#lucy winters x eva smith x tommy shelby

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Juli, WHY!? 😭😭😭

This was heart wrenching to read! The poor babies! 💔

I love how strong and mature Eva is to be able to recognize and acknowledge that this situation isn't what she wants and that she needs to step away. It's very echoing of May walking away from Tommy in s4.

You're bang on the money that Lucy really can't live without Tommy. Especially in most 1920s timelines where her whole family is dead. When her brother Teddy was around, he may have been able to be another source of emotional support for her since they were so close, but without him, it's pretty much all come down to Tommy. He's her whole world.

Lucy, bless her soul, like a sunflower chasing the sun, she grew in the direction of Tommy.

THIS. Ugh, it's so good! I've always maintained that Lucy's best and worst trait is her undying loyalty towards Tommy. It makes her one of his best soldiers, but it also means she'd literally set herself on fire for him.

Eva's heartbreak made me tear up. The poor woman, she doesn't deserve this! 😭

I can't help but think that the guilt of being the cause for their split may actually kill Lucy 🥺. Especially with there being a kiddo involved. She'd never not be able to feel like a complete homewrecker who tore a whole family apart. I could even see her going to lengths to remove herself permanently from things so that they could be together and be a happy family without having to deal with her spoiling everything 😭💔.

Amazing work, hon! I'm so honored that you've enjoyed Lucy's story enough to write something involving her and Eva! 🖤🖤🖤

Look both ways

or i skipped ahead while reading @emotionalcadaver 's stories with Lucy, and got inspired this angst filled fic Eva realizing their polyam relationship with Lucy won't ever work and divorcing Tommy.

cw: failed polyamory relationship, mentions of murder, divorce, misery, angst, mentions of infertility and codependency issues

takes place in 1920, since that is when Tommy and Eva eloped in the og fic.

When Tommy began to court her, the witch assumed Lucy Winters would not pose much of a problem.

Not because Eva was completely fine with sharing a man and fucking a woman in the same relationship, but because the witch hadn’t really taken the time to see this would never work out in the long run.

Don’t get her wrong, she was sexually compatible with Lucy, the witch just didn’t seem to form a romantic relationship with the woman and as time went on found her near constant presence in her life…irritating.

It's her fault, Eva has never been able to share, be it toys or her tiny luxuries during the revolution, and especially her romantic partners. Be it hating every second Antonia spent with Franscisco, or the attention Diosdado gave the women he eventually fucked behind her back and now the constant presence of the Red Demon in their lives.

Eva had believed herself above the women who allow themselves to be trampled on by their significant others, prided herself in having the self-respect and strength to burn every fucking bridge and move the fuck on without ever looking back.

And yet, she is here letting her jealousy take hold because she just had to foolishly agree to marry him when her petition for asylum here fell through. She could’ve gone to America or even the loser’s table in Paris, but instead she agreed to be the official wife of Thomas Shelby and the third point of the triangle.

There was also that she was pregnant, and kids always make it all the more complicated.

“My family wouldn’t approve.” Eva hides her joy at having Tommy all to herself as they go down to London for a visit well enough to fool him and even Lucy who for once may explore a life where she is not giving Tommy’s shadow a run for its money. “You know how people can be.”

And because they will know he has a mistress that she does fuck (on occasion) and even lives with them(unfortunately), they will not look down her as much. They will offer to deal with the issue ---mistresses were not allowed for the men who marry into their family as a Riley daughter’s happiness goes above monetary gain, especially the last living witch in their family--- and she will halfheartedly refuse.

This would keep Lucy alive, for now.

But it would not last forever, so Eva has decided this ménage à trois has to end.

It has too because Eva knows it won’t be long before she takes up the offer. They’ve been married a handful of months and already Eva knows if this goes on any longer, she will be backed into a corner and accept the offer to have the third person in her bed murdered.

It will break their hearts, his most of all, but it has to be done. It would be painful, but the pain would pass.

Tommy will be allowed to be a father to their son, they will eventually heal from it and neither will be driven miserable because Eva’s choices at the time were Tommy and automatically becoming a British Subject or being extradited to Mexico and executed for treason.

