror several times. Coy shocked smile with a small hint of eye watering. Strangers of high society surrounding them, applauding.
Her wedding reception was a disaster. Gina would admit it was partially her fault. The majority was Tommy, his wretched Aunt Polly and those brats. All of their nasty behavior leading up to the wedding made her drink heavily at the reception. What sent her over the edge was that stupid Opera. It was his dead wife favorite. Polly made sure to dig that knife in her back soon as Tommy left Gina side. Polly told her of Tommy and his first wife getting married in London and sneaking into the Opera house when they were eighteen . The bastard tainted her proposal.
She doesn't remember much what happened after. She drank anything that was within sight. Sorted a few powdery substances and crashed into Charlie. Sent them both flying to the ground. Tommy had remained indifferent all day until his precious child was harm. Hell broke loose at that point. Tommy yelling in a different language, Uncle Jack berating her, that stupid kid staring at her through the door way. That was also her first encounter with the ghost of Arrow House. Mrs Francesca Shelby. Gina saw a woman with dark hair standing behind Charlie. Ada maybe? Her eye site was blurry and her head was starting to pound. A chill went down her spine, A whisper she heard.
"He's mine."
Then the woman was gone. She brushed it off because of her intoxication.
A month later she saw the ghost again. Giggling came from the forbidden bedroom. It was always locked. Only opened once a week to be cleaned by Mary the head maid. No one was to enter or they would face the wrath of Tommy Shelby. A few times late at night after visiting Tommy's bed she heard movement. Just her imagination is what Gina told herself. She didn't believe in all that magic and spirit crap the Shelby do.
"I wish papa could see you. He misses you so much."
Isabella, Tommy daughter, sat at her mother vanity brushing her doll hair. The little girl didn't talk much around Gina. An odd little thing. Now she seemed to be talking to thin air. Gina watched her through the door way hiding herself by the wall.
"I want to tell him but I might scare him. Aunt Polly would understand."
The girl looked up into the mirror and that's when Gina saw it. The dark haired woman. The one from the wedding and that god awful portrait. She was mimicking the girl movements with the doll. Gina was terrified. How was this possible. Ghosts aren't real.
"Leave my daughter alone."
Francesca locked on to Gina with palpable rage. Her eyes turned black then that Romani spilled from her lips. A curse it felt like. She was knocked into the wall and Mrs. Shelby was gone.
"I wanted to see mama. You know she lives in here."
Isabella cried in her father's arms. He scooped her up consoling his little girl. He handed her off the Mary . Gina hadn't realized the maid was next to her. She was too stunned.
"Don't you dare come near this room again. Understand?"
Tommy hot breathe fanned her face. Rage radiated off of him.
"Uh huh."
Was all Gina could get out. He pushed her out in the hall way and locked the door. Tommy jabbed his finger in her face.
"Never again."
He left her alone in the hall. What felt like hours was just a few moments of stand there is silence. A cough broke her out of the daze.
" My mother death broke him. He wasn't always so cold."
Charlie told her in sympathy, Having watched the small altercation. He never liked Gina. She was selfish, mean, and loved to spend money. She didn't make a big effort to get to know him and his siblings but in this moment he didn't believe she deserved that kind of treatment. His father was a very emotionally complicated man. His mom was the one who brought him out of his shell. She stopped the shovels and glued his heart back together. Tommy told Charlie once when he was younger. Francesca was the other half of Tommy soul.
After that night Gina became more paranoid. The noises got louder any time she passed the room. She could feel Francesca portrait eyes move and follow her as she climbed the grand stair case. Whispers in her ears when she was alone. Tommy wasn't helping her concerns when she voiced them.
"You should leave take a holiday. Visit your family back in America."
That's all he would say to her before leaving the house. She would see him sitting at the pond with a fire going. Small flashes of him hugging her. He was conjuring her up. That's why she was being tormented for months. This was his fault. She needed to put a stop to it. So she did or at least tried with gasoline.
Gina rummaged through the garage looking for the flammable chemical. Once she got her hands on the can she laughed. A mad laughter. Her sanity was being ripped apart at the seams. Angry whispers turned into screams as she got closer to the house. Her next stop was the kitchen. A sharp knife to pick a lock and matches. She pushed past several staff. Isabella crying in the background. Once she made it to the door she began to pick the lock. Violently, to the point of cutting her hand every time the blade slipped. Blood dripped to the floor but Gina didn't care.
The door popped open. Another unhinged laugh escaped her deranged smile. She stilled herself once she was in the middle of the bedroom. A beautiful bed with light golden silk sheets sat before her. She didn't get a full look the last time she was there. This should have been her room. Befitting of her status . Mrs Shelby. A large closet still filled with the finest clothing money could by. Multiple dressers with jewelry on top. French perfumes and makeup scattered across the vanity. The belongings barely touched.Jealousy coursed through her veins. This should be hers all hers. Not a shrine to the dead wife. As Gina set the matches and gas can down there was a noise in the bathroom.
Another room that made her angry. Luxurious claw foot tub ,marble sink , A built in shower.
"FUCK!"
A drinking glass fell on the ground shattering and scaring Gina. Cupboard doors flew open one by one. Laughter was in the air and it wasn't coming from her. She backed up to the sink when silence stilled the room.
"Why are you doing this? I haven't done anything to you."
Gina shouted. She felt a chilling breeze on her back. A slight cracking noise could be heard. When she turned around the blood drained from her face. The mirror was cracked and Francesca glared back. Her distorted face ready to kill Gina.
"This is my home. My family. GET OUT!!"
The mirror exploded and blew back onto Gina. Shards embedded in her skin. She tripped trying to escape slipping on her own blood. Screaming for help. She tried to open the bedroom door but someone locked it. She banged and banged. No one seemed to hear her. A fierce tug on her hair sent to to the ground. The ghost was on top of her strangling her.
"Please st. Sto op. Plea." Gina tried to plead struggling to get her words out.
"Nothing will separate us. Not you. Not death. Not even the heavens or hell. Tommy will always be mine." Francesca screamed out in anguish. Gina fought scraping at the hands around her throat. Suddenly the pressure was gone and Gina could breathe. She was writhing on the floor as air filled her lungs. She felt pain all over body and she tried to rise to her knees. The balcony doors opened with a slam as Gina crawled to the exit.
Gina face hit the hardwood as her leg was grabbed. She kicked and kicked. The ghostly hands had a deadly grip, dragging Gina towards the balcony. She dug her fingers in the floor scratch marks following. Screaming her throat raw.
"Stop it Please. I beg you please."
Snot and tears covered her face. She felt the cold stone on her flesh. Stars filled the sky. It was oddly peaceful. She was picked up. Her hair entangled in Francesca fingers.
"You cursed yourself on your wedding day. I warned you. He is mine."
Gina floated in slow motion. A dream like feeling before excruciating pain entered her body. Blood filled her throat. Choking her. She couldn't move. She was frozen and losing consciousness. Shouts for help could be heard in the distance. The evil ghost looked down on her with a wicked smile. Another dark figure passed through her. Tommy. Francesca holding Tommy . Caressing in a lovers embrace.
"I still love you in death. Nothing can separate us."
As Gina bled to death , Tommy continued holding his wife. His other half. His true love. She should have know nothing good could come from a marriage to a man who was able to conjure up his dead wife.
"I will crawl my way out of hell for you. My beloved Francesca."
That was the last thing Gina heard before her eyes closed forever. Much to Tommy and Francesca pleasure.
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look-at-the-soul · 9 months ago
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Every little thing you do- Prologue
Tommy Shelby x reader (Mini series)
Summary: Y/N has been Tommy’s best friend since childhood. She had always been there for him when he needed her the most. Now as the Shelby family are in a better position, Y/N will need Tommy’s support when something she didn’t expect happens.
A/N welcome to this little new adventure! This story started as an idea @lyarr24 shared a while ago and I just stared at it for a few minutes until the ideas started “appearing” in my mind. This particular part turned somehow into a comedy show on its own 😂🤭 it was fun and light to write, but it’s going to get angsty… thank you for sharing your unique ideas as usual! It took me some time but I’m always into giving each story it’s own time. And of course @justrainandcoffee thank you for creating this beautiful moodboard for this story! You totally nailed it!
Word count: 2,196
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Arriving at the Garrison, Y/N headed straight towards the private booth where the Shelby’s were reunited.
“You should’ve seen the look in Polly’s eyes when she found out we were buying the stallion.” John cracked and threw his head back with a loud laugh.
Arthur winked at Y/N and decided to mess with his brother.
“Erm John boy.” He cleared his throat, just as Tommy gave Y/N a smirk, they were both sitting facing the door unlike John who had his back at it.
Tommy used the chance to kick his youngest brother in the shin, as a warning.
“So you think it’s fucking hilarious John Michael Shelby.” Y/N imitated Polly’s voice and mannerisms perfectly.
John’s face paled as the smile left his face and he straightened his back.
Arthur snorted and then started laughing uncontrollably as John turned around to find Y/N standing by the door.
“Shit! Y/N you scared the fuck out of me.”
“Get in here sweetheart.” Arthur called for her, making room next to him. “That was brilliant, you’ve got a talent.”
“You sound just like her.” Ada praised, leaning over the table to kiss her cheek.
“You’re late.” Tommy offered her a glass of whiskey.
Taking a sip, she nodded. “The lady I work for had a terrible day, didn’t want me to leave.” She replied titling her head to the side because Arthur was right in the middle, sandwiched between her and Tommy.
“And how did it go?” He asked over the laughs of his siblings.
“My feet are killing me, I had to walk all the way back… but I really needed a drink tonight.
“Why? Scott didn’t pick you up?” He raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
Against his best judgment, he agreed to give Y/N’s boyfriend a place among the peaky men. He didn’t like or trusted him but he was doing it for Y/N and the friendship they’ve always had. Over time, he even gave Scott a car under the condition to drop and pick up Y/N from her work every day.
“We had an argument this morning, he got pissed and I asked him to not.” She lied.
She knew how protective Tommy could get, specially around Scott. They were already past the phase where Tommy would’ve to intervene and put her boyfriend in his place, then Scott would come for her arguing that she let that gangster say and do whatever he pleased.
But Tommy knew Y/N better than that, and this wasn’t the first time she lied to cover for her boyfriend’s attitude.
“What’s so funny?” Polly demanded to know as she joined them in the booth. Staring at Arthur and John’s faces she knew, so she shot Y/N a long look. “You’re imitating me again?!”
The Shelby brothers tried to hide their amusement but all of them failed.
“We wanted to mess up with John, Pol. Sorry.” Y/N looked down embarrassed for being caught.
Polly smiled down at her, it was impossible to stay angry with someone as Y/N.
“Well I hope it was a good one.” The smile grew bigger.
Ada laughed and stood for her aunt to take her place. “You should’ve seen John’s face, he went pale.” Waving at them, she left.
“Hey you need to talk to Finn, he’s getting out of hand these days” Polly warned her nephews. “I asked him to deliver a few letters and he had the audacity to answer he wasn’t a mail boy anymore.”
Tommy shook his head and after a long puff to his cigarette, he answered; “I’ll talk to him.”
Y/N’s chuckle made him look at her. “What? Are you really going to lecture the poor boy? Tom, if I remember correctly, you answered your father something similar back in the day but worse and that caused your first fight.”
Tommy shuddered at the memory. He was so done with his father demanding favors from him and his brother Arthur, so one day he told him he was done with his bullshit and Arthur Sr answered with a curse, threw a glass against the wall and pushed him, Tommy pushed him back. Luckily Arthur Jr and Y/N were close and could intervene to stop them from getting any further.
That night, Y/N stayed with him outside until Tommy had calmed, then she asked her parents, who were neighbors to the Shelby’s if he could sleep on the couch. Y/N’s mother made him some tea and offered him the comfort he wasn’t able to find next door.
They started as neighbors, then Tommy and Y/N became friends until Tommy trusted her blindly. After the war she was the only one who could understand him.
Tommy took a swing of his drink. “You’re not going to tell him that, are you? I’ve a reputation to keep.” He finally added.
“Leave him Pol, the poor boy is probably frustrated because he haven’t had a woman yet.” Arthur chuckled at his own joke.
“Hey,” Y/N called everyone in the room, “leave Finn out, you’re nothing but a bad influence.”
John shook his head and raised his hands as if saying he wasn’t part of it.
“Oh please Mr.-I-want-to-marry-Lizzie-Stark, really?” Y/N raised her eyebrow at him.
“Tommy! Why the hell did you tell her?!” John exploded against his brother, who was already laughing out loud, head thrown back.
Polly had to look twice at her nephew, his guard was down he seemed to be relaxed for once. Since the war he had changed a lot, the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“And besides, I corrected my path, married to Esme didn’t I?” John mumbled chewing on his toothpick.
Y/N nodded, deciding to leave that conversation, it’s was funny to tease John. “I better go now, it’s getting late.”
Tommy was on his feet the second she announced her plans.
“C’mon I’ll drive you.” Tommy offered his best friend.
Giving Polly a hug, she waved at the Shelby brothers goodbye.
After driving for a while, Y/N noticed Tommy took another route.
“Before you ask me,” Tommy spoke softly, “I’m going to show you something.”
She opened and closed her mouth. “You’re so mysterious.”
Tilting his head, Tommy clicked his tongue. “When you see it, you’ll understand.”
“Is it the new horse?” Y/N asked impatiently.
Tommy shook his head and passed her the cigarettes and matches to light it. “Why don’t you tell me what happened with Scott?”
“Something really stupid, he got pissed over nothing.”
“Really? Tell me something I don’t know already.”
Y/N sighed and took her time to exhale the smoke out of the window. “He asked me to ask you for some money, when I told him that he still owed you from the last time he got furious at me.”
“But you gave me the money for that loan.” Tommy’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.
“I did, but it wasn’t his money.” Y/N explained embarrassed after confessing Tommy the truth.
It was now time for Tommy for sigh. Eyes focused on the road, he didn’t want to be a pain and say I told you, Y/N was the only person he could trust and he wanted her to trust him the same way.
“Look this happens all the time, your Mum used to pay your dad’s bills behind his back, I just couldn’t take another one yet, he’s trying to find a better job and I think he’s going to propose soon.”
Tommy’s breath got caught up in his throat, he was trying to process the possibilities.
“So… is he the one?” He finally asked.
“Well he’s my boyfriend.” Y/N rushed to answer. “I just don’t know if he will let me keep working for Lady Winchester.”
“If you need a job, you know there’s always a spot for you at the Shelby Company Limited.” Tommy took the last puff of his cigarette and threw it outside the vehicle.
“Maybe I’ll need it later. Thank you.” Y/N felt more than grateful to have someone like Tommy around, he had always been there for her and her siblings specially after his business took off and he started to earn more money than anyone around. In her eyes, that didn’t make him change, if anything he became more generous.
But Scott on the other hand, was tender and good to her, he was fun to be around, always brought flowers to her. He wanted to have his own business one day, unfortunately life had been hard and it was taking him longer to make it.
Taking a turn, Tommy stopped in front of a huge gate, the property guarded by the gate wasn’t a house, it was a freaking mansion!
And her best friend was opening the gate as if he owned the property.
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“Wha-what are you doing?” Y/N asked looking out the window.
“Drive over here!” Encouraged Tommy with a huge smile.
Her heart started beating faster, he showed her how to drive and even let her do it when she wasn’t allowed to. But this was wrong, it felt like they were trespassing, she could feel her heart pounding as Tommy shouted for her to hurry up.
Following his instructions, Y/N parked the car next to the fountain.
“I wanted you to see this first…” His smile couldn’t get any bigger as he opened his arms wide and looked around proudly. “I bought this place.”
Her jaw dropped, she was lost for words.
“What do you think? I’ll build a place for the horses in the back.” Tommy explained, eyes shining.
“Woah… I don’t know what to say Tom.” A hand covered her mouth, still shocked to form anything coherent. This house looked bigger than Lady Winchester’s and that was a bloody mansion too! “You always said you’d get yourself a decent place and a big house, and look at how far you’ve come!” She felt genuinely happy for him, Tommy had always worked so hard, always found a way to help his people and those around him. If anyone deserved this, it was him.