But Eva no longer needs his ring on her finger to stay alive, her family had now successfully made themselves part of American High Society and would always have the money and influence to keep themselves not just alive, but thriving to spite their enemies.

It will be difficult, especially when she does actually love Tommy and would love nothing more than to be happy with him and have the life she saw when they were alone in that bathtub in Brighton. Because of course, Tommy only gave a weekend without Lucy and even three days after they eloped in June, the universe was telling her that perfect life with those four children did not include the Red Demon.

“You've been distant, you’re even sleeping in a different room these days.” Tommy is never one to bring up their issues, but he knows from the moment she let him inside her grandmother’s house, that they would be equals, that they were partners in life and business.

And because otherwise she’d avoid it, partly due to Lucy’s near constant presence, he waits until there’s nowhere to run.

Like he did when he picked her up in his car knowing he would hate every word she said because Tommy Shelby is the biggest idiot when it comes to love, but knew even then that Eva would never lie to him nor lead him wrong.

“Didn’t feel comfortable anymore.” And just like then, he will hate everything she will say now. He had hoped Eva’s friendship with Lucy would turn to love, but he knows the witch is slow to surrender her heart and that she looks both ways before she takes that leap of faith.

It took her nearly six months to make up her mind about him, it was cruel of him to make her accept a third person in a relationship Eva had assumed would be of two. They should’ve talked about this, about what would happen if she and Lucy weren’t anything but friends and that maybe Eva’s jealousy would become a problem.

“When I agreed to marry you, I had assumed I could learn to accept her existence in our marriage or that she could be tempted to live a life of her own and not as your shadow.” She looks out the window refusing to look at him because she has no idea how to keep herself together and not jump out of the fucking car.

“So you didn’t look twice then.” He concludes knowing how careful she is with these sorts of things. She’d been hurt before, hurt badly enough that Eva needed every assurance that those she gave her heart would put a gun to their mouth before hurting her.

“No and now I am fucking miserable.” The tears come out along with the truth and he has no choice but to park the car on the side of the empty road. “I don’t love her, Tom. I tried but I can’t.”

Eva’s not looking at him and she knows the pain clear on his face as if she was, hears it in the heavy sigh he lets out as the dam bursts.

Because that’s the thing, he would have to choose between them because there isn’t a world where the three would be happy together. “You should’ve told me sooner.”

“And then what? She’d get her own place and live apart while we share you? I already I feel as though I have to fight for every moment I can get alone with you, because as much as I tried to overcome it, I am a selfish woman when it comes to love.”

It was a pipe dream to think that the arrangement would ever function as they naively thought it would.

What would happen when he’d have to prioritize the wife and children at home? Would she be able to live knowing the kids would never see her as a third parent and that society would only see her as Tommy’s whore and nothing more? That Eva would only allow her in her bed when she felt like it and that when Tommy becomes a politician, it won’t be Eva, but her uncle who orders her death?

As much as Eva hates to admit it, her family is not wrong to see permanent mistresses as a weakness begging to be exploited in those seeking to move up the ladder with a Riley bride on their arm. A temporary fling barely mattered, a lapse of judgement that usually spared the other, but Lucy would eventually be killed by her uncle’s orders or even hers to protect their family and Tommy’s career.

The witch refuses to have her life in her hands like that. She meant it when she said Leopoldo Carranza’s life was the last she would take in 1918.

“We’ll get a divorce; I will stay in London, and you will be as present as you wish to be in our son’s life. It will hurt us deeply, but we will get over it. The business won’t be affected since I own my own shares in your company and yours will be inherited by Charlie.” The witch dries her tears with her sleeve and refuses the handkerchief she had embroidered with the same monogram in his signet ring for him.

“And if I refuse to sign those papers?” He holds back his anger and pain at having it all end like this, but there is no other way.

“Eventually I would have forced you to choose between us knowing that you would have to choose me for Charlie’s sake as well as your career. You have me or you have her.” this time she does look at him. To see the words sink in as he realizes the game is over and it would be better to leave the game at a draw instead of playing to the death. “I can live without you, you can live without her, but is Lucy able to live without you?”