“I’ll even have my fucking office here, and there’s a grand salon for parties.” He explained as he waited for her to step inside.
“Parties?!” She laughed nervously.
“A ball dance and shit.” He took a look around.
“You’ll need loads of furniture to fill this place.”
Tommy chuckled. This was unthinkable a few months ago, now it was a reality, he’d had the big place he dreamed of when he was a kid.
“You got a fireplace! In the tea room!”
He followed Y/N’s voice, she was now standing in the middle of the dining room.
“This looks like it belongs to a Lord.”
“You can call me Lord Shelby then.” He winked at her and they both laughed at how ridiculous it sounded.
“Downstairs it’s the wine cellar.” He added hiding his hands inside the pockets of his pants. “Do you like it?”
“Are you kidding me?” She nodded. “This is a dream! I’m so happy for you!” Y/N then went to give him a hug.
A bold movement for the rest of the world, but to her it was just natural, they’ve been friends since forever. She was the one comforting him when his mother passed away, the one to help him hold it together after the war.
“You’ll love the kitchen, it’s huge but they’re doing some renovations already, I’ll show you once it’s done.”
“Looks like I’ll need to make an appointment from now on.” Y/N teased him.
Tommy shook his head with a shy smile. “Of course not, specially not you.”
She knew he was busier now days that the Peaky Blinders owned the races and licenses. It was just a matter of time before he found a woman and got married, then this house would be filled with kids. Or perhaps he already had someone therefore the plans to get the big house.
Once the realization hit her, she pretended to look towards the window. A sudden lump installed in her throat and something indescribable pressed her heart.
“Should we go? It’s going to be dark soon.” Y/N asked, looking him in the eyes for a mere second.
Time flew on their way back and soon Tommy stopped his car in front of Y/N’s door.
Even before he could say goodnight, an angry voice called for her.
“I’ve been waiting hours for you, Y/N nobody knew where the heck did you go.”
“Slow down mate, that’s no way to treat her.” Tommy intervened, holding Scott’s death stare.
“Stay the fuck out of this.” Scott raised his voice.
Tommy felt his blood boiling, one stride and he’d finish the prick, but before he could move, a pair of soft hands stopped him.
“Tommy please, let me handle this.” She pleaded.
His jaw clenched as he saw the smirk of satisfaction Scott gave him. The bastard had Y/N charmed and there was nothing he could do about it.
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✨ Thank you for your support! You already know it, but the way to a writer’s heart is through your feedback xx
Part 1
Master list
Tag list: @lyarr24 @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @datewithgianni @cloudofdisney @gretelshelby @garrison-girl-08 @lespendy @onlydeadcells @fastfan @stevie75 @prettylittlehoneyeyesxoxo @esposadomd @forbidden-forest-witch @ange-thoughts @moral-terpitude @elenavampire21 @forgottenpeakywriter @thenattitude @winchestergirl22 @zablife @elk96 @blondie-22 @imichelle-l-rigby @allie131313 @already-broken144 @peakyscillian @babaohhhriley @shelbydelrey @shaddixlife @sloanexx @sydneyyyya @adaydreamaway08 @pono-pura-vida @thomashelbyswife @darleneslane @everythingelseisextra @kmc1989 @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 @lau219 @lauren-raines-x @red-riding-wood @lovemissyhoneybee @theendlessvoidofdarkest @wannabeperfectionists-blog @yeppaweshallsee (can’t tag) @skydisneylover (can’t tag) @holacia3 @galactict3a
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runnning-outof-time · 1 year ago
Note
Dear K, you've been spoiling us haven't you? First with all your incredible worlds you've been sharing the last days and now this celebrations - congratulations 🎉🎉 I hope the joy of writing never leaves you! I would like to request
9. "Forget I ever said that" with Tommy with a sprinkle of tone-surprise on top
I hope you have fun and can't wait to see what you come up with! Xx
Val!! Thank SO much for your incredibly kind words!! You’ve been such a big supporter and dear friend of mine! I added some surprise into this, but I’m not sure if it’s how you wanted. A post I’d seen on here about this possibility came into mind and I decided to write it out. I hope you like it. Enjoy! :)
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
Part of my 3.5k celebration — find other stories here!
Good With Horses
Tommy Shelby x Reader
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Warnings: drinking, smoking, language, brief mention of drug dealing
Word Count: 903
Summary: Tommy lets a secret slip while he and (Y/N) have a chat about his youngest brother.
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“I bet Pol’s spoke to ya,” Tommy started as he entered the front sitting room, where (Y/N) was relaxing on one of the couches.
(Y/N)’s brows furrowed at his statement, and she watched him as he walked to where the decanters are shelved so that he could grab one and a glass to bring over to where she was sitting. She doesn’t say anything, just watches as he pours himself a glass of whiskey so that he can immediately tip it back. The huffed groan that left his lips after he set the glass down tells her he’s had a long day.
“About what?” she decides to ask him, her brows still furrowed.
Tommy takes a moment to go about lighting himself a cigarette, and he doesn’t speak until after he’d taken a deep drag. “What Finn’s been up to,” he answered, sitting back against the chair as he finally looked at to her.
“She didn’t say anything to me about that,” (Y/N) shook her head, a bit of confusion present on her face now.
A scoff leaves Tommy’s lips and he shakes his head before voicing his thoughts: “she just about ripped my ear off with it earlier.” Rolling his eyes up to the ceiling before he took another drag from the cigarette.
“What’s he done?” she questioned, wanting to know what was going on.
“He’s been off dealing snow. She said that Moss saw him out with some of the junior Blinders.”
“The Blinders you’ve told him he needs to be a part of?” she raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah, but I haven’t told him that he needs to be out dealing with them,” he clarified, his eyebrows raised as he let his frustration seep through. “He doesn’t need to be dealing…he isn’t one of the fucking foot soldiers.”
“I don’t know what to say, Tommy…”
“I need to find something else for him to do,” he sighed, pressing his fingers to the bridge his nose in hopes to alleviate some of the pressure he was feeling. “I can’t have Pol constantly breathin’ down my neck about it.”
(Y/N) pursed her lips in a thin line as she began thinking of some possibilities that could work for Finn, since it seemed like that was the direction this conversation was heading.
“He can work at the tracks,” she proposed an idea.
“No,” he immediately shot it down.
“Why not?”
“Can’t have him around that side of things. Pol wants him to stay in Birmingham,” he gave the reason.
“He’s just barely sixteen, Tom…what sides of this business should he be able to work around? Maybe it’s not the place for him.”
“He’s gotta stay doing something,” he shot down her idea of having him step away completely. “Needs to be put to work,” he mumbled then, sitting up to rest his elbows on his thighs as he hung his head.
Silence settled around them for a few moments, both being consumed by their thoughts. (Y/N) was the one to speak first: “what if you put him at the yard with Uncle Charlie and Curly?” she suggested, her statement making Tommy look up again. The look of intrigue that flashed in his eyes made her continue. “He could help them with deliveries and also with the horses they have there,” she gave more of an explanation.
“He’ll stick with the horses…I won’t have him messing with the deliveries,” Tommy added his own thoughts to her idea. (Y/N) nodded her head in agreement.
“He’s good with horses, isn’t he?” she asked the question - that should have preceded her suggestion - after wracking her brain and trying to think of any memories that she had of Finn on a horse.
“He’s a Shelby…course he’s good with horses,” he answered, an undertone of pride present in his voice. “He’s a better rider than any of us I think,” he mused after a few moments passed.
(Y/N) couldn’t stop her lips from twisting up into a smile as she heard her husband’s statement. Never did she think that he’d admit the fact that someone in his family could be a better horseman than he was. She was certainly surprised by the admission.
“Hey…” Tommy started, the sound of his voice making (Y/N) look at him again. He took the cigarette out from between his lips and gestured it towards her, his index finger pointing in her direction; his eyebrows raised. “Forget I ever said that,” he insisted, his eyes locked onto hers.
(Y/N) pursed her lips together in hopes that her smile wouldn’t grow any larger, but she was betrayed. A giggle bubbled up passed her lips as she looked down at her lap, hoping that her look of surprise would disappear.
“Eh?” he checked with her when she didn’t respond right away.
She tried to put on as straight a face as possible as she looked up at him again. “I will,” she agreed with a nod.
Tommy nodded in response to her, relaxing back into the chair again. “He’ll work with the horses then,” he settled the matter, his eyes shutting for the first time that day.
The grin reappeared on (Y/N)’s face as she looked over at her relaxing husband. She’d most definitely be telling Polly, Esme, and Ada what he’d just admitted the next time the ladies got together.
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Tagged: @mystcldydrms @the-anxious-youth @cloudofdisney @look-at-the-soul @elenavampire21 @mrsalwayswrite @julkaamazing @evita-shelby @lilyrachelcassidy @notyour-valentine @shelbydelrey @onlydeadcells @peakyswritings @just-a-blackhole @watercolorskyy @strayrockette @peakyduchesss @alexxavicry @captivatedbycillianmurphy @yummycastiel @dark-academia-slut @tommystargirl @stevie75 @lyarr24 @signorellisantichrist @zablife @anotherblinder @midnightmagpiemama @cillmequick @rangerelik @dandelionprints @letal-y-poetica @itscheybaby @gypsy-girl-08 @insanitybyanothername @depxiety @raincoffeeandfandoms @dragons-are-my-favorite @youtifulsunshinelixfics @forgottenpeakywriter @cljordan-imperium @areyenotfondofmelobster @little-diable @thomashelbyswife @iambored24601 @shaddixlife
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novashelby · 5 months ago
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Why Not Me? - Isaiah One Shot
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Pairing: IsaiahxReader(based on Evie...but friendly to all)
Warnings: No Sex, but intimacy. Mostly fluff.
Though it is not a smut, I am adding this to the 100 prompt challenge.
Word Count: 2k
Summary: She just broke up with her boyfriend and Isaiah is there to tell her what's up.
Please enjoy. I appreciate reblogs and comments. Likes are kind and thoughtful, and I appreciate you reading my work. However, reblogs really help writers out. So, please, considering rebloging.
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“She’s crying again,” Finn said, rolling his eyes as he exited her room, the sandwich still in his hand. Again was the keyword. Some girls just suck at dating, and unfortunately for her, she was one of them. University didn’t make it any easier despite what her Aunty Ada said. Boys in university are intellectuals. Though, Ada herself didn’t know if she truly believed it. Finn sighed and bit one half of the sandwich before handing the other half to Isaiah, who’d been sitting on the sofa the whole time. “I’ll be back. I just got an errand for Aunt Pol downtown.” Finn swung his jacket on and nodded to his slightly older friend before leaving.
Isaiah put down his tea and turned his back, frowning a bit as he eyed the first door one reaches when climbing up the stairs. Her room. Poor girl spent quite a few days in that room crying. Though partially her fault. Isaiah slid from the couch and made his way up the stairs. Nervously, he hesitated knocking-his fist just hovering over the wood. Clearing his throat, he closed his eyes and knocked. When she didn’t answer, he knocked a bit harder, eyes glancing at the stairs. Through the door, there was a muffled, “Finn, I don’t want the sandwich…just eat it.”
Isaiah scratched his nose and stuttered out, “um-hey, uh…it’s not Finn. It’s me…Isaiah.” Never had he considered himself a nervous man. Women were never a challenge and he was always smooth with his words. But her? Tommy Shelby’s little girl was something else. You had to handle her delicately. There was a slight gap in conversation before she mumbled a wait a minute. For what? Tommy forbade her keeping a lock on her door…she was a sneaky child, a sneaky teenager, and now? A sneaky adult. “Can I just come-oh!” As soon as his hand touched the brass door handle, it turned and opened. His eyes couldn’t help but go to the toes and scale up to her head, skimming over her body. Isaiah felt heat rise to his cheeks. To avoid embarrassment, he looked off to the side. She’d been wearing her white silk bathrobe. Underneath? He doubted it’d be smart to start letting his mind wonder. A pretty girl. Perhaps not conventionally…like the girls he usually chased after. You know? The model type with toned legs and symmetrical physiques. 
But she was pretty. The unique type with features that weren’t carbon copies on every other female. Isaiah appreciated that about her. The way she never tried to force herself into any box. As his brain tried to connect the wires, he thought about how her thighs touched even when she walked or how her belly rolled when she sat. 
And she never fucking cared. She wore what she wanted, ate what she wanted, talked to who she wanted. Her confidence was unmistakable. That’s why her crying behind her wooden door after some stupid breakup was pathetic. He couldn’t understand it. One boy after the other, and she’d wither away for a few days. Over boys that probably were too weak to lift her against a wall. 
“Is there something you need?” she asked, breaking his train of thought.
“W-what?” he blinked. Her brows raised, a grin for the first time that day played on her lips. “Oh, oh! Sorry…um, are you okay? Finn said you were upset about someone-thing…something. Not much, of course. Not that it’s my business or any-”
“I’m fine,” she said, holding her bathrobe together with one hand as she placed her other one on his shoulder. “Thank you, Isaiah. Now, if you don’t mind,” she said, words dragging as she was sliding by him. “I’d like to take a bath.” His eyes followed her as she started to walk down the hall.
“Wait!” He called out her name, and she paused, but didn’t turn. “You don’t deserve that…any of it. And y’know, you don’t talk to me anymore…about anything. Once you went off to university, you just-”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, still not turning to him. Tears were laying heavy on her lids again. At one point when they were kids, the four of them would go off and cause mischief. But Finn was learning the family business, Martha was getting married, Isaiah was working under Tommy, and her? She wanted to study nursing. They were no longer kids. Instead, people with lives. It was a good day if she and Finn even had a conversation. What did she have to say sorry for? 
“Explain something to me,” he said, walking towards her. And it was his time to rest his hand on her shoulder. He spoke her name again and slid around her. It was her time to avert her eyes attempting to hide the wetness dripping down her cheeks. But Isaiah didn’t mind any of it. He knew she was crying. Gently, he cupped her face, but when she flinched, he dropped his hands. “What’s changed? Me and you?”
“Something had to have been for it to change,” she said, insinuating nothing had ever happened between her and him. He chuckled for a moment, itching the tip of his nose. “What?”
“It’s funny,” he said.
“I know, you laughed. I’m asking what is funny-”
“You,” he accused. “You’re funny, Miss. Shelby…you used to talk to me. We’d joke and dance. When Finn would fall asleep, it was you and I who’d finish off the whiskey and discuss life’s biggest questions.” 
“Times change-”
“You still live at home,” he said. “You still live at home. You go to the local university three days a week. You still frequent the same jazz clubs. You still go to the same parties! For fucks sake, you’re the same person…nothing changes that much in a few months.”
“Isaiah-”
“No.” He shook his head. His hands gently gripped her arms, thumbs caressing her. She felt her body gently be pushed against the wall, head lightly pressing against a wobbly picture frame. She knew which one…the painting of her father’s mother. “You’ll fuck around with Tiny Tim from art class who can’t even bother to got to the door and introduce himself to your father-”
“I don’t need my father’s approval,” she snorted. “I’m grown-”
“You’re eighteen,” he said. “Hardly grown. Plus, you’re a lady under your father’s care. It’s the sensible thing to do-”
“And you introduce yourself to every womens’ father? Especially the ones you fuck on a Friday night and leave the next morning?” 
Isaiah went quiet for a moment before saying, “no. I don’t. But that’s different. And don’t ask how because I’m not explaining casual sex to you.”
That’s when she eased herself a bit, laughing lightly. That was the girl he knew. “And you, Mr. Jesus, enjoy casual sex? Why don’t you want to explain it to me, eh?”
He matched her smile, resting his forehead on hers. “Because, Miss. Shelby, casual sex isn’t for ladies. Besides, I think your father would kill me.” She looked down, playing with her hands as she wore a little grin. Isaiah cupped her face, thumbs caressing her lips before moving down to hold her hands. “You are much more than a casual encounter, Miss. Shelby,” he said in a whisper, bringing her hands up to his lips, and kissing them. 
“But how do you know I don’t like casual encounters?” she teased, but he wasn’t having it.