Eva had the luxury of a family and life that taught her to know her own worth, to be independent and to know when to accept defeat like those before her had done. Lucy, bless her soul, like a sunflower chasing the sun, she grew in the direction of Tommy.

She was too dependent on him; it would be like ending an addiction. The only way you could overcome was to have the strength to fight for yourself, sadly, Lucy did not appear to be willing to break away from Tommy nor would Tommy allow it out of fear that she would leave. Just as Lizzie couldn’t move on from him and Grace went as far as to sentence Eva to death and him as well when she saw that he chose to believe Eva, a stranger, over her.

“I suppose this is the end then.” He tries not to, but the words catch on his throat.

The love was there, but it didn’t do a damn thing besides make them all miserable.

“Promise me one thing, Tom.” One last thing to make this heartbreak worthwhile.

“Anything, love.” He reaches out for her hand, and she doesn’t pull away.

Because if there is anything Eva hates more than sharing a person, it is having the universe make her a better person than she ever wanted to be. It would have been easier to just let her uncle kill her, but Eva has never cared for the easy way out.

“That she looks both ways before she leaps.”

[justrainandcoffee]

Masterlist

Theme, date, characters

Autumn leaves (1/10): Tommy Shelby x Lucy Winters

Log cabin (3/10): Tommy Shelby x Reader

Home made cookies (5/10): Alfie & Cyril

Pumpkin picking (7/10): Esme Lee x Reader

Bonfire (9/10): Tommy Shelby & Evelyn Shelby

Coffee shop (11/10): Alfie x Tommy

Candles (13/10): James Delaney x Lorna Bow

Warm drink (14/10): Tommy Shelby & Lydia Shelby

Castle trip (15/10): Alfie Solomons x Rose Coldwell

Thunderstorm (17/10): Alfie & Allie Solomons

Open window (19/10): Tommy Shelby x Quinn Meyer

Rain walk (21/10): River Cartwright x Reader

Forest (22/10): Heaven Shelby

Black cat (23/10): Winston Ferrante-Shelby

Bakery (25/10): Cillian Murphy x Jiyan Fabris

Book shop (27/10): Tommy Shelby x Reader

Graveyard (29/10): Jack Nelson x Eva Smith

I finished them like two weeks ago and finally October is here to post them. It's all queued, hopefully Tumblr will work and post them as I ordered.

This post is also queued. If you see this, then it worked. Any idea to link the characters to the themes? ��. Not all the characters are in the tags and I didn't want to make it obvious.

Sincerely yours... Me.

[call-sign-shark]

Shark's 1K Celebration || Creation

A place to compile all the wonderful works made by the lovely mutuals that I love with all my heart. Thank you again for your never-ending love and support. Please check out their works, they are freaking talented and their talent is underrated. This is literally the best fandom in the world and I'm proud of all of you. Don't worry if you didn't participate: if we're mutual, I adore you.

Written Works:

Stolen Angel ( John Shelby x Heaven Shelby) @zablife

Pasts and Futures ( Eleanor Shelby / Heaven Shelby) @dearshelby

Not Yours (Tommy Shelby x Lucy Winters x Grace Burges) @emotionalcadaver

Snow on The Beach (Sonya & Sylvie Shelby / Heaven Shelby) @pacifymebby

Swear It to Me (Arthur Shelby x Reader) @runnning-outof-time

Inside the Truth (Modern!Arthur Shelby x Reader) @peakyltd

Visiting the Bayou ( The LaVeau / Heaven Shelby / Arthur Shelby) @cljordan-imperium

Visual Works:

Partner In Crimes ( Rose Solomons / Heaven Shelby) @raincoffeeandfandoms

Pierced By Cupid (Heaven In Your Eyes Trailer edit) @brummiereader

Partying and Causing Trouble (Nina Ferrante / Heaven Shelby) @peakyswritings

Moodboard (Cosmos / Heaven Shelby) by @jjovin3221

Dark Wings Dark Words (Eva Smith x Tommy Shelby) @evita-shelby

Angel (Pete Mitchell) @there-goes-thefighter

Her Hidden Fangs (Modern!Arthur x Vampire!Heaven) by @shelbydelrey

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Jumping on the bandwagon with this one! Shout out to @justrainandcoffee for finding this! Also tagging my other Hunger Games AU peeps @evita-shelby, @call-sign-shark, @peakyswritings, and @lunarubra!

Simulation can be found here!

The Bloodbath

As the tributes stand on their podiums, the horn sounds.

Freddie Thorne runs away from the Cornucopia.

Aveline Young runs away from the Cornucopia.

Arthur Shelby runs away from the Cornucopia.

Heaven Lavey grabs a backpack and retreats.

Jack Nelson finds a backpack full of camping equipment.

Tommy Shelby runs away from the Cornucopia.

Luca Changretta runs away from the Cornucopia.

Gina Nelson grabs a backpack, not realizing it is empty.

May Carleton, Michael Gray, and Polly Gray get into a fight. Polly Gray triumphantly kills them both.

Johnny Dogs runs away from the Cornucopia.

Charlie Strong snatches a bottle of alcohol and a rag.

Lucy Winters runs away from the Cornucopia.

Alfie Solomons scares Johanna Mason away from the cornucopia.

Finn Shelby runs away from the Cornucopia.

Grace Burgess takes a handful of throwing knives.

John Shelby and Rose Coldwell fight for a bag. Rose Coldwell gives up and retreats.

Isiah Jesus and Ada Shelby fight for a bag. Ada Shelby gives up and retreats.

Eva Smith snatches a bottle of alcohol and a rag.

Nina Ferrante clutches a first aid kit and runs away.

Day 1

Gina Nelson camouflauges herself in the bushes.

Alfie Solomons stalks Johanna Mason.

Rose Coldwell goes hunting.

Nina Ferrante runs away from Jack Nelson.

Grace Burgess tries to spear fish with a trident.

Eva Smith receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Luca Changretta runs away from Freddie Thorne.

Ada Shelby receives clean water from an unknown sponsor.

Arthur Shelby diverts Lucy Winters's attention and runs away.

Finn Shelby scares Johnny Dogs off.

Charlie Strong questions his sanity.

John Shelby, Tommy Shelby, and Polly Gray hunt for other tributes.

Aveline Young pushes Isiah Jesus off a cliff during a knife fight.

Heaven Lavey hunts for other tributes.

Fallen Tributes

3 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

May Carleton District 4 Michael Gray District 3 Isiah Jesus District 11

Night 1

Heaven Lavey, Jack Nelson, and Aveline Young sleep in shifts.

Charlie Strong screams for help.

Finn Shelby receives fresh food from an unknown sponsor.

Johnny Dogs questions his sanity.

Alfie Solomons loses sight of where he is.

Polly Gray tends to Freddie Thorne's wounds.

Luca Changretta receives an explosive from an unknown sponsor.

Johanna Mason receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Eva Smith and Ada Shelby tell stories about themselves to each other.

Tommy Shelby and Lucy Winters huddle for warmth.

Grace Burgess thinks about home.

John Shelby cooks his food before putting his fire out.

Nina Ferrante, Rose Coldwell, Gina Nelson, and Arthur Shelby tell each other ghost stories to lighten the mood.

*slams hands on desk* Lucy x Tommy is canon you guys my babies are cuddling sajfhsdjkgfhsd 😭😭😭

Day 2

Charlie Strong questions his sanity.

Ada Shelby, Freddie Thorne, Aveline Young, Johnny Dogs, and Polly Gray hunt for other tributes.

Rose Coldwell collects fruit from a tree.

Tommy Shelby and Gina Nelson work together for the day.

Alfie Solomons camouflauges himself in the bushes.

Grace Burgess tries to spear fish with a trident.

Arthur Shelby runs away from Jack Nelson.

Johanna Mason scares Lucy Winters off.

Nina Ferrante, Finn Shelby, Eva Smith, and Heaven Lavey hunt for other tributes.

Luca Changretta hunts for other tributes.

John Shelby makes a wooden spear.

Night 2

Johnny Dogs fends Polly Gray, Grace Burgess, and Luca Changretta away from his fire.