“Shhh,” he said. “It’s not like that…you and I, and I refuse to let it be that.” 
“And are you my father?” she asked. “Everyone in this family thinks I’m-”
“Don’t,” he stopped her. “You’re deflecting. You knew exactly what I was saying-”
“That you’ll respect me in the morning?”
“Shhhh.” He kissed her cheek, lingering there for a moment before asking, “why not me? Huh? Why Tiny Tim and Stupid Steve and Dumb Danny and Asshole Adam and Prick Peter, but not me? Not idiot Isaiah-”
“I never dated boys with any of those names except a Peter-”
“You’re deflecting again,” he said. “Why not me?” Gently, he grabbed her chin and said, “I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of you unlike Tiny Tim….”
“Who is Tiny Tim?” she laughed, not exactly denying him. In fact, she snaked her arms around his waist and pulled him closer, feeling a sort of comfort in his chest. 
“That small fuck you were running around with last week,” he said, lowering his lips against hers. He brushed them against hers, a little smirk spread across his lips. She teased that he was being silly, but soon yelped as she felt him move his hands under her butt and lift her up. To hold herself steady, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Though he was pretty good about keeping her in place from the way he pressed her against the wall. “So, you didn’t answer me, why not? Why not me, Miss. Shelby? Huh?” 
“You never asked,” she grinned, just about pecking his lips. She pecked, but pulled away when he tried to lean in, teasing him. “So, I had to fuck around with Tiny Tim and Stupid Steve-”
“And Dumb Danny,” he added, moving in to kiss her, but she teased him again, biting his bottom lip. When he tried to rest his lips upon hers, she moved away again and kissed his jaw up to his ear, biting his lobe. 
“Don’t forget that prick Peter.”
“I want to forget,” he said, bracing her with his body weight and one hand while his other gripped her jaw, bringing her in. “C’mere,” he whispered, pressing his lips against hers. It was soft at first; just a string of pecks that became longer. His hand moved from her jaw and started to caress down her body. Without wanting to intrude, he slowly rested his hand upon her breast; not squeezing, just lightly running his hand along the curve before slipping it under the silk. As he moved it over her soft breast and down, the lacing came undone and the robe slipped down her shoulders. He stopped the string of light pecks and kisses, and asked, “we can stop if you’d like.” Shook her head, enjoying the feeling in her; warmth and excitement. She wasn’t an easy girl…her father made sure of that making sure she knew her worth. That’s probably why so many ‘boys’ left her…she never gave in so easy. 
She did him. Or was it really easy when it was something in the making from their youth? 
She licked at his bottom lip before nibbling and pulling it.  “Shhh,” she said as she took control, sucking and slipping her tongue between his lips, playing with him. Their pecks turned into fully blissful kissing that neither wanted to stop. Air was no longer important, they found as their lips followed each other’s movements. Her fingers tickled up the back of his neck to his hair before tangling in the curls. While his hand moved down her body, dancing over hips and walking over her thighs. Her skin was so soft, sweet, and innocent. He wanted nothing more, but to place a kiss over every inch of her body. For the first time, he felt like fucking was juvenile. It wasn’t about the sex. No. He wanted her close. It was all about the closeness. He wanted her so close to him that he could consume her. That he could just breathe her in and nothing else in the world would matter.
He pulled away, catching his breath, “sorry. Um, I don’t want to rush this.”
“What are we rushing?” she teased, trying to kiss him again, pressing herself against his aching crotch. 
“I want to take you to dinner,” he said, letting her down.  “I want to do it right. If I’m going to do this right with anyone, it’d be you. So, please, Miss. Shelby, can I take you to dinner?”
“I dunno,” she sang, reaching up and playing with his buttons. “Are you paying?”
He laughed out and shook his head, pinching her chin. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Oh, alright,” she agreed, sliding from him and walking to her room. “But, you have to ask my father.” Isaiah grinned and eyed the phone on the small table downstairs. 
“Already on it, Miss. Shelby,” he called out. “What do you think I am? A lousy gangster?”
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anonymooseforever007 · 2 years ago
Text
Ring Around the Roses
(Alfie Solomons x female reader)
Summary: Attempting to get away from the Shelby party chaos, Alfie and his wife sneak off into Tommy's garden for a little fun. It isn't until the next morning they discover the consequences of their actions and Alfie has to remind his wife what their marriage is really about.
A/N-Hi Y'all! Possible TW's for only the end of this include Mentions of death, Unhealthy coping habits and self blame! Also this is for K's (@runnning-outof-time) 3K celebration! Congratulations you're amazing and I love seeing you on here❤️❤️❤️ I hope you like this! I haven't done a celebration before really but I saw your theme and the idea spring into my head. Despite the warnings it's mostly fluffy until the time skip! Also there's one part that implies smut but none actually written! Enjoy ❤️
WC- 6.6k
Main Masterlist
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"Are you sure we can do this out here?"
"Do what dovey? I'm just taking a nice little stroll with my darling wife aren't I? Letting her get a quiet break from all those heathens inside."
You scoffed, knocking into your husband's side gently as the pair of you walked through the garden. For a man who seemed particularly fond of dark colours, Thomas Shelby's garden was particularly vibrant. 
"Oh hush, you only call them heathens because you're too scared to use the word friend."
"FRIEND!" Alfie scoffed while kicking at a particularly beautifully tulip that just happened to be nearby, just to prove his point. "No no no Dovey, THEY are not my friends, yeah. If I were to pick anyone to be my friend it certainly would not be ANY of them." 
You only rolled your eyes and shot a knowing smirk in his direction. For all your husband's spite and trickery, you knew he really did have a soft spot for the Shelby family.
"Alright love, I believe ya. That's absolutely why you immediately declined the invitation to come here tonight isn't it. Burned it in the fireplace correct? Told me not to put it in the calendar? Because you don't have plans at being anything other than vicious enemies is that right? The pie I brought tonight was a death threat wasn't it? Did you slip in some arsenic into the powdered sugar?"
Rolling his eyes at your teasing, Alfie couldn't help but smile as he watched you laugh at your own joke. Continuing your path through the garden you mindlessly reached back a hand for your husband a few steps behind. A clear indication of what you wanted. What you always wanted. Slipping his hand between yours, he let you drag him through the bushes, further from the party. With each step he could see you relax a bit more, as you enjoyed the scene around you.
"Is it quieter out here Dovey?"
Smiling softly, you only nodded your head before reaching out gently to touch the leaves of a nearby bush. Though the party was fun, it had gotten a bit loud and in the growing chaos you needed some air. So while Tommy and Polly were distracted trying to convince Arthur and Finn not to throw Michael in the lake, you and your husband had slipped outside. 
"Alfie, we should plant a garden of our own I think."
"Is that right Dovey? Does my lady want some bushes of her own to trim doesn't she?"
"I think we could get some nice rose bushes. I've always loved those."
"Roses, is that it? You got a feeling about those prickly little parasites don't ya Dovey? I never got why you liked them."
Chuckling you sat on the edge of a nearby wall as your husband dug his feet in the ground. You knew exactly why Alfred hated roses, and it still amused you to this day. 
It happened years ago, around the time you'd first gotten together. This was before Alfie was even able to grow a beard, and all his kisses resulted in a scratchy scruff that prickled your face. Way back when boxing was still his main pastime instead of "baking", both kinds actually and these days your husband finally knew how to make a decent muffin. In an effort to be romantic, he'd shown up at your work one day with a nice bouquet of roses. They were lovely flowers and you were immensely elated by the gesture, and especially amused since he'd bought the flowers from that very shop only the day before too.... However it was a shame you never got the chance to put them in water. See, somewhere between the ten steps it took to get from the door to your table, he had tripped and fallen flat on the ground. Don't worry, his face hadn't hit the hard ground, it was cushioned....by the thorny roses. Maybe it was a good thing the thorns had left so many bloody scratches. It meant you weren't able to tell his face had turned as red as the roses petals now surrounding him. Instead of the romantic date he wanted to take you on, the evening was spent with you dapping the cuts on his face with a damp cloth while he started at the wall, contemplating every life choice he'd ever made. That was the night Alfred Solomons decided he'd never trust a rose ever again. Not even the ones his darling wife sought to plant in her gardens.
"Alfie, come on! Roses aren't that bad, just because you had a little slip up years ago doesn't mean they all hate you."
Standing by up again, you held out your arms towards Alfie as music began to reach the garden. Shaking his head lightly, he set down his cane and took your arms, fully confident you'd be there to support him if his hip got too bad. You and Alfie had yet to dance tonight, caught up talking with others (which was really just your doing) and pointing out everyone who'd gotten too drunk and was trying piss in the plants. It wasn't something either of your minded to badly, the large crowds of people tended to make you feel a bit nervous and Alfie occasionally had a hard time keeping rhythm because of his hip. So most of your dancing was done in the back corners of the ballroom or privately in your kitchen, waiting for the midnight snacks to be done. 
However tonight, it seems you'd be dancing in Thomas Shelby's garden. Slowly but happily, you waltzed closely with your husband, stepping around the fountain and laughing as he stopped to twirl you ever few seconds. Other than the music from the house and the gentle crunches  of your shoes beneath the gravel path, the world was silent. When the song ended your husband gave you a gentle kiss and stepped back, though he was still holding you in his arms. Looking up above yourselves, you saw the constellations fitting the night sky.
"Ohh Alfie! Look at them! Aren't they beautiful?"
Beaming, you grinned up at the stars twinkling down on you before moving from your husband to a smaller empty plot of ground. You suspected that something was to be planted there soon, but paid no mind to the grime that would get on your skirt as you settled down to sit in the dirt. It was a nice little spot, right next to the rocky path and dug out in a manner that was lined on three sides by tall hedges. To anyone looking out if the mansion, the little alcove would have been completely invisible. 
"What are ya doing now Dovey? Is this the thing you said we shouldn't be doing?" Alfie teased you from where he was still standing.
"I just wanna sit and watch the stars for a bit. Come," remaining seated you patted the spot next to you, "Join me."
Alfie walked over to the spot but when he got there, he only raised an eyebrow at you and tapped his hip with the cane. You stared for a moment and then it clicked. Laughing slightly at your forgetfulness, you stood up, bowing dramatically, and held out your arm. 
"Right right, I forget you have the hip of an overworked, ninety seven year old parlor dancer. Shall I assist you to the ground my dear sir?"
Alfie only grumbled, but his eyes twinkled as you teased him. If anyone else had made the comment they'd have been dead before they blinked, but you were different. Alfred Solomons was capable of many things, but some nights when his hip got bad, he needed help moving around more, especially if it meant going from standing to sitting on the ground. You were happy to help of course, but being married for over a decade didn't mean the pair of you were above lightly poking fun of the other. Only two years ago, you had accidentally scratched part of your eye and needed to wear an eyepatch for five weeks. The first thing Alfie had done when you walked out of the examination room and asked if he could get food for dinner, was reply with "does patchy wanted a cracker" in reference to the one eyed parrot you'd seen in a film the month before. It was just something you'd always done together even before you started dating. A dark humor you both shared, as if joking about the hurt could make it better. 
Holding his other arm, you gently helped your husband lower himself to the ground, squeezing his hand comfortingly when he let out a small groan. After helping your husband take a seat, you settled into your own again, leaning your head on his shoulder as you looked to the heavens. 
"You aren't really gonna plant roses are ya Love? What if something happens to them?"
"Like what? You assault them with your face again?"
"....Maybe? But like why do you really enjoy them? I still don't see the charm."
Sighing, you shifted your gaze and looked your husband in the eyes.  One of your hands moved up to his face, as you gently caresses the one spot on his face that refused to grow hair like the rest of his beard. You knew it was another old war wound, but this was actually one he had yet to tell you the story of. Gazing into his eyes a few moments more, you then changed positions so you were seated across his lap, one leg in either side of his.
"Why do I love roses?....Their petals are as soft as their thorns are sharp and given the right hand, their climb up any wall in their path. Not only that but their petals can have many uses for food or paint or even my blush. That means they are able to change their usefulness based off their situation at hand. They are able to adapt, nor are the helpless. Some people say the point of the thorns is to choke out anything else threatening to take the roses' livelihood." you gently held your husbands face between your hands as you continued, "I like roses because they remind me of you Alfie. Because they are beautiful, and strong, and dangerous. You are a gorgeous and strong man, and I know how badly you try to protect me every day. You are so kind to me, but I know how far you'll go for me. I would go just as far for you. You are my rose Alfred Solomons and so I love them as all they remind me of you."
Alfie was quiet for a moment, observing what you'd said. His hands sat on your waist, thumbs rubbing gently in your sides. 
"You saying I'm like a fucking flower Dovey, is that it?"
"Yeah, you're my flower though."
"....Alright."
"....You know why else you're like a rose love?"
"Why poppet?"
"Because it can be a pain in the ass to keep you alive sometimes."
Alfie only put his hand to his chest in mock offense, while your grinned up at him mischievously.
"Oi, now you better watch your words there Dovey."
"Make me Rosie," you whispered, grinning as your leaned closer to your husbands face, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw.
Gently Alfie leaned back, taking you with him until his back was on the ground. Hands, still on his face, you could feel the smile on his face. Slowly one of his hands moved to your head bringing you down so he could kiss you again. Sweet at first but it quickly increased in passion and vigor. Though eventually you had to pull back for breath, and it was then you realized his hands had already rearranged your skirts in a way overnight you both.
"Alfred? I know we can't do this out here?"
Your husband only laughed, reaching towards his belt as he pulled you close again.
"Slide down a bit farther and I think you'll see we definitely can Dovey. It's only a matter of being quiet enough to evade capture."
It was a nice little spot, right next to the rocky path and dug out in a manner that was lined on three sides by tall hedges. To anyone looking out if the mansion, the little alcove would have been completely invisible. And luckily, the music was loud enough to hide the sounds of rustling bushes...
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It wasn't until the next morning when you realized what went wrong...
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After making it back to the house last night and finding half the dog food "mysteriously missing", the pair of you had decided to call it a night. And since business was going so well Alfie had elected to take a few days off, hoping to spend more time with you. It also meant he'd finally be able to sleep in.....or so he thought.
A sudden crash woke Alfie from his slumber the next morning. 
Shooting up, he automatically looked to his right, and his heart stopped for a moment realizing you weren't there. Another clatter from downstairs and a frustrated scream from you had him practically jumping out of bed and grabbing his gun. You usually like staying in bed for a few more hours, especially when he was there, so the fact he could hear your distress from upstairs made him worry. 
Carefully Alfie snuck down the hall, peaking in rooms to make sure no unsavory figures were lurking behind the door. Another annoyed groan accompanied by various curse words hurried him to his final destination. 
"Love, are you alright?"
It was a stupid thing to ask as you were very much not alright. The kitchen was a mess, looking like every cabinet had been opened and all the contents pulled out. Pots and bass were laud hurriedly across the counters as you rummaged through every nook and cranny. A quickly glance into the living room told Alfie it was scattered in a similar state. But you hadn't responded to your husband, not the first time or even the second. It wasn't until Alfie stepped right up behind you, putting his hand on your shoulder, and turning your around to face him when you responded.
"I can't find it."
Your voice wavered as you admitted the truth. Looking down like a small child about to be told off, you averted your face from your husband's. Alfie was still confused, but he could tell whatever you were rallying about was obviously important.
"Can't find what Dovey? Whatever it is it's probably isn't too bad. I can help ya find it righty?"
"No Alfie you don't undertstand."
"Then help me understand Love. Let's get through this together like we always have yeah? Come on, tell your husband what we're looking for." Carefully cupping your face in his hands, Alfie guided you to look at him again. He could see the tears welling in your eyes as you spoke.
"....I.....I lost my wedding ring Alfie."
"Oh."
It was the simple oh that broke the dam. Stepping back from your husband, tears began to stream down your face as you shoved your fingers in you hair as if trying to hold in the stress.
"SEE I told you it was terrible. I...I woke up this morning and went to the bathroom and noticed it missing when I went to clean my hands. I figured I'd just taken it off la... last night but it wasn't by the bed table like I usually put it. Then I went through the bathroom and it wasn't there. I've gone through every room in this hours and I can't fucking find it!!! I don't ....I don't know where it is Alfie. I just... oh god." 
Covering you mouth with your hand, you realized where you lost the ring. 
"Alfie the fucking garden."
"The garden? Love you haven't made the garden yet, how could it be there?"
"No, TOMMY'S garden. It has to be there. It fell off last night when we were rolling in the dirt. I've been meaning by to get it resized. Oh fuck this is awful"
Alfie actually chuckled at your realization. Of course the ring would fall off in the most inconvenient place possible, but he wasn't about to tell you that.
"Thats alright Dovey we can just..."
Throwing your hands in the air you interrupted your husband, frustrated at yourself for a number of reasons. It stung Alfie's heart to see you like this. Carefully he dragged your hands from your face and pulled you into a hug. Soothingly his hands ran up and down your back as he tried to comfort you.
"We can just what Alfred? Waltz back over and demand he let us dig up the plants for it? He'd probably ask why and what are we suppose to say then huh Alfred? Oh you know, we lost it in the garden you see...Well what were you doing there Y/N? ...Nothing much just fertilizing the soil, pollinating the flower, playing like the rake and ho, rustling the bushes, sowing seed in the garden, FUCKING IN THE FLOWERBEDS!!!! No we can't do that Alfie we just can't! It's probably gone forever... I'm so sorry."
Alfie was the one to hide his face this time. He knew you were in distress but he was amused by one of your last sentences. You always were good with the innuendos. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he tried to get you to calm down. He knew at this point you weren't so mad about the ring, as just overwhelmed by the lack of success you'd had in finding it.
"Yes love, we can tell him all those things and if he'd got any sort of romantic bone in his tiny, banged up little body he'd offer us shovels to dig if we need them. And if not then I'd wager every deal I'd ever have with his lot is out the fucking window isn't it. We've been married since before the little one of them was teething haven't we? It's not like they don't think we're fucking. Besides it's a decent fucking garden, Tommy should have know what he was doing when he made that little hidey spot didn't he? It'll be fine. And if I find it then I'll get to propose to you all over again won't I? I think if I got one wish left in the word it would be to do that again. Ask if you'd be mine forever and let you know I'll always be there. Love I promise. It's alright Dovey, it's ok. No need to get worked up about it's not such a big deal."
Thought he was trying to help, his last sentence only made things worse. Stepping pack from Alfie you threw your hands up again.
"IT IS OUR MARRIAGE ALFIE! And I've practically lost it like it means nothing at all! How can you say that!"
There it was. The really reason you were so worked up. Not because you'd lost the little ring. It was because somewhere in your mind, over the years you'd been together, you'd gotten the idea that if you didn't have it on your were almost betraying everything you held dear. As if you thought without the ring, all the vows you'd mad together were nil. Alfie couldn't help but laugh at that. He laughed hard too, like you'd told the funniest joke in their world. 
"You think that ring is our marriage?"
Stepping closer again Alfie took your arms and pulled you closer.
"Our marriage is so much more than that fucking ring love," he said, cupping your face between his hands again. "Our marriage is me stealing Ollie's shirt before every lunch date because his is cleaner than mine and wanna look my best for the best, that's you by the way. It's you grinning at me through the glass window at fuck O'clock in then morning when I've taken the dog out for a piss since you thought it'd be funny to lock me out in the cold in my fucking skeevies again. It's me paying a fuck ton of money to the flower shop down the street so you could get a rose every week I was away fighting. It's you spending hours patching me up after I had a bad fight even though blood makes you gag yeah. When you refuse to give me dinner until I give you a kiss and when I won't give you a gift until I've gotten a hug? Sharing a bath after a hard day? That's our marriage. You interrupting my meeting because you're so excited to show me a new book? Me interrupting your book club because I've just gotten back from a business trip? You demanding I come to bed and cuddle up, only to shove me off of you later when you're too hot? Me tightening jars in the pantry so you have to get me to open them? Making fun of each other's injuries, patchy? Don't you see it? You. Me. You. Me. You. Me. WE."
"Alfie..." You couldn't help but smile at your husband's words realizing he was right.
"Dovey, It isn't defined by a thin piece of metal with a tiny fucking stone that I stole off a rich toff at a boxing match one day. Our marriage is YOU and ME and every little moment in between. And I promise it's always gonna be just that. And do you know why that is Treacle?"
Alfie had moved his hands again, now resting them on your hips. Gazing at you lovingly he waited for your answer.
"Why Ally?"
"Because I'm your flower remember? I'm your fucking rose.... and you're fucking my sunshine, Dovey. I have no chance of living without you."
Wrapping your arms around your husband, you buried your face into his neck. Losing the ring you'd worn almost every day for years didn't seem so criminal anymore. 
"Alfred Solomons when did you learn to say something so romantic."
Your husband only chuckled as he step away, grabbing some of the boxes you'd pulled out in your panic. 
"A master never reveals his secrets Dovey. Now come on. Let's clean this up and then we'll go get you a new ring eh? Wouldn't want any gangly miscreant thinking they've got a chance with you would we?"
Looking at the damage you'd done, you couldn't but sigh, maybe it would have been better to wake your husband immediately before diving head first into your expedition. Now you were kicking yourself since you'd just redone all the work you'd don't last week reorganizing every thing.
"I'm not sure the jewellery shop will still be open today by the time we finish Alfred. I'm not even sure we'll be able to finish this in a week with the mess I've made."
Your husband just bonked you lightly with the broom he handed you and nudged you in the direction of the living room.
"That's alright Dovey. Because unless you've got some nefarious little plans I haven't heard of to steal my dog and run off, I don't think either of us is going anywhere anytime soon aren't we?"
You could only smile and kiss him on the cheek.
"I suppose you're right. We've got all the time in the world...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two years later...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Shelby, I want my dog."
The Shelby in question turned around, eyeing the woman before him. He knew this day would come. Only he expected it to be sooner, a few days, maybe even a week later...but now it was four months. Four months since he....despite his feelings towards the man, Tommy couldn't help but feel slight regrets for what he'd done. Especially seeing the state of her now, standing in his garden.
"He's just gone on a walk with Charlie and Finn. They should be back in an hour or so."
"I'll wait... I see you filled in that empty plot of ground. They're lovely flowers, I don't remember them being there two winters ago."
Tommy averted his gaze to the bushes you were pointing at. Indeed the small alcove where you'd hidden with your husband had been filled. In its place grew a thick rose bush, blooming with life. You smiled, and to anyone else, they might have thought your look truthful. And some of it was, thinking of the happy memories connected there. But Tommy could see deeper than that. Behind the smile he could see the same pain he had when he looked in mirrors. The pain that came from losing the thing you loved most. For as different as you both were, he knew the tactic you played, though the mask you wore was much brighter than his. And for now he decided he could respect that. He could pretend just for a moment, if only to help you. It was the least he could do, seeing as he was the reason you wore it... He was the one to pull the trigger.
"You're right. The gardener put them in almost two years ago, right after the party where Arthur and Finn tossed Michael into the lake. Do you remember that one? I saw you talking to my sister but never saw you leave that night."
A genuine chuckle left your mouth hearing his words. You played with the ring on your left hand. Only two years old and very expensive, but in that moment, it felt like you were wearing another ring again. One that was much older and worn, that you hadn't seen in years. 
"I do. That was certainly a night I'll remember forever. It's a shame you got rid of that little alcove. It was a nice little spot away from the world wasn't it."
Tommy could only nod and take another drag of his cigarette.
"Did Alfie ever tell you about the first and last time he gave me roses in person. I mean, of course he probably didn't and I'll have to tell you sometime, but I think you might find it funny. There's a lot about him I'm sure he hasn't told you. But then again, knowing him there's probably a lot he did..." You trailed off, staring at the flowers a bit longer, remembering that day over a decade ago, not really meaning to tell Tommy that, doing so anyway. After all, no one had heard from you in months, so it made sense to him, that you'd be eager to talk to anyone. Even the man you should hate most in the world.
Silence descended on the pair standing tense in the garden. There was so much to be said, but neither knew where to start. Truthfully, you'd only talked to Tommy a handful of times, but he felt like he'd already known you like his sister. He couldn't help but scoff, thinking of all the times Alfie had gone off on a tangent about you during a meeting. Sometimes, your mention had nothing to do what was being discussed at all, Alfie just liked to brag about the good he had. In the end it was Tommy who spoke up first, the guilt of his past actions finally caving in on him.
"Y/N, I'm sor..."
"Don't. Thomas, I don't want you to say sorry," turning from the vibrant blooms, you faced the capped man. "I don't want you to say sorry, because you know what? I don't blame you. You're completely alright. I'm not mad at you.... It's my fault I suppose. I could have stopped it."
Tommy raised his eyebrow, curious to what you meant, and also concerned. There was something in your eyes that made his stomach turn slightly hearing those words. But he couldn't exactly place why.
"What's that suppose to mean Y/N?"
You only let out a bittersweet laugh and stared out into the garden again, sitting on the edge of a familiar fountain before you revealed the truth.
"It's my fault he's gone I think. I should have known. I should have never left that day and I could have stopped it."
Tommy's brows furrowed as he sat down next to you. 
"What's that mean? You couldn't have known what his plan was? It's not your fault."
Absentmindedly, you picked at the leaves of a nearby bush. Though your voice was even, Tommy could practically see the war inside your head.
"It's how he kissed me when I left that day. I was only going to be gone a few days to visit my friend who was suppose to have her baby soon. Nothing dangerous. But it's the way he kissed me that should have tipped me off. He kissed me the way he did when he got on the damed train, in that damned uniform. He kissed me like he didn't think he'd see me ever again, going to die in the war. And I guess he didn't."
Tommy didn't say anything. He just let you continue. Something in his head told him, he needed to let your speak, he needed to keep you here tonight. If he let you leave today, no one would ever see you again and something in Tommy told him not to let that happen.
"You know I still haven't admitted it to myself just yet... The truth," standing up you began to pace around the fountain, circling the water. "Since I first got the call I haven't picked up the phone anymore, I'm scared of what I'll hear. I haven't opened any letters, because I don't want to see what they'll say. I still haven't even gone home yet. I've been paying for a hotel room by my friend's house and only leaving by when I need more food. I know it not good for me, but it's all I can find I can do. I've been telling myself it's just that. He's gone to the war again and he'll be back in a few months." Though you spoke with a smile as if talking about the weather, it was easy to see the pain in your eyes. You thought denying the truth would make the hurt go away. But it wouldn't, Tommy knew it was only a matter of time before you broke. And like with Cyril, he felt like he was the one who needed to help. So he decided to play along for now, letting you keep your act up. Atleast until he could figure out the best way to fix the mess he still felt he'd made.
"You tell yourself it's the war eh? Do you write him letters."
"Yes, I write him one almost every day. But I haven't sent any. Did you know that I was rarely able to send them to him during the war. Something about his post being secretive, and no one should know where it really was. So I'd just... write a letter everyday and when I got a letter that his squad was resting at a safe camp every few months I'd just send the packet of them.... If I was lucky I'd get one back, but most of the time I just had to wait. I learned a lot about waiting then. I learned it was better to laugh too. Laughing helped me stay sane."
Standing up, Tommy began walking with you as you stepped deeper into the gardens.
"Laughing eh? Well I guess it's better than what I did. Almost drunk myself to the grave and then fucked off in a caravan with my son for a month. Seems you're handling it better than me."
You could only scoff at his response.
"Oh don't worry, there's been plenty of drinks for me too. I'm a happy drunk though, so I guess it helps my plan. After all, as long as I'm laughing, I don't have time to cry. I don't think I'll be able to stop crying the day I begin. So I'm just trying to hold off as long as I can."
"Aren't we all."
Silence fell in the garden again, and the two widowed souls walked back to the house. It was starting to get back and Tommy had noticed Finn's car pull up a few minutes ago. When you reached the back door you were met with a fluffy beast knocking you over as soon he'd caught sight of you. Cyril was happy to have at least one of his masters back. The man taking care of his now treated him well, but he still missed life with his old owners, even if he couldn't express it in words. 
While you reunited with Cyril and applauded Charlie on the tricks he taught the dog, Tommy went to gather some of Cyril's things and have Francis prepare a room for you. Tommy had no clue where you'd take the dog, but seeing as you seemed adamant about staying away from Margret, and apparently didn't despise Tommy (somehow), he thought it made sense to let you stay the night for a bit. And something still told him to convince you to stay even if just for one day.
On his was back down the stairs he noticed something sitting on the table and there was a click in his brain. He remembered the curiosity brought to him that morning during breakfast, and suddenly a lot of odd business meetings made sense. He finally realized who'd messed up the empty dirt patch that night two years ago. Grabbing the object off the table, Tommy headed back to the drawing room. Inside you were still petting your beloved dog, even though Finn had taken Charlie to get ready for bed. 
"Y/N, I went up to grab some of Cyril's things, but I think it may be better for you to spend the night here. It's getting late and I don't think either of us wants the dog getting hurt if you were to crash."
You laughed gently at his words, not caring to ask about the hand behind his back. Not thinking much about his words, you accepted his offer. You knew you should be mad at him, hate him, even what to kill him, but you couldn't. You were too tried to be mad at anyone right now. Besides, it wasn't like you knew where you were going anyway. You just wanted to see your...his dog again. Maybe if you had that little piece left, it would make it easier to move on. It would make it easier to pretend you weren't alone now.
"Alright. I'll stay. But only so Charlie can give Cyril a proper goodbye. I'd hate to tear them apart, it seems they've made close friends."
"They have," Tommy smiled, genuinely happy thinking of how closely his son had bonded with the dog. "Cyril's stuff is in Charlie's room now infact. They've taken such a liking, I can't keep them apart. We can get his stuff tomorrow, but I do have one thing I think you may want now."
You looked towards the Shelby man curious. "What is it?," you questioned.
Silently Tommy extended his hand to give you the object he'd snagged from the table.
It was a single rose... But something was different about it. The stem seemed to have grabbed something buried within the dirt to take along as it began to grow. Twisting and turning all the way out of the dirt, outwards towards the sun, as if offering the shiny object up. An ages old promise from the rose to the sun of an endless truth, never broken even in death...
The rose was offering his sun a ring.
And not just any ring. A wedding ring. Simple and worn, it had been stolen off a rich toff from a boxing match many years ago. It had survived work and war, seen blood and lust, and so many other things. And while the ring didn't define the marriage it represented a promise you thought you'd never see again. But here now, seeing how tightly the rose stem had grown around it, you knew you'd never have to worry about that again. Not even death could stop the love the rose proposed to his sun. Even in death he'd still offer her life.
You couldn't even take the rose from Tommy's hand before you finally broke. Laughing at the irony, Tears streamed down your face as you sunk to your knees, all the pain you'd been bottling up coming out. And thus you sobbed, hard. So hard in fact, it felt like you couldn't breathe. And you sobs were still mixed with laughter of disbelief as a million memories ran through your head, but none as loud as the one of that night and the morning after. 
Two years ago you'd lost that ring. Alfie promised that he'd look multiple times whenever he went back to the house, even if it meant having the meeting in the garden like "a bunch of prissy ladies at a fucking tea party" as he'd called it. And for two years he'd had no luck until now. But today, your rose had finally found the lost ring, even if you'd lost him months ago. 
Setting the rose gently on the table, Tommy sunk to his knees too. Letting you grab onto him, for a shoulder to mourn on. He knew you needed it. For so long you'd shut yourself away, denying the truth and trying to act like it didn't affect you. You wanted to pretend your world wasn't falling apart and now you couldn't any more. He'd been he same way, except he didn't have anyone to help him. He couldn't burden his one year old son with his grief and he knew most of his family still resented Grace to some degree. They hadn't been as destroyed by her passing as he had. He didn't want you to be alone like he had. For as many terrible thing as Tommy had done, he couldn't bring it upon himself to leave you alone now. And so he sat on the floor, holding you in his arms as the cracked dam finally broke. 