Nina Ferrante stabs Freddie Thorne in the back with a trident.

Finn Shelby overpowers Heaven Lavey, killing her.

Alfie Solomons and Aveline Young sleep in shifts.

Lucy Winters decapitates Rose Coldwell with a sword.

Tommy Shelby screams for help.

Jack Nelson goes to sleep.

Johanna Mason receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Arthur Shelby tends to Charlie Strong's wounds.

Ada Shelby, John Shelby, and Eva Smith sleep in shifts.

Gina Nelson attempts to start a fire, but is unsuccessful.

@call-sign-shark Finn overpowering Heaven has got to be the most hilariously ooc things I've ever heard. As if he would ever actually stand a chance against her. And @justrainandcoffee oh my god please tell Rosie that Lucy is SO SORRY she doesn't know what came over her 🫣

Day 3

Gina Nelson scares Grace Burgess off.

Nina Ferrante tends to Finn Shelby's wounds.

Arthur Shelby receives an explosive from an unknown sponsor.

Charlie Strong bashes Luca Changretta's head in with a mace.

Ada Shelby hunts for other tributes.

Johnny Dogs goes hunting.

Tommy Shelby diverts John Shelby's attention and runs away.

Aveline Young defeats Polly Gray in a fight, but spares her life.

Lucy Winters receives an explosive from an unknown sponsor.

Eva Smith sees smoke rising in the distance, but decides not to investigate.

Jack Nelson and Johanna Mason work together to drown Alfie Solomons.

Fallen Tributes

5 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Freddie Thorne District 5 Heaven Lavey District 7 Rose Coldwell District 8 Luca Changretta District 1 Alfie Solomons District 9

Night 3

Charlie Strong thinks about home.

Eva Smith, Tommy Shelby, and Jack Nelson sleep in shifts.

John Shelby sees a fire, but stays hidden.

Polly Gray questions her sanity.

Nina Ferrante climbs a tree to rest.

Lucy Winters passes out from exhaustion.

Aveline Young screams for help.

Grace Burgess, Finn Shelby, Gina Nelson, and Johanna Mason sleep in shifts.

Ada Shelby receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Arthur Shelby sets up camp for the night.

Johnny Dogs questions his sanity.

Day 4

Johnny Dogs, Ada Shelby, Lucy Winters, John Shelby, and Arthur Shelby hunt for other tributes.

Aveline Young constructs a shack.

Grace Burgess travels to higher ground.

Eva Smith is pricked by thorns while picking berries.

Polly Gray travels to higher ground.

Tommy Shelby and Johanna Mason fight Gina Nelson and Jack Nelson. Gina Nelson and Jack Nelson survive.

Nina Ferrante kills Charlie Strong for his supplies.

Finn Shelby explores the arena.

Fallen Tributes

3 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Tommy Shelby District 12 Johanna Mason District 7 Charlie Strong District 4

Night 4

Aveline Young bleeds out due to untreated injuries.

Arthur Shelby receives fresh food from an unknown sponsor.

Lucy Winters, Finn Shelby, Grace Burgess, Polly Gray, and John Shelby sleep in shifts.

Gina Nelson and Johnny Dogs talk about the tributes still alive.

Nina Ferrante tries to treat her infection.

Ada Shelby dies from thirst.

Eva Smith and Jack Nelson tell stories about themselves to each other.

@evita-shelby Do I sense something potentially happening between Eva and Jack? 👀

Day 5

John Shelby stalks Lucy Winters.

Gina Nelson constructs a shack.

Polly Gray severely slices Nina Ferrante with a sword.

Grace Burgess fishes.

Finn Shelby attacks Jack Nelson, but he manages to escape.

Eva Smith questions her sanity.

Johnny Dogs dies from thirst.

Arthur Shelby makes a slingshot.

Fallen Tributes

4 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Aveline Young District 11 Ada Shelby District 6 Nina Ferrante District 9 Johnny Dogs District 10

Night 5

Finn Shelby and Gina Nelson talk about the tributes still alive.

Arthur Shelby, Polly Gray, and Grace Burgess get into a fight. Grace Burgess triumphantly kills them both.