That night, until the early hours of the morning, Thomas Shelby sat comforting the wife of the man he'd killed. And he would until she'd fallen asleep, finally worn out from her grieving. In the morning he'd offer breakfast and they'd get to talking about the loves they lost. They were still both hurt and broken and mourning what they'd lost, but they weren't alone now. For two people so different they both knew what the other felt so deeply. Little snippets and stories about happier times, while watching a little boy play with a big dog, laughing as the pair rolled in the grass. And while both still grieved, there was a peace to be found in being with someone who knew how they felt. 
And while they talked, Y/N played with the ring on her finger. It was new and expensive and fit just right. This one was only two years old and didn't have many memories but she loved it just the same. And upstairs by her bed sat another ring, but this one was held tightly by a rose she'd placed in a vase. This was the ring that she loved more, and the one she really wanted to wear, but she couldn't bear to tear it from the rose just yet. She didn't know if she'd ever be able to. Maybe she'd let the rose dry out and preserve it like she use to do someone's at the flower shop when she was young. But for now she's let it live as it was.
Holding on tightly to a promise that not even death could divide...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While all this happened a mailman was headed towards Birmingham with a letter from a dead man, asking about his dog and looking for his wife....
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imaginesforeveryone · 5 months ago
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Spunky Bitch
pairing: John Shelby x Y/N Warning: angst, swearing, sassy reader, smut, re-write of an episode (S2E2), baby kink Summary: You being a Blinder, and the right hand women of John Shelby all these years you did business with them a lot. This particular day you were doing things with the Italians, the Changrettas, and you just didn’t like the tone they were giving off.
Stood behind John Shelby, also your husband, in Charlies yard. You watched as Mr. Changretta walked towards you, accompanied by Finn, and his two body guards. 
“You asked for a meeting out in the open, fresh air and the fine aroma of shit.” Arthur spoke as Mr. Changretta stood in front of the chair across from John. You let out a small laugh as Arthur spoke. 
“Neutral grounds you say.” Arthur speaking again as you let the smile fall off your face and kept an eye on one of the two body guards that stood beside Mr. Changretta. 
“This is hardly neutral ground,” He spoke to Arthur for the first time. 
“Well, its what you’ve got.” Arthur said sitting on the chair beside John. Taking a step closer to John, and being almost shoulder to shoulder with Finn, but not really shoulder to shoulder at all, because now that kid grew tall. 
“So, por favor, sit down.” Arthur spoke motioning Mr. Changretta to sit in the chair. Smiling slightly as you listened to the conversation. Resting a hand on Johns shoulder. 
“Where is Thomas?” Mr. Changretta spoke to John. 
“He got called away.” John replied back to him, who didn’t sit down as he was told from Arthur. 
“He said he’d be here.” He rebuttled. 
“and he just told you, Thomas got called away. What do you want?” You spoke up starting to get frustrated with them man. John looking behind himself at you and giving you half grin. He loved the sas you had. Even more when it was you sticking up for him. 
“There has been a peace between the Peaky Blinders, and the Changretta family for two years now..” He spoke to John and Arthur. Seeing John smirk over at Arthur at what the man was saying. 
“Do you want some tea or not?” John interrupted him. Mr. Changretta just looking at him.
“Here, love, pour the Italians some English tea. Go on.” John said motioning you to pour tea for them. Walking around John as you hand slid across the top of his back to grab the tea pot. 
“We don’t want fucking tea.” Mr. Changretta yelled as you grabbed the pot. You looked over at John, who you could tell wanted to get up and shot him right in his head, but you also knew if this meeting didn’t go correctly, it would end bloody. Setting the tea pot back on the table and going back to you previous position behind John. 
“We want an explanation.” He spoke to John. 
“Well, I’ll have fucking tea.” Arthur said leaning forwards and grabbing the tea pot and making himself a cup of tea. 
“An explanation for what?” John asked averting his eyes away from Mr. Changretta. 
“The little Venice Restaurant on Forge Street was burnt down…” Mr. Changretta spoke. 
“No. No. Couldn’t have been us, we was at a wedding.” John spoke interrupting him for the second time. 
“You burnt it down to stop my son being at the same wedding.” Mr. Changretta stated to John. 
“EHH, He wasn’t missed.” You spoke up causing John to let out a breathy laugh. Mr. Changretta pushing out a fake laugh. 
“You are such big boys now. But once you borrowed clothes from us to look like me.” Mr. Changretta spoke. You were confused a bit by his words. You knew Mrs. Changretta was the boys teacher in school, but didn’t know how close they actually where back then. John adjusting himself in his seat, and looking over at Arthur.
“How’s the tea, Arthur? Is it..” John asked but stopped his sentence as he throw the tea out of the cup. Arthur making a disgusted face at it, 
“Its cold.” He said looking up at the body guard to Changretta’s left. John averting his eye back up to Mr. Changretta.
“Please tell Tommy. We pay whatever he asks us to pay. We stay in our part of the city and off the tracks. But you tell him from me.” He spoke but taking a pause getting closer to John. You removed you hand from his shoulder to put your hand on your gun. John putting his hand out to let you know its fine. 
“That my son will walk with any women in this city. Anyone he choses. Even if that women works for the emperor, Thomas Shelby.” John grinning at his statement but letting him speak. 
“My son is in love.” John starting to snort out a of laughed. 
“Sorry. Do excuse me.” He spoke through a bit of laughter, pulling the bill of his hat down to cover his laughing face and rubbing his eyes a bit. 
“Carry on.” He spoke after he held in his laughter. Vicente pausing and just staring at John and he composed himself. 
“And if he wishes, he will walk with the women he loves.” Vicente finished. 
“Okay.” John said out to him, still trying to compose himself a bit. 
“You know. It would be hard for your son to walk anywhere.” You spoke up behind John getting quite annoyed with the way Vicente was telling them what his son was going to do. Walking between him and Arthur grabbing the tea pot, and beginning to pour into a cup. 
“With a bullet in each knee, wouldn’t it?” John finishing you sentence. Not what you were going to say, but you know now this meeting wasn’t going to go the way it needed to go with the words John spoke. Vicente now standing straight up. You looked over at Arthur who was looking over at John now, knowing that’s not what was needed to be said. John taking a sip from the cup you just put tea in and looking up at the now angry Vicente. 
“Too much.” He said pointing a finger at John. Now blood boiling in your veins, you looked around to see what everyone next move was. 
“You said too much, my friend.” Vicente said starting to walk. 
“Sabini says, ‘suck and swallow.’ but no. Too much. I spit.” Vicente said as he spit on the ground in front of you. With slight giggle exiting everyones mouth. Hearing a chair being broken you looked over at one of the men who stood next to Vicente. 
“Oh. Okay. A bit strong.” You spoke out to the man laughing a bit. 
“Fucking hell.” John spoke after taking a sip of his tea. Arthur not looking to happy at all. 
“Isaiah.” Arthur said to the young Peaky boy stood behind him. Isaiah Leaning over next to Arthur. 
“Put two extra men on our pubs in Nechells.” He told him. John looking over at Arthur in confusion. 
“What are you talking about, Arthur?” John asked. 
“We’re not scared of fucking eye ties anymore.” You told Arthur. 
“Don’t tell Tommy about the chair and clean this fucking shit up.” Arthur said to Isaiah ignoring what you and John just said to him. Standing from his seat and looking over at John and you with anger. John looking at him with an expression that said “what the fuck.”
“We’re not scared of fucking wops.” John said to Arthur turning around in his seat. 
“Alright John.” Arthur said under his breathe.
“Come on lets get back to the shop.” You told John taping him on the shoulder. He stood up and threw his arm over you shoulder as you guys began to walk to the betting shop. Walking through an alley, John grabbing you by your hips and pushing you up against the wall and attaching his lips to yours.
“It so sexy when you stand up for me like that.” He said through kisses. You smiled and lightly pushed him away. 
“How about you show me how sexy it is?” You spoke up at him now with his back against the other walls. 
“Later love. We have to get back to the shop.” He said causing a puppy dog face to spread across your face. He just giggled and threw his arm around you again and continued your walk. 
“Hey Pol. Can you help me real quick? I barely understand Arthurs writing. I feel like I’m super drunk trying to read them.” You said as you heard Polly walking into the office you and John shared, but she didn’t answer back just kept her eyes locked on John as he had his feet up, sipping tea and reading the newspaper. She then threw her newspaper on his desk. He looked up at her from the corner of his eye and still sipping his tea. 
“Did we run Kempton yesterday or not?” He spoke to her breaking the silence and setting his cup down. But still had his eyes fixed on his newspaper. 
“Danny Lee got drunk, instead of injecting the horses with cocaine, he decided to share it with his cousins.” She explained talking about the races that were being held at the racetrack the day before. John just closes his eyes trying to regain patiences about the situation and sided softly. 
“Jesus Christ.” He spoke out about it. 
“Its your brother-in-law. Tell Esme to speak about it.” She spoke back. 
“Ex.” You spoke out from the side. 
“Maybe be an ex darling but nobody divorces a Shelby. Shelby’s just get married again. I love you like my own kin darling, but I’m sorry to say you are married to a married man, who’s wives family is a big part of this company, and sadly we still need them.” She spoke to you but not looking your way. You sighed softly and sat back in your chair to see where the rest of this conversation was headed. 
“look.” Polly spoke going back to the previous conversation. 
“Before I start.” She said grabbing a chair and pulling it up to the other side of Johns desk.
“I don’t want you to do a thing about this.” She said then shutting the door. This really peaking your interest, kind of knowing what she was about to talk about. 
“About what?"John asked already with annoyance in his voice and face as he took his feet off his desk to face Polly now. You knew what she was about to say was about the Changretta problem. 
"Vicente Changretta’s son.” She said before taking a seat. John sitting up with s mile on his face and laughing. 
“The one Lizzie was stepping out with.” Polly said. 
“What, Angel?” He asked for confirmation of her previous statement. 
“He’s no bigger than twopence with of change.” He spoke before letting Polly speak again. 
“Well, he heard you threatened him directly to shoot him in his knees and not he’s going around Nechells telling everybody he’s going to kill you.” She spoke. You instantly standing up to begin your joinery to go kill him yourself.
“Sit.” John said. You rolled your eyes sitting down, crossing your legs and your arms. John grabbing a pencil looking as if he was writing something. 
“This is Lizzie’s fault to start with, Tommy’s for leaving it up to you.” She told him.
“What are you talking about?” John asked looking up at Polly now with confusion on his face. Polly just look at John with a blank expression. 
“We run London. We run the north, we run the whole fucking country. What do we care about some fucking Nechells Green Eyeties?” He spoke seeing him starting to get a little angry as he looked down at his paper again. You stood from you desk and walked over to him and placing your hands on his shoulders hoping to maybe calm him down a bit. You looked at Pol, who just raised an eyebrow, knowing what she said next was probably going to piss him off even more. 
“We sent need to be getting involved in all these little piss pots.” Polly said back to John. 
“What does Arthur say?” John said with his voice a little calmer. Pol again looking up at you and raising both eyebrows. 
“That’s why I’m here and not him. If he said it, there’d be a fight.” Pol said getting ready to tell John what Arthur said. 
“He says, apologize.” Pol said. Instantly shooting your eyes to hers then down at John, now lightly massaging his shoulders hoping it will help him from getting angry. He put his had to his face almost with a face of disbelief that Arthur said that. 
“He fucking said what?” He said with laugh between words. You knew it wasn’t a good kind of laugh. He went back to scribbling on his paper. 
“We own the city. But we dint need to rub everyones noses in it.” Polly said causing John to push his pencil hard into the paper. 
“If the old man decided to make a stand, he might get Sabini feeling sentimental..”
“Sabine’s done.” John said interrupting Polly. There was defiantly an awkward silence now in the room as everyone just kind of looked around not making eye contact. 
“They’re all done.” Polly said breaking the silence. John putting his fist up to his head and pushing his forehead into it trying to get himself as calm as possible. But, you’ve known John a while and there’s only so much that could be done to keep him calm, so you took your hands away from him and took a step back. 
“They all pay up. But we don’t want rebellions.” Polly continued. John now sighing heavily still trying to keep calm. 
“What does Tommy say?” He asked in a tone of regret even asking the question. 
“Tommy’s busy. He left me in charge.” Polly spoke with a low but direct tone trying to make John understand. 
“What do you say?” John asked twirling his finger, fixing his mistake with his eyes closed. 
“Compromise.” Polly said sitting back in her chair. 
“Mmm-hmm” John said under his breathe with s light smirk on his face. 
“I’ve asked Lizzie to do it for you. She’s going to meet him, break up with him for good, apologize for any inconvenience, say it was all her fault”
“FOR FUCK’S SAKE!” John screamed stranding and hitting everything off the table finally losing his cool. You just stood there in silence, waiting to see what would happen next. 
“You know what ask this is?” John asked with a slight stutter. 
“This is Arthur’s fucking missus.” He said starting to walk back and forth talking about Linda. 
“Turn the other fucking cheek? We’ll be handing out bibles in the fucking bull ring with her cousins.” John said leaning over the desk to Polly before turning and grabbing his jacket. 
“John, you don’t have to do anything. Lizzie will do it for you.” Polly spoke. You threw your hands in the air, and put them over your face knowing that was going tone make him more mad. 
“ Then it’ll all calm down, and nobody will lose face.” Polly said as John walked passed her to the door. You followed behind stopping next to Polly. 
“I’ll take his fucking face. How about that?” He said as he opened the door. 
“John, do nothing…. ” Polly began but John slamming the door before she could finish. She let out a sigh and looked over at you. 
“How do you deal with this?” Polly asked you. 
“I’ll try to find him.” You said quickly grabbing your jacket and running out of the office and out the front doors. You saw Johns car driving away. You hoped into yours and followed him. Losing him. few blocks away. You drove in the direction of where the Changretta’s spent most their time. After about 10 minutes you spotted John’s car parked in front of a building. You parked and got out running to the front doors. But before you should open them, John came out. He had sweat on his forehead, and blood on the blade of his cap. 
“John. What did you do?” You said backing up a bit. He ignored you and pushed passed.
“JOHN!” You yelled at him. 
“Nothing y/n! Leave me alone!” He yelled back before getting into his car and driving away. You threw you hands in the air and sighed out. 
“Fucking Shelby’s” You spoke out loud to yourself. 
“Where is he?” Polly asked about an hour later as you sat in the kitchen with her and Arthur sipping tea. Tommy stood in the betting shop waiting for John to show. You heard the door close and saw John walk in with his hat in his hand and Finn stood next to him.
“All right, Finn, thanks for coming. Fuck off.” Arthur said as John stood, not making eye contact with anyone in the room. You were quite upset at how he treated you when you saw him. But here is where we’d get all the answers we needed. 
“Finn, you can stay.” Tommy said walking into the kitchen, and Finn turning around too come back. Tommy stepping in the doorway. 
“Sit down John.” Tommy said leaning up against the doorframe smoking his cigarette. 
“Sit down.” He said once again when John didn’t the first time. 
“John, you cut Angel Changretta.” Tommy spoke after a bit of silence. You looked over at John who just held his head down and listened. 
“Even though Arthur told you to apologize.” Tommy spoke Arthur holding his head up to show that yes he did tell John that. 
“Mmm-hmm” Was all John said to that statement. 
“Polly told you to compromise.” Tommy continued. 
“Mmm-Hmm” John replied again with. 
“You chose not to listen to Mr. Apologize, or Mrs. Compromise.” Tommy said pointing his finger at each of them, causing you to sightly grin. 
“And now I have an Italian walking around my backyard saying he’s going to kill my brother.” Tommy spoke after a slight pause. Making a fist of your hand. 
“Not if he wants to join his son in having no eyes too.” You said quietly, causing everyone to look at you. You held you head down letting Tommy speak. 
“So what do we do, John. Do we apologize or do we compromise?” Tommy asked. Seeming as if it was a trick question to you the way this conversation has been going. John sucked on his teeth looking down, and then up at Arthur. 
“Oh, it was just something said as a joke.” Arthur spoke for the first time since sitting down. Tommy looking up at him away from John. 
“Yeah but he’s your brother as well, Arthur.” He said lifting a hand and speaking with it. 
“Yeah. I know I didn’t want to start a war over something John said without meaning it.” Arthur said looking back at Tommy. Tommy had a confused look on his face and looked away. 
“So, should he apologize in Italian or in English?” Tommy said looking back at Arthur with slight sarcasm in his voice. Polly looked over at Tommy in disbelief he just said that and Johns eyes finally coming up off the table and looking over at Arthur, Polly and you.
“Or should we ask them which fucking language they prefer?” Tommy asked them. You now understood that Tommy was on John’s side about the decision. 
“I’m not clear.” He said looking over at Arthur with anger on his face. Polly turning and moving her body is confusion and like she just had been disrespected in some way. 
“You said while this business was going on in London, you wanted peace at home.” Polly spoke to Tommy.
“And the only way to guarantee peace is by making the prospect of war seem hopeless.” Arthur sitting back in his seat more tense than before, and Polly with her hand on him hoping to calm him down a little bit. Polly stared at Tommy with disbelief in her eyes. 
“If you apologize once, you do it again and again and again. Like taking brick out of the wall of your fucking house. Do you want to bring the house down Arthur?” Tommy said looking over at Arthur who was still looking away from Tommy and tense as ever. Arthur just grunting back at Tommy’s question. 
“If you’re soft on rebellion, it’ll grow.” Tommy spoke. Polly grinning as she picked up her tea again, and Arthur getting up from his seat. 
“Bloody 'soft on rebellion.” Arthur said standing up mocking what Tommy said. 
“You did the right thing, John.” Tommy spoke looking directly at you now. You could see the lust in his eyes the way he looked at you. 
“Now, we go on the offensive. We take two of the Changretta pubs, and we take them tonight. That’s it.” Tommy sad standing straight and now walking all the way into the room. 
“oh! Right, for Christ sake, why?” Polly now raising her voice. 
“Hey!” Tommy said as he began to walk away.
“WHY!?” Polly yelled back. 
“Why? because we fucking can!” Tommy said walking back now and everyone settling back down as he raised his voice. 
“Because we fucking can and if we can, we do. And if we lift our heel off their necks now, they’ll come at us. Do you want them to come after your wife John?” He said motioning to you. 
“No.” He said in a low growl. 
“Remember these are the bastards that wanted Danny Whizz-Band dead.” Thomas said with even more anger in your voice. Remembering back to when Danny was alive. He was a joy to be around when he wasn’t off his rocker. Arthur now pacing in front of the fire place and Tommy just staring at him. 
“You’re getting soft, brother. Soft and weak. Save the Bible for Sundays, eh.” Tommy said to Arthur still not taking his eyes off of him and Arthur getting noticeably more angry. 
“Finn?” Tommy said still staring at Arthur. 
“I need to get to Hockey and then home. It’s been a long day.” Thomas spoke to Finn. Finn getting up and placing his hand on Johns shoulder as he passed him walking passed Tommy probably to go get the car ready to go. 
“You take the Wrexham, you take the Five Bells. Arthur on the Wrexham. John and Y/N the Five Bells.” He said giving you guys your orders for the night. 
“You get them signed over to us in the morning. You make sure the coppers stay away.” Tommy said to Arthur and Polly, who both now paid no attention to him. 
“Don’t use the fucking phone, all right? There’s someone listening.” Tommy said before turning around. 
“Oh and John.” Tommy said turning around one more. 
“You fuck your wife in the Five Bells to celebrate what you have done.” Thomas said and finally leaving. John sat there in silence as he looked up at Arthur and Polly. Arthur looking at him and walking to him. 
“Well done.” He said walking passed John and leaving. John turning to see Arthur leave and all you heard in the room was Polly slurping her tea and staring up at John, making you giggled just a bit. You got up along with John to start heading to do you assigned duties.
As you kicked the last person out of the bar, your felt hands around you turning you around and pushing you up the door. 
“Tommy’s order, eh?” John said with a huge smile on his face. You smiled back and attached your lips to his. He lifted you from your feet and onto him. Before sitting you on the bar and ripped it off from the glass that laid on it from prior activities you guys indulged in. 
“You want to fuck me Mr. Shelby?” You asked between kisses. 
“ I want to do more than fuck you Mrs. Shelby. I want to put a baby in you. Right in this pub.” He said making your eyes go wide. 
“Then come on daddy.” You said making him see red. Attacking your neck with his lips making you moan out a bit. He unbuckled his pants and slipped them down around his ankles. Then doing so for you. But not before he ripped open your top to make you breast accessible. Taking your nipple in his mouth and sucking furiously on it, you grabbed the back of his neck for leverage to stay up. His now sweaty hair not slicked bad anymore you yanked it back pulled his face to yours. You reached between you two grabbing his cock in your hand and guiding him inside of you. 
“Oh fuck, John.” You moaned out and throwing your head back. As he pumped in and out of you he gripped your shoulder to give him leverage to pound into you. 
“John, please don’t stop.” You cried out. 
“Why, love?” He asked as he slowed down. 
“NO, Please don’t.” You cried out as your grabbed around his torso to pull him into you. 
“You want me to put a baby in you? You want to cum all over me?” He said stilled now. 
“Yes, please please, making me cum. Put a baby in me.” and with that being said he quickened again, pounding even harder into you than before. 
“John, I’m going to cum.” You spoke out with labored breathing. 
“Go ahead , love. I’m right there too.” He said as you felt this cock twitch in side of you and he started to get shaky. You came and yelled out. Loud. As you clenched around him, he let out a stream into you. You felt the hot cum just all inside you, making you smile and giggle out. As he pumped a few small strokes and relaxed his muscles into you. 
“Fuck. I love you.” He said lifting his head. 
“I love you, John Shelby.” You said kissing him.
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themultifandomgal · 1 year ago
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Shelby Sister- Troublesome Twins Pt2
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I was asked to do a part 2. So here it is!
Since Finn getting shot, YNs brothers have been even more protective than normal. She's finding it harder to see her boyfriend since Tommy has basically put her on house arrest. YN had been sneaking out during the night to meet Isaiah under the bridge by the cut. Then one day Isaiah asked YN to marry him, she of course said yes, but there's no way her brothers would allow that. So they made the decision to run off, with the help of Finn since he's the only one not to try and control YN's life. Now they're returning home, YN hoping her brothers don't go mad and Isaiah hoping her brothers don't kill him.
"There they are" Finn smiles walking over to them as the get off the train "the happy couple. Welcome back" Finn envelopes his twin before shaking Isaiah's hand
"So how bad will it be?"
"Well Arthur probably will shout, Tommy might have both your heads and Ada well she'll find all of this hilarious" Finn says pulling away
"Looking forward to it" Isaiah sighs
"Just don't tell 'em that your havin a kid because I think that will give 'em a heart attack"
"Well I'm not not for a while"
"Good. You hear that Isaiah. I may approve of you and my sister but no babies us till your like 30" this makes Isaiah and I laugh.
We arrive at the Garrison where I know Finn has gathered everyone
"You ok?" Isaiah asks before we step foot into the pub
"Should be asking you that" I chuckle taking Isaiah's hand in mine "but yes. May as well get this over and done with" I take a deep breath and open the doors immediately seeing it empty apart from my family sat at a large table. Everyone looks at us walking in
"Where the fuck have you been YN?" Arthur yells slamming his drink down
"Let the girl sit down first" Ada says, I give her a little smile in reply. I drag Isaiah over to the table and take a seat next to Polly. Tommy just stares at me while Arthur drinks. Michael sits smoking a cigarette looking between Tommy and I
“So” tommy finally speaks “want to tell us where you were?”
“Errm ok so” I play with my ring nervously under the table “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I knew you would go mad”
“Spit it out” Arthur grunts
“Isaiah and I got married” I quickly say
“You bloody what?!” Arthur yells
“Finn did you know?”
“Yes, but Tom….”
“You went behind my back”
“I warned you Tommy. I told you Isaiah and I would get married one day with or without your permission”
“Are your pregnant?” Micheal asks
“No I’m not bloody pregnant”
“Then why marry so young”
“Maybe because they love each other” Ada says in my defence, but Tommy scoffs
“They’re kids”
“I’m 21 Tommy. I’m an adult I know what I’m doing” I yell at my brother
“No you don’t YN! What if he fucks another woman? What if he hurts you? He’s going to break your heart. Fuck YN I know what men his age do, hell men my age fuck around while married”
“Just ‘cause you all cheated on your wife’s doesn’t mean Isaiah will”
“Ok I think we need to calm down” aunt Polly tries
“No you know what this was a mistake. Maybe we should have stayed in London maybe I should have made you think I was dead because clearly you’d prefer that than me being married and happy!” I yell one last time “come on Is we’re going” I stand up pulling Isaiah with me. We begin walking out when Isaiah stops, turning around to face my brothers
“You know, I actually really love YN. I respect her as a person, she’s my equal and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe and provide for her and hopefully our kids in the future. I know YN will want you all apart of that, but I guess it’s your choice” Isaiah places his arm around my waist as we walk out of the garrison
“Thank you Is”
“Always”
I groan getting out of bed after hearing multiple knocks on the door and Polly shouting for me. Isaiah and I have been staying with Polly before we try and find our own home. I wrap my dressing gown around my body and make my way downstairs when I see Tommy and Arthur stood at the door
“What do you want?” I ask folding my arms
“You were right” I raise my eyebrows at Tommy. He never apologises
“Continue”
“You told me you would marry him”
“We’re just worried about you” Arthur finally says “we don’t want you hurt. Your our little sister. The baby of the family”
“I’m not a baby anymore. Neither is Finn. I appreciate that you want to keep me safe but I can handle myself and now I have Isaiah, well I guess I’ve always had him. I’m happy and I promise if Isaiah ever does anything to hurt me I will tell you”
“Can we come in?” Tommy asks
“Best ask Poll. I’ll go and get dressed and get Isaiah up”
“Just promise me 1 thing… no babies yet. I don’t think I can handle that as well”
“Ok” I chuckle responding to Tommy.
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sneakyblinders · 2 years ago
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the royal wedding of small heath
A/N: I was going to post this in one big fic but it’s so long... and I’m not finished quite yet lol enjoy pt 1. PT 2 HERE warnings: soft tommy. for my tommy and his darling wife!au. language, mild sexual themes.  1.9k words
The Garrison was bustling with people. People milled about, this way and that, people Tommy recognized, and people he didn’t. The musicians that Arthur had hired for the event were fantastic, just the exact music Tommy had wanted. None of the new stuff, and all of the stuff Tommy and his brothers held dear to their hearts.
Family members from near and far gathered here today after the rehearsal to celebrate with Tommy and his bride.
He made his way over to the bar, where Harry was rapidly pouring shots for a group of men lined up at the bar Tommy could only assume to be some of your cousins. Not men he knew. “Gentlemen,” he greeted them.
“Mr. Shelby, we appreciate your generosity tonight.” The oldest of them said, leaning over the other two to shake Tommy’s hand.
“It’s my pleasure.” Tommy told him before asking Harry for another bottle of whiskey for the table.
“She looks mighty pretty tonight, Mr. Shelby,” Harry told him, handing him the bottle.
“That she does, Harry. That she does.” Tommy glanced back over his shoulder, hearing your laugh as your sister told some ridiculous story from when you were children to John and Finn.
He turned back towards your table, bottle in his hand. He made his way through the crowd, beginning to itch in his suit. He was far too worn out from all the people that were abso-fucking-lutely everywhere this week. People from your side of the family had started pouring in on Monday from all over England, the United States and fucking France to witness the Shelby wedding. The Royal Wedding of Small Heath is what the Birmingham papers had called it when your engagement announcement ran in the papers. Your mother had bought every paper she could get her hands on and sent the clipping to every family member she could think of.
“It’s pretty rare that someone like us marries someone like Thomas Shelby.” your mother had told you, eyes peering at you over her glasses.
Someone like us.
You’d been raised in London, your parents both modest people. Your father has worked as a banker ever since you could remember. He made a decent living, but with you, your older sister and brother and mother to take care of, there was never really much extra money to go around. You lived well, and had everything you needed, but the wants were never really attended to.
So when you accidentally met Tommy one evening on your way back home in London, your mother insisted it was fate. And a few months later, you deemed that she was right.
Tommy returned to your table, setting the bottle of whiskey down. John snatched it up and poured his and Arthur’s glasses full once more. “Are you doing alright, Sweetheart?” he asked, adjusting in his seat, his arm around you.
“Yes,” you beam up at him. “Are you?” you ask, a hand on his thigh.
“Never better.” he told you, love pouring from his chest.
“If I see a more lovesick man I’ll drag him here so you can have a competition,” John laughed. Esme elbowed him in the ribs. “What? I’ve never seen ‘im like this.” John told his wife.
“Pay him no mind, love.” Esme told you. You giggled, squeezing Tommy’s thigh under the table.
“I generally don’t.” you told her.
“And that, Tommy, is why we love her!” Arthur cackled, raising his glass to his lips and throwing back the whole glass of whiskey.
Your mother apprehensively approached the table. She’d been here for a bloody week and a half and Tommy had barely been able to get his hands on you for fear of her popping up and claiming your whole relationship to be an absolute travesty. “Dearie, your father and I are getting quite tired, would it be alright if we retired for the evening?”
Tommy sighed when you stood up to hug your mother. “Of course, of course. Tommy,” you turned to look at your fiance. “Would one of your brothers escort them to their lodgings?” you asked.
“I’ll do it, love. Happy to.” Arthur told you, standing up. “Anything for you, love.” he threw you a tipsy smile.
“Thank you, Arthur. Mother, remember, we must be at the estate by nine.” you reminded her.
“Yes, of course. We will be there.”
Your mother hugged you goodbye, your father waiting patiently by the door. Arthur lumbered after them, making sure they got there safely. It was only a block away, but stranger things have happened in Small Heath.
After your parents left, other guests started to trickle out of the Garrison, whether to settle in for the night or go get rowdy somewhere else, no one knew. Tommy quietly observed the rest of the people, smoking his cigarette, arm around your shoulders as you talked to your sister.
“Are you ready, sister?” Emile asked.
“For what?” you asked with a confused look on your face.
“To be a wife, of course. And all it entails.” she told you, a suggestive tone in her voice.
“Emile!” you scolded her, eyeing Tommy, who acted as if he wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention to your conversation. “Not here!”
“Thomas, wait ‘till you see the things our cousins from France bought her.”
“Emile!” you scolded again, cheeks flushing hot. Thankfully John and Finn had gotten up to fetch more beer.
“It��s alright, love, everybody knows you won’t be out in public for at least a week after tomorrow.” Tommy told you, a devious look on his face.
“Thomas!” you scolded, a look of disbelief on your face. “Ganged up on by my sister and fiance. Unbelievable.”
“We’ve been in cahoots this whole time, sister. How do you think he picked the ring the right size?” Emile asked, peering at you over her wine glass.
You look at Tommy, who was smirking. “She’s right, love. Phoned her and asked the second I knew I was going to propose.”
“Which was when?” you asked.
He leaned in closer to you, lips to your ear. “That night after I took you to that restaurant in London–what was it called–”
“Wiltons.” you reminded him.
“Ah, yes, Wiltons. I took you back to my hotel and–”
“Okay, I know what day you’re talking about now.” you tell him, pulling away from his lips. He’s smirking at you. “Cheeky man.” you tell him as he lights a cigarette.
“Only bad thing about him, he smokes like a freight train.” Emile joked.
Tommy smiled, cigarette in his mouth. “You get used to it.” you tell her, thankful Tommy was tolerant of your sister's childish remarks.
You sat in silence, Tommy’s thumbs drawing sweet circles on the back of your hand as your sister went to find your brother. “Do you think everyone will behave tomorrow?” you ask Tommy.
“They will, my love. I will make sure of it.” he tells you, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“Where is Ada?” you ask, suddenly noticing her absence.
“She said they will not be making an appearance until tomorrow.” Tommy said, rolling his eyes.
“Because of Freddie?” you ask.
“Yes, because of Freddie.” he confirms, putting the butt of his cigarette in the ash dish.
“It’s not fair to Karl, keeping him from his family.” you tell Tommy, snuggling closer into his side.
Tommy sighs. “I know, my love.”