Lucy Winters forces John Shelby to kill Eva Smith or Jack Nelson. He decides to kill Eva Smith.

The Feast

The cornucopia is replenished with food, supplies, weapons, and memoirs from the tributes' families.

Gina Nelson decides not to go to The Feast.

John Shelby decides not to go to The Feast.

Finn Shelby decides not to go to The Feast.

Jack Nelson and Grace Burgess get into a fight over raw meat, but Jack Nelson gives up and runs away.

Lucy Winters decides not to go to The Feast.

Day 6

Gina Nelson discovers a river.

John Shelby goes hunting.

Grace Burgess attacks Jack Nelson, but he manages to escape.

Finn Shelby sprains his ankle while running away from Lucy Winters.

Arena Event

Monkey mutts fill the arena.

Lucy Winters dies from internal bleeding caused by a monkey mutt.

Grace Burgess dies from internal bleeding caused by a monkey mutt.

Gina Nelson uses Finn Shelby as a shield from the monkey mutts.

John Shelby survives.

Jack Nelson survives.

Noooo my girl 😭 At least she made it pretty far!

Fallen Tributes

6 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Arthur Shelby District 6 Polly Gray District 3 Eva Smith District 10 Lucy Winters District 12 Grace Burgess District 1 Finn Shelby District 8

Night 6

John Shelby receives clean water from an unknown sponsor.

Gina Nelson destroys Jack Nelson's supplies while he is asleep.

Day 7

John Shelby shoots an arrow into Jack Nelson's head.

Gina Nelson cannot handle the circumstances and commits suicide.

Fallen Tributes

2 cannon shots can be heard in the distance.

Jack Nelson District 2 Gina Nelson District 2

The Winner

The winner is John Shelby from District 5!

[mischievouslittlecreature]

@evita-shelby Ahhhh I read this last night but I was a little hysterical over...*gestures vaguely* everything so I decided to wait until today to leave a comment.

My baby girl Lucy I just wanna squish her 😭😭😭 she's just drowning in her guilt.

I love Eva a lot here. It breaks my heart that she has to be the strong one because Tommy and Lucy are falling apart, but it says so much that she went to so much effort to save Lucy and do what she can to try to lift at least some of the guilt off her shoulders. She's such a kind, wonderful person and neither of them deserve her! 🥺

And because Lucy wants to see if Tommy would be happy without her here.

I love this! She may not really be intending to, but I definitely think a part of Lucy is testing him by leaving. She wants to see if he and Eva actually will remain separated without her there as an obstacle, and if he will continue to love her even if she's gone.

“You should’ve told me we were making you feel unloved.”

Ahhhh, thank you for including this! Lucy can be monstrously selfish, but she does have a good heart, and it would make her so sad to know that Eva has been so hurt by everything. I hope that they can still be friends in the future after Lucy comes back!

Oh Tommy 🤦🏻‍♀️ Ughhhhhh it's so unfair to Eva! 😭💔 She did the right thing by saving his lover's life and he's out here throwing accusations her way! 😒 I'm glad see that he realized that he went too far, and he's just taking out his own heartbreak of losing both his girls on her, but still.

I really liked how you included this, though! I makes a lot of sense why Eva would be so hostile to him and refuse any attempts at reconciliation despite Lucy's departure.

I'm so glad that this has become a full fledged series, Juli! It's so good! 🖤🖤🖤

The Wreckage

sequel to Look Both Ways where we get the reason why Lucy left and why Tommy and Eva couldn't make it work after she filed for divorce.

cw: refrenced suicide attempt, mental illnesses, unhealthy coping mechanisms, angst, drama, murder accusations.

you know something nice to distract yall from the US Elections tonight

@justrainandcoffee @mischievouslittlecreature @zablife @call-sign-shark @hoodeddreams13 @thegreatdragonfruta

After Eva had that vision of Lucy blowing her brains out, she takes the first train back to Small Heath and gets there just in time to stop her.

They have a much-needed talk, it falls on Eva to convince the redhead that it is not her fault.

Considering they are all in various states of disrepair, the witch fucking hates to be the Strong one while the other two points of the triangle get to lose their shit about it. Eva is too busy trying to keep them from hurting themselves to even mourn her own loss.

Tommy isolated himself and got so drunk he ended up in a holding cell for his own safety, Lucy ended up believing the Shelby Clan’s words that she shouldn’t have remained Tommy’s lover when he decided to court and marry Eva.

Eva barely had time to settle in her new leased townhouse before the Universe decided she could not just wash her hands of them and move on with her life. She hates it when her powers force her to be a better person.

The witch had to explain how her previous relationships had not left her in the condition needed to accept having a man who is not entirely hers, how she knows they will all be the better for it and that if anyone is at fault it is Eva for being too desperate to avoid her impending execution.

“How do you hold yourself together like that?” Lucy had asked as she confided in her about her plans to seek out her maternal family. She needed time as well, they all did.

“Because neither you nor Tommy have given me the chance to properly fall apart.” The witch admitted wryly, she was as honest with Lucy as she was with Tommy ---sometimes she’d use it to purposely hurt them to assuage her need of space and the fear that Tommy didn’t love her as much as she did him. “Trust me, I should have been in London crying my heart out and fucking a stranger with a thing for pregnant women instead of bailing Tommy out and keeping you from making my decision to save myself obsolete.”

“Then why save me? You could have been happy with him; you are giving him a child.” The redhead ---still wallowing in her despair and guilt--- demands to know why Eva didn’t seize her chance at happiness. “He said you told him you’d have four children and live in the country.”

“And if I had let you die, I would still be second place even if you were a ghost tormenting him. No life is worth living with a man who doesn’t love you the way you need him to anyways.” The dark-haired woman answered bluntly as they sat down a little further away from what would have been a crime scene.

“I can’t stay here. Not when everyone blames me for it.” By everyone she does mean everyone.

The Shelbys had taken Polly’s side and everyone else correctly guessed Tommy having a lover is what destroyed the fairytale romance.

It was a terrible place to be, Eva had not considered how cruel they’d be to Lucy only focused on leaving a man who placed Lucy over here time and time again. Why Tommy couldn’t just marry her and avoid this mess was beyond Eva’s comprehension.

Marriage is safety when you do not love in the conventional way.

“Have you finally given my suggestions to find your mother and your aunt some thought?” she asked the Red Demon who had been reluctant on accepting Eva’s offer to help her find her family because neither she nor Tommy appeared to be capable or surviving without the other.

They could, they are just too pessimistic and they refuse to give it a real, honest try. Eva had been there once, and now seeks to pull them out of the dark waters even if they like it there.

“Yes, maybe if I had said yes when you offered the first time we wouldn’t be in this mess.” And because Lucy wants to see if Tommy would be happy without her here. Not by being the ghost haunting him, but as the lover who left him. “You should’ve told me we were making you feel unloved.”

“I know, but I feared losing him, and while I do get on with you, I do not like you that way. We are just too different.” Part of Eva still wants the life she saw with Tommy that morning in Brighton. Is it wrong for her to desire her own happiness after life took everything from her? Why was she losing her one thread to life again? Why couldn't someone else be the one to sacrifice their happiness for her instead of her doing it every single time?

“I had guessed as much. I am not as ignorant as Polly makes me look.” Her ex lover nodded in agreement, and both said their goodbyes before parting ways.

The last person seen with Lucy was Eva. A gunshot was heard and only Eva came back.

There was no body nor signs of a struggle, but he knows what the witch is capable of. She had one demand when he refused to sign the papers in London.

Me or Her.

And when he refused to choose her then and there, he left to drown out his sorrows and make his choice.

He loved both women. He loved Eva fiercely, loved her fire, her strength and her ambition to take back everything she had lost.

But he loved Lucy more. He couldn’t just leave her like this. It would kill her.

“We will have everything we have ever wanted, mi amor.” She had proclaimed that morning after their wedding.

Four children, a baronetcy, a career in politics. They would be as happy and as in love as they were that morning.

He had been a fool to assume she saw Lucy in it.

And because he was going to choose Lucy over her, Eva killed her.