Polly comes over towards the table, a smile on her face. “Are you two ready for tomorrow? Dress all picked up?”
“Yes. It’s hanging in the room at the estate.” you tell her.
“Thomas, did you pick up–”
“Our tuxedo’s from Mr. Zhang, yes, Pol. I did.” he says flatly.
“The baker came to me this morning and said he would deliver the cake around noon.” she rattled off all the delivery times of the various things. Flowers by nine, musicians would arrive by four, and the estate would be bathed with white roses and greenery by one in the afternoon. Polly had been an integral part of the wedding planning, going with you to every dress appointment, every catering and cake testing. Tommy waved it all off, telling you, “Whatever you want, Darling, all I care about is the bride at the end of the aisle.”
A little before midnight, the party came to a close. Everyone left, leaving you, Polly and Tommy to discuss various particulars of the impending wedding day. The musicians packed up their things, and Tommy handed them a rather thick wad of money.
“Thank you, Mr. Shelby.” the bassist said.
“Thank you, you all did a wonderful job tonight.” Tommy told them sincerely, showing them to the door and locking it behind them.
“Alright, you two might as well start saying your goodbyes. Can’t see each other until she walks down the aisle, Thomas. It’s bad luck.” Polly told him. “I’ll wait outside, love.” she told you, walking to the car that John was waiting in. You were going to spend your last night as a single woman at Polly’s place, sleeping in Thomas’ old bedroom, that he had only just vacated, telling you his wedding present to you was rather grand.
He stood up and walked over to the old gramophone and began to play one of John’s new records. Some of the slow jazz that was popular then. “Will you dance with me?” he asked, turning to you, eyes straining to make out all your features in the dark.
A few lonely candles were still lit, giving the pub a warm glow. “Yes, Mr. Shelby, I will.” you stand up to meet him in the middle of the pub.
He pulls you into his chest and you rest your head against his heart. “I swear to you,” he whispers lowly. “I will spend all my life loving you, and you alone. You are the single best thing to happen to me, my angel.”
You smile against his chest, feeling his heart beating in his chest. “I love you, Thomas Shelby.” you tell him, melting into him.
“I love you.” he whispers.
Your ring sparkles in the faint rays of light, casting small rainbows on the ceiling. It was far bigger a diamond than you thought practical, but Tommy would not hear of a smaller diamond. You were quite nervous to see the wedding band he had picked but he assured you that you would love it.
“I can’t wait to see you in your tuxedo tomorrow.” you tell him, looking up at him.
He smiled softly at you. “Enjoy every minute of tomorrow, Sweetheart. Anything you want, you can have, okay?”
“Will life always be like this?” you ask.
“Like what?” he asked in return.
“Anything you want, in the blink of an eye. The snap of my fingers.” you say, still in disbelief.
“That is my goal, love.” he tells you, reaching down to kiss your lips.
The kiss is cut short by John bursting through the doors. “Will you let her come on? Polly won’t quit complainin’ about the cold. You have your whole lives to kiss.”
Tommy kissed you again, John throwing his arms in the air and huffing before turning around to walk out the doors again. You hear him faintly yell to Polly, “He won’t let go of her, Pol!”
“I better go.” you chuckle, looking into Tommy’s eyes.
“Sleep well, my blushing bride.” Tommy teases you, pressing one last kiss to your lips.
“Goodnight, Thomas.” you tell him.
He walks you to the car, where John is thoroughly annoyed now. “See you tomorrow!” Tommy says, a mischievous grin on his face.
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ljz002-world · 3 months ago
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Verdun and Somme, Part 4
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Thomas eyes widened slightly while Finn and Michael looked almost disgusted, they knew atrocities were committed during the war, but that was wretched. Doing something so horrendous to someone like Y/N, she seemed like such a king soul, such a sweet girl. How could any man sleep soundly knowing he had done something like that? “How’d you know?”, Finn asked Arthur who looked down at the floor as he answered, “Saw it when she was wiping down some counters, she put her hair up, thought she was alone. I saw it. Two metal bars on her right ear.” “Did any of you three take any trophies?”, Pol asked the three oldest, John and Arthur shook their heads while Tommy looked at his aunt, “Some of my men had one I think. I’ll be back”, with that Thomas left the house and made his way to the Garrison where he found Y/N, her right ear covered by her hair as usual, no other patrons were in the pub. “Mr Shelby”, the girl smiled softly at the man.
“Show me.” “Huh?” “Show me your ear.” Y/N took a shaky breath, now was her time to act. She removed the band holding her hair together and let it fall naturally, Thomas walked closer to her, stepping behind the bar and walking until Y/N could feel his breath hitting her forehead. The second oldest Shelby man raised his hand to remove her hair from her right ear, seeing the two metal studs in her upper ear. “I’m a soldier, I was in France, I know of the meaning of those.” Y/N took a shaky breath as she looked up, “And now?” “And now I want you to tell me when, and where”, Thomas leaned a bit back, resting his hands on his hips as he looked at the young woman in expectancy. “It’s a long story-“ “We have time and alcohol.”
Y/N took a shaky breath but nodded, “I took my brother’s place in the army, my parents had me and a boy, I was a difficult baby so they gave me to my uncle when I was old enough to not need my mother’s milk anymore. He raised me, and then the war started, my parents were back, well my mother, my father had died years before that. My mother came to me and asked me to volunteer in my brother’s name as he was engaged to some rich girl who didn’t want him gone and in the war. I signed up in my brother’s name, cut off my hair and joined the army. My brother died during the war of some illness. While I fought at the frontlines. The first time was at Verdun, my division was caught by the British, they wanted to execute us all. But before that they wanted to rob us of all honor by raping us. Not because they wanted to explicitly, just because they could. They found I was a girl then. Shot my men dead, and kept me for a bit, gave me the first stud.”
Thomas was shocked at the girl’s words. She did not look like someone who had served. Not only because she was a woman, but more so because of how weak she looked. Looked like she couldn’t even hold a rifle without her arms shaking. But she continued after having taken another deep breath, “I ran away from them, killed three without a weapon, and two with their weapons, I took one of my comrades uniform as mine was torn, returned to my comrades and told them they had tortured me for information for the battle. That was what I told them why I was kept alive, I had bandaged my ear, told them they cut piece of it off. Then I was moved to the Somme, the first battle there was hell. Maybe even worse than Verdun. I fought again, and then the ground blew up behind us, caging us in with even more Brits. They wanted to do the same again. Had heard that there was a woman under the Germans. There I got my second stud.” “How’d you get out there?” “I killed them, ten men, and hid. I returned to my comrades but by then they had already told my sergeant. I was sent home, honorably discharged they said, because I did fight a lot and even earned medals, but never received them because I was a woman. Told me to be happy I was honorably discharged and not dishonorably or even executed for defying orders and signing up when I was a woman.”
“Men that hurt you survived the war. Right?” “Yes.” “The war was hard on us all, but nobody should go through that.”
Y/N was shocked, even now, Thomas did not recognize her. She just nodded as the man wanted to leave the pub. To leave the girl with an insatiable rage against the man and all of his soldiers. “Mr. Shelby.” “Yes?” “You won’t tell anyone, right?” “I don’t even tell me brothers about my plans until the day of. Your secret is safe with me.” Y/N just nodded as the man left the pub, the girl dropping her big teary eyes and shaking voice as she scoffed before tossing a cloth onto the other side of the counter before tying her apron off and hanging it up on the wall.
=
Y/N was in her rather small home, standing before the stove as she was cooking some broth her aunt used to make for her back when she was a small child. Humming the melody of a lullaby as she slightly swayed to the memories of her childhood. It hadn’t been an easy one, of course not, but it had its happy memories.
Memories she did not share with her parents but instead with her uncle and aunt, the people who had truly raised her, raised her and still denied her access to their home when she had told them about what had been done to her in the war. Sometimes she felt sad about it, but then she remembered how freely she was able to life now, earning her own money and not being dependent on any man. Back at home she was dependent on her uncle, he had planned for her to marry one of his colleagues, then she would’ve been  dependent on that man. But now? Now she wasn’t dependent on anyone else.
Rushed knocks ripped the young woman out of her reality, causing her to rush to the door, wooden spoon still in hand as she ripped the door open, letting the droplets of the rain into her home. Before her stood Thomas Shelby, drenched from the rain and holding a suspiciously large briefcase in one hand. “Can I come in?”, Thomas asked, and he usually wasn’t one to ask to enter one’s home. “Y-Yeah Mr. Shelby”, Y/N stuttered, moving to the side to let the man enter, he removed his cap and coat, hanging them in the entry-way, following the girl into her kitchen where he observed her closely. Watching how she returned to stirring the broth as he was standing inside of the door-frame. “What’re you cooking?” “Chicken-broth, helps the immune system, I’m not used to the rainy weather you have up here. Want me to make you a plate as well?” “That’d be lovely”, Thomas spoke calmly, watching how the girl poured the broth into two sunken in plates.
“Can I ask why you’re here Mr. Shelby?”, Y/N asked, breaking the deafening silence between the two. The man looked up from his plate, noticing how she still kept her hair covering her right ear, “This is good broth.” The girl just let a sigh out as she shook her head, “Why are you here Mr. Shelby?” “Was it just British soldiers?”, he asked, gesturing to the girl’s ear, causing the girl to lower her gaze as she was chewing on the inside of her cheek before slowly nodding. “Verdun and the Somme, right?” Another nod came from the girl. “Which months?” Y/N looked up with confusion, “February to July in Verdun, July to November at the Somme.” Thomas nodded calmly, “Don’t tell a soul what I’ll tell you, eh?” Y/N nodded unsure of the man’s next words. “I know that you know that I served in the war as well, I’m a Sergeant Major. I know where which men served. I’ll take care of it.” “Why should I not-“ “I’m not a nice man Y/N. I’m anything but a nice man. Can’t have people knowing I’m showing some empathy.”
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sl-newsie · 2 months ago
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American Woman (Thomas Shelby x American OC) Ch. 30: Pretend
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Masterlist: https://www.tumblr.com/sl-newsie/739551758747090944/american-woman-thomas-shelby-x-american-oc?source=share
Back at Arrow House the gathering seems to split up into two groups: Grace’s side and Thomas’ side. On one side stands cheerful grins and partying hooligans. The other has tight-smiling women and military uniforms. I don’t belong here. And as much as she pretends Grace doesn’t think so either.
“Verena? Why are you back here?” 
My hiding spot in the kitchen has been discovered. Why does Finn get more grown up every time I see him?
“Sorry, Finn. Not feeling too social. I hardly know anyone here!”
“That can be fixed.” He points to the party going on outside.
“Polite pass. I shouldn’t really be here, you know.” I hold up a gift basket. “My father’s sent me here with fresh whiskey as gifts for the newlyweds. His regards for your hospitality.”
The youngest Shelby joins me on the stone steps. “Even so, what’s important is that you’re here. It’s been two years. We all missed you.” He nudges my shoulder. “Again.”
“I know, I know. But there’s nothing else tying me here anymore. Polly argued with Thomas to let me stay but he says my debt has been paid. If I stick around it’s of my own accord and that would look very suspicious.”
“You can still work for Shelby Brothers Limited,” Finn suggests.
“No offense, but I want to establish my life around a career that’s not illegal.”
He shows mock offense to my words. “That’s not true. We’ve weeded out most of the illegal rubbish.”
“Oi! Finn! Where’d you go off to?”
Finn hops to his feet. “That’s Jackson! Be right back!”
He runs out to join his friend and I’m left alone in the drafty kitchen. Wearing a wrinkled blue dress, sipping watered down whiskey, and thinking about broken dreams. Is this how Thomas feels when he’s depressed?
Footsteps alert my attention to the back door just in time to see John walk in. “Finn said I’d find you here.”
My brow furrows in frustration and I have to look down. “I’m- I shouldn’t be here, John. Everyone can see it. I’m the oddball American. I can’t go unnoticed because people always look at me funny when I speak.”
I hear him walk over and he kneels next to me. “Verena, you do need to be here. For all of us. Tommy was so happy when he heard you were coming. Now, before you say anything, I do admit even I’m disappointed it’s not you walking down the aisle.” He speaks faster when he sees my shock. “But please understand that you being here is important. And the bit about you being American? Flaunt it! It’s what makes you. You’re proud of your heritage, eh?”
My posture straightens and I set my jaw firm. “Without question.”
He pats my back. “Then don’t let those stuffy sods get you down. Here, drink this.”
I gratefully take the shot. “L’Chaim. Now I should go give my best wishes to the happy couple instead of just hiding in the kitchen-”
“Not quite yet,” John makes me sit back down. “Tommy’s holding a meeting. You’re part of this too! I’m gonna go find Arthur.”
All the Blinder boys begin crowding in. Finn’s back too. So many familiar faces. Michael, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Johnny Doggs. Um, this is not a meeting I’m meant to be part of. It doesn’t feel right.
“Finn, I’m not sure-” I stutter and start inching towards the back door. “I’m not a gangster, I’m not family-”
“The Hell you’re not!” Finn grabs my arm and hides me behind the pantry. “Get in here, Verena.”
People part away and Thomas steps in front of the group. When he sees me standing next to Finn he gets confused.
“Verena? Why’re ya hiding back here?”
I’m surprised he noticed my absence. “Just tired is all. I had a long trip.”
“How long will you stay?” Is that hope hidden in his voice?
“A few days, perhaps.” I take a sip of whiskey. “Then I’m heading to Belfast to respond to a note from my uncle.”
His face falls. “That soon?”
Why else would I stay? He’s got his bride and his son. I’m not part of the equation. And he’s quick to forget it because now Thomas is scanning the crowd for the rest of his brothers.
“Where are they? Where-?”
“I don’t know, Tommy-”
The door opens and Arthur and John bust in carrying wine. “Here we are! We got lost. You really need to do a map, Tommy.”
Thomas has looked stressed before but this is a new form of stress. He keeps looking at everyone like a dog growling at intruders.
“Right boys, you’re all here. Today, this is my fucking wedding day.”
Oh no, I’ve walked right into the warning speech. Thomas is off the leash. That cigarette is never going to provide enough nicotine to get him through this.
“And you said there’d be no bloody uniforms-” John complains.
“Nevertheless, John, despite the bad blood I’ll have none of it on my carpet. Now for Grace’s sake nothing will go wrong.” He holds up his hands in an attempt to calm people down and points to the door. “Those bastards out there are her family. And if you fuckers do anything to emberass her, your kin, your cousins, your horses, your fucking kids, you do anything…”
John speaks up. “Tom-”
“What?!” he barks.
His brother flinches and Isiah asks instead. “What about snow?”
“Yeah their women are sports I’ll say that!” John agrees and gets him in a headlock.
“No. No. No.” Thomas approaches them in an eerily steady but scary voice. “No cocaine. No cocaine. No sports. No telling fortunes, no racing, no fucking sucking petrol out of their fucking cars. And you, Charlie, stop spinning yarns about me, eh?”
“‘M just trying to sell ya to ‘em, Tom,” his uncle defends.
Thomas isn’t done. He keeps getting in everyone’s face. I really shouldn’t be here! I don’t want him to get more agitated than he already is. But I can’t sneak past Finn without him noticing. He’s pacing now. Like a caged animal.
“But the main thing is, you bunch-a fuckers, despite the provocation from the calvary, no fighting. Oi!” He raises his voice and points to each individual. “No fighting. No fucking fighting. No fighting. No! Fucking! Fighting!”
I think we can all agree that this is extreme, even for Thomas. Are all English weddings this uptight? If it were a wedding back home we’d all be dancing by now. Next to me I feel Finn’s as tense as frozen butter. But at least Thomas is starting to cool down.
“Good.” He backs up just as an unsuspecting hired hand and gives him a shove. “Get the fuck off me!”
So much for no fighting. All the men start laughing and go back to their usual bantering. Maybe I went unseen after all.
“Coast is clear,” Finn whispers. 
“Are you okay?”
He nods repeatedly. “Yup, yup. We all got an earful from Tommy.”
Arthur walks over. “Speaking of, where did Tommy go?”
“Upstairs with Grace,” John says and claps him on the back. “C’mon let’s eat.”
They expect me to follow but I shake my head. “No offense but I’m not staying around for dinner. If the simple drinks and conversing are this awkward I don’t even want to think about what dinner will be like.”
“Oh, come on.” John drags me out of my hiding place and into the ginormous parlor. “For Polly and Ada’s sake.”
I spot the two women conversing in the corner. “They seem fine without me. What about you, Arthur? You’ve been sober this whole time.”
He smiles proudly. “Gave up whiskey. Only the occasional drink. Oh, wait!” He spots someone behind me and walks over with a blonde woman wearing an elegant black dress with a simple cross necklace. “Steenstra, meet Linda. My girl.”
She offers a kind smile. “You are a woman of God as well?”
Oh. Skip straight to that kind of conversation. “Indeed.”
Her smile widens. “Are you Catholic?”
“I am a Christian. My father let my brothers and I choose our own path rather than setting us up in one dominion. In the end we’re all Christians.”
She wants to keep smiling but her eyes don’t agree with my answer. “I see.”
I nod to where Arthur and John are bringing out more wine. “Arthur seems quite happy now. I’m glad you found him.”
“He just needed someone to guide him,” Linda comments. “I love him very much. Do you have a special someone back home?”
There are so many ways I could answer that.
“I thought I had someone special,” I say, avoiding her gaze by taking a sip of whiskey. “But things change.”
“Do you still plan to marry one day?”
What is with this woman? She just met me. Why do weddings always have to make everyone crowd up in everyone else’s private life?
“If I can find the right man.” I shrug. “Or if my family forces me to marry first. I don’t know how much time I’ve got left.”
“I can fix that!”
A hand tugs me away and I’m twirled around to face Ada. Why does she look like she’s up to something?
I pull away and back off slowly with my hands raised. “Ada, no. I have no interest in whatever suitable bachelor you picked out for me. I’m off the table. I’m only here for your family. Now please excuse me.”
Need to find Thomas. Need to find Thomas! Then I can escape this stuffy house and forget all about today. Thank God! Both Grace and Thomas are in the side room with the rest of the gangsters. I can give one big goodbye instead of many individual ones.
“There you are!” Thomas smiles. “We’re- Wait. What’s this?”
Everyone looks as I hand them both the gift basket and hold up my nearly-empty glass to give a quick toast.
“To the bride, to the groom. May your love prosper in the eyes of God. To the Peaky Blinders and the hope you provide.”
I chug the last of my whiskey and slip back into the crowd before they can hold me to another conversation. I’m sick of pretending to be happy. Even if this is supposed to be a special day. As much as I want to join the extravagant celebration my heart just isn’t in for it. My heart feels like it’s about to choke me.
Satisfaction slips through my fingers once again.
@meadows5
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evita-shelby · 2 months ago
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A tale of two Evies
or what if @novashelby 's Evelyn Shelby and Eva existed in the same universe
cw: mentions of war, refrenced child abuse, absent mother
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Eva has always had a soft spot for children.
Whether it was the children in Altamira, the ones in Veracruz or the ones she met in the war. The ones who followed the army to be with their fathers and mothers who gave their all for the revolution or simply had nowhere else to go.
Polly trusts her with the Shelby children, Evelyn and Finn.
Finn who worships the ground she walks just like Oviedo ---who used to follow her like a puppy until their camps were attacked and died in Diosdado's arms--- and Evie who shares her name and an insatiable curiosity to make even a saint lose their patience.
“If you keep your plan for tomorrow you will lose your appendix, and your father will be very disappointed in you.” Eva says from the kitchen as Finn vehemently refused to participate in his niece’s scheme tomorrow.
Evie is terrible at math, had the same problem one of the girls at school had where it was just impossible for the nuns to teach her, so they just gave up. Eva is no quitter and if she could teach orphaned children to read and write in war torn Chihuaha, she could have Evelyn Shelby at least learn the basics until her father has enough money and influence to let her be a lady of leisure.
Just needed the time, patience and right set of things to help her. Oviedo learned times tables through the annoying song Eva’s governess taught her, Eva learned math with an abacus and using her infinite number of toy and other things in the nursery she shared with her cousins in Altamira. Her aunt Livia, taking the role of mother after Eva’s mother realized for the fourth time in her life that she never wanted kids, had rewarded every milestone she reached no matter how small.
Besides, Eva knew exactly what she would be tested on and even if ten-year-old Evelyn failed, she wouldn’t fail so badly. Or worse lose a fucking organ.
And so, it began.
Evelyn Shelby joins the Shelbys who found themselves embracing the lonely witch with tales of a far-off land and an endless supply of affection and gifts. Spellbound, one might say.
Spring becomes summer and summer becomes fall. Evie and Finn become regular fixtures in her life to Grace’s envy. Grace who is forbidden by Polly from getting close to the children because the witches know better than to trust someone who smells too strongly of death.
“You smell like daddy’s pillows.” Evie points out when she hugs her in greeting after being allowed to skip school as long as she stayed with her while Polly ran her errands.
So that had been who Polly wanted the satchel of sleeping scents for.
Thomas Shelby who not only eye fucks her every morning she passes by his window but sleeps over the satchel with Eva’s anise and lavender to ease his nightmares.
No wonder Grace felt so threatened by Eva even if the witch and the devil have never even spoken to each other.
“It’s a scent to keep nightmares away, would you like one, mi niña?”  the witch smiles and dismisses the little girl’s pangs of jealousy regarding her father.
Good thing Eva and Tommy were nothing but strangers even with Polly and her uncle trying their hardest to match them up.
And yet when she and Evie walk down Garrison Lane, she hears three gunshots and sees Shelby being shot near the heart. As much as the witch tries to shake off the vision, the girl notices the sudden fear and worry in her grown up friend and sets off the chain of events that leads to the last thing either adult in her life wanted.
It began with those gifts Polly had foreseen he’d need ---to make his intentions clear from that night after he survived the ambush Grace had stupidly helped Campbell orchestrate--- and ended with him taking her to the Derby and them becoming engaged less than a week later. Eva had kept him at bay the entire winter and the spring after only for June to come and have the strength of their feelings for each other breakdown each of her walls.
Now he snuck away while his daughter was asleep in his bed to be in hers and leave before Evie noticed he was gone. Strangely, the little girl has not noticed their courtship occurring under her nose and now would learn she and her father will be eloping in about two weeks.
“Do you think she’ll hate me?” Eva asks, fearing how the sting of this betrayal will hurt Evie. She adores her namesake and her namesake adores her, but its one thing being her friend and another thing becoming her mother before she’s even had the time to tell her they were courting.
“Never, she adores you.” Tommy assures her with a sweet sounding lie.
As if Evie will refuse to see her as anything else than the wicked witch stealing her father’s love from her.
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Evie has never liked the idea of someone else in their lives.
They wouldn’t fit in his bed, for a start, she would be like those evil stepmothers in stories and send her far away where people will hurt her like that woman did.
Eva was like a fairy godmother, but if the fairy was also a witch who liked the color black and smelled like the little bag of sweet-smelling stuff her dad keeps under their pillows.
Mrs. Changretta, who Polly and Eva had enlisted to help her pass the school year, said Eva and her son could suit if Eva had no serious offer still. Evie didn’t know him and while she supposed Eva would want a husband, maybe Eva wanted someone who lived in Birmingham and not in America.
“So, you want her to stay too?” her dad asked as she told him about what the former schoolteacher and Aunt Pol talked about while Evie practiced her mathematics since Eva was gone for the day.
“Yeah,” Evie admitted and didn’t like that smile her dad seemed to get when they talked about or saw Eva now.
Finn had said his brother was in love with Eva and she was going to become her stepmother because Polly is never wrong when it comes to romance or so John and Arthur said.
Then she saw it, what everyone had already known since last December when he went alone to her house with pink flowers and a box of cards Eva doesn’t let her open.
She liked Eva, she was not like Grace or even Lizzie and they were friends, strange some kids thought because Eva was a grown-up and Evie a kid. Even the nuns at school liked Eva and they barely liked Evie’s family.
But her dad and Eva said they were just friends, and she believed them until now that she knows that smile her dad has on his face is because he is thinking about Eva.
“Do you like her, daddy?” Evie asks the question she’s been dreading since May.
He pauses, unsure of how to answer. As if wondering if he can tell the truth or lie to her face. “Yes, very much. She is lovely and loves you more than you might even love her.”
Love. Three times if you count lovely.
Evie asks her father again, a knot in her throat because she knows now why Eva and her father were busy today, they had been together! “Do you love her?”
“Yes. I do.”
Evie doesn’t know why she hates it so much. She likes Eva, she knows Eva wouldn’t be an evil witch stepmother, but even the idea of her being with her dad made Evie hate it so much.
“I hate her.” It hurts more because she loved Eva like she loved Aunt Ada and even Aunt Polly. That traitor had been her friend and now she would take her dad away from her and give him babies he would love more than Evie and Evie would be sent back to that woman.
Evelyn Shelby is shouting at Eva’s door and having to be held back by her father who tries to explain things Evie doesn’t want to here.
“Bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress, Tommy.” It’s not Eva who opens the door, but her friend, Linda, who demands Tommy not come in with a laugh.
It is much worse than Evelyn had thought.
A wedding? Their wedding?!
Was anyone going to tell her about it? Why didn’t she know about it?
“How could you do this to me, you were my friend!” the ten-year-old girl shouts at the witch wearing a wedding dress and Aunt Esme’s veil as the women in the neighborhood stopped on their tracks.
So, everyone was in on it? Everyone knew it except Evie.
“Sweetheart, we can explain.” The witch says and looks at her father who had come into the house anyways.
The three sit there where everyone had been preparing for a wedding no one had considered telling Evie about. She can recognize the suit jacket as her father’s, and Linda’s neat handwriting on the list of people who were invited and even worse, a picture of Eva and her dad kissing at the Derby they went last week. They had gone with them to Epsom, to celebrate how great things were going now that Billy Kimber was gone. Never did Evie think that her dad would be taking them so he could propose to Eva.
“How long have you been seeing him behind my back?” Evie asks the woman still in her wedding dress and being forced to sit apart from them because Evie refuses to let her be near her.
“We wanted to tell you, sweetheart, believe me, we were going to tell you we were seeing each other since the Derby, but things changed. I am sorry you had to find out this way.” Eva doesn’t like lying, says the truth hurts but it’s still better than lying. “I hope you can forgive us for it.”
“Maybe I don’t want to. Maybe I don’t want you to take my daddy away from me!”  Evie refused to let it happen, her dad was hers and hers alone.
“Evie, she’s not taking me from you. As a matter of fact, Eva will come live with us and be the mother you deserve to have.” Tommy tries to take her face in his hands to get her to understand them, but his daughter refuses to even look at him. “It would break my heart if she left. It would break yours too, I know.”
“I don’t care.” The girl lies. She would miss her, Finn too and her dad never looked as happy as he did since they became friends and sweethearts behind her back.
“They will kill her if she leaves England.” He says as seriously as he had told her to stay in the patch with Esme’s family that day he came back with a bandage over his chest. “I can’t let that happen, and neither could you.”
Because he saved her that day and even if everyone says he’s a bad man, he still the man who saved her and made her a Shelby.
And even if Evie hates it, she must let it happen because even if she really hates Eva right now, she doesn’t want her to die.
“Fine, but we aren’t friends anymore and I won’t ever call her my mother.” The girl crossed her arms and resigned herself to her fate.
“I will take what I can get.” Eva tells her father and agrees to Evie’s terms. “I promise I won’t ever become your wicked stepmother, and I won’t ever make you call me mother.”
They keep their word; Evie isn’t forced to be nice to her ---even when they take her to Brighton and London with them on their honeymoon--- and Eva never becomes her evil stepmother even when 1922 rolls around and comes with the news that Eva is having a baby.
And yet, when May Carleton shows up looking for her father at the betting shop, Evie introduces a very pregnant Eva as her mother because there is only one other person Evelyn Shelby can share her father with and that is Eva Shelby.
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beastofburdenxo · 1 year ago
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Sick Day
Tommy gets the sniffles. One shot. Tame, just some Tommy language, slight fluff. 864 words.
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“Tommy are you alright?” you asked him as he made his way into the kitchen. He looked paler than normal, his normally bright blue eyes a little watery. “Yes love, never better just a little hoarse this morning.” he rasped as he sat down next to you. “Nothing a nip of whiskey won’t fix, eh?” He states reaching for the bottle. You stop his hand, “Maybe you should stay home today, can’t do any meetings with barely a voice can you?” Tommy sighs as he pours a shot, “Can’t do that, these meetings have been on the books for months. I can’t keep them waiting any longer. I'll be fine.” Knowing you can’t convince him otherwise you state, “Well I'll be here all day if you need me. You can always come home if you need to.” With a smirk he stands and puts on his coat. “Always the good nurse, ready to take care of me, aren’t ya?” With a slight cough he walks out the door. Eyes rolling to yourself you get up to clean off the kitchen table, “You’ll be back.” 
Tommy’s morning goes slowly. On top of the boring meetings and being asked if he’s okay by everyone, he can’t stop coughing. He hides in his office to get away from all the prying eyes and countless questions. He's burning up, his head is pounding, and his voice is almost gone. “Maybe I am sick.” he thinks to himself. “I can’t even taste my whiskey anymore.” Laying his head down on the cool wood of the desk, he dozes off. Unknown time passes as there is a knock on the door. “Tommy, last meeting of the day is here....” Finn trails off, “Lord, you look terrible Tommy.” He awakens enough to reach for the trashcan to throw up in. Finn cringes, “Go home, jeez, Arthur and I can handle the last meeting. Can’t have you spewing everywhere.” Tommy finally empties what little he had in his stomach and shakily stands up, “Finn, I'm going home for lunch. If you want to deal with the meeting fine, but don’t screw it up for us. Better yet just send them back home for a few more days. I don’t give a shit if they’re mad. They'll live if they want to do business with us.”  
Finn grabs Tommy by the shoulders and helps him out of his office. “Don’t worry about it Tom, we’ve got it handled. Go home and get some rest, yeah?” With barely a whisper Tommy manages to get out, “It’s just the sniffles, I managed to survive France, didn’t I?” Finn just shakes his head at his brother’s stubbornness. Tommy makes it home, his muscles aching like he got in a fight. You meet him at the door. “Goodness, you are a sight for sore eyes.” Tommy just looks at you with pitiful sick puppy eyes. “It’s just the sniffles. I came home for lunch.” Practically dragging him through the door you reply, “Oh yeah, then what’s this I heard about you getting sick in your office today?” Groaning, he mumbles, “Damn Finn. I'm fine just a little under the weather is all.” You guide him up to the bedroom and help him out of his suit. “Tommy Shelby, you’re not going back to the office you will stay here. I told Finn that when he called to tell me you got sick.” You state, hands on your hips, “I knew you was in bad shape this morning, but no, you wouldn’t hear of it.” 
Tommy just flops into the bed with a groan. Before he could ask for anything you interject, “And no whiskey either young man, just tea and soup.” You hear him grumbling into his pillow at that one. You go to the kitchen to prepare his soup and tea, talking to yourself, “If only he listened to me this morning, he’d probably be better by now, but no, big Mr. Shelby had meetings today!” Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Tommy is delirious with fever. Hair in a mess and eyes glazed over, he can barely see. His poor face was all red and splotchy. With every cough, his head felt like it was going to explode. He feels a cool rag on his forehead, now realizing that you entered the room. “Poor thing,” you coddle, “You are in rough shape. No, certainly no more work for you today.” Struggling to sit up, he takes the cup of tea from you. “You know love, I think I might be a little bit ill.” 
You lightly slap his arm, “Well you don’t say Mr. Shelby!” Drinking the hot tea, he manages to point out, “Well at least I have a good nurse to take care of me.” You bend down and kiss his hot forehead, “That you do Mr. Shelby that you do.” Finishing the tea he resumes, “Does this mean I get a sponge bath from my hot nurse?” You glare at him not trying to sound amused by him, “No, now have your soup.” 
“But nurse I need a sponge bath! I’m all sweaty from the fever!” he teases. 
“Eat your soup, Thomas!”
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