She was just as damaged as them. Lost everything she ever had, and now that she stood to lose the chance to have it all again with him, the witch took it.

What Lucy was capable off wasn’t close to what Eva could do. Eva had the advantage of money and magic.

“You killed her!” he cannot contain himself when he finds her still packing up what she owned in Ada’s old room. She had moved there when it became clear he would sleep with both women.

Eva is shocked from his words angry in ways he had never seen. The words had hurt her like a blow to the stomach and woke the beast underneath the soft warm skin

“Oh, yes, because I would be so fucking sloppy as to have the murder weapon in my hands and be so obvious!” The witch mocks him and denies it. "If I had killed her, you would have never found out about it."

He should’ve known she wanted him to choose her.

He couldn’t choose so she choose for him.

“You killed Lucy!” he shouts again as he comes to shake her and demand to know why she did this to her.

Eva slaps him hard enough to leave a mark.

“I didn’t fucking kill her! Why would I go through all the trouble of divorcing you if I intended to kill her?” the witch shouts back when even her hand on his cheek is not enough to break him out of that thought.

“Then where is she? Why were you the only one to come back here?” He knows deep down she didn’t and yet he cannot stop his mind from finding a reason to believe she did.

“She needed time away from here, to get away from a place that hates her. Just as I am doing.” We need to be away from you.

“Then why didn’t she tell me?” he asks the woman who he knows won’t ever forgive him.

“You wouldn’t have let her go, just as you are not man enough to let me go.” She hates as strongly as she loves, and now Tommy knows what the Witch’s anger feels like. “Just as you are so fucking full of it that you fucking came here and accused me of killing your precious Lucy.

Me, the mother of your child, the wife you promised to love and cherish before God and Men; and you couldn’t even love me enough to give me the presumption of innocence.” Her anger turns to hot tears as she lets him have it. “I should’ve left England when I had the chance.”

Tommy has only seen Eva cry three times in his life. The day he taught her to shoot, the day she left him and the day he killed her love for him.

“I'm sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I know you would never do that.” Even when he means it, even when he tries to show her how truly sorry he is for the way he acted, for the fucking way he doubted her like this, his wife flinches away form him.

Moves away from him as if his touch physically hurt her.

“If it had been me who disappeared, you wouldn’t have accused Lucy of killing me.” She won’t ever forgive him, there is no love for him in her eyes only hatred he created and he will have to live with that for the rest of his days. “You do not love me like you love her, now I wonder if you ever loved me at all.”

But he does love her, and that is what makes it all worse. He’s lost her even when that is the last thing he wanted to do.

“Evie, please---” Tommy chases after her, refusing to accept the defeat he crafted with his own bloody hands.

“I will never set foot here unless you are dead.” The witch refuses to look at him as she too walks out of his life and leaves him standing on the wreckage of their love.

She was right when she called him a fucking fool when it comes to love. Always right when it comes to him and not once has she ever lied to him.

Which is why he will set this right, even if it means following her to London.

[evita-shelby]

a preview for the next part of Vēnor

Lucy Winters belongs to @mischievouslittlecreature

taglist: @zablife @thegreatdragonfruta @wonderlanddreamer @kmc1989 @justrainandcoffee @hoodeddreams13

Tommy hadn’t meant to hurt both women like this.

And yet, Lucy left him anyways making him wonder if this was fate. It was a coin toss that had first led him to Eva's door after all.

As much as he still love and yearns for Lucy, her departure had felt like a sign that perhaps he needed to try again with Eva and be the husband she needed the first time around.

He had done the impossible to make Eva reconsider, he had delayed the hearings, bribed the judge to force her to wait until Charlie was born and then nearly two years after that fateful day, Tommy could only watch her shut the door on him forever.

He loves Eva, even as she rages and rejects his every attempt at reconciliation, he loves her enough to give her his word that it will remain only the two of them if she’d only give him another chance to prove it. He used to be loyal to Greta once upon a time, he could be loyal to Eva if she only let him.

“You say that now, but the moment Lucy returns I would lose you again.” She had said and as always proved he’d find no better advisor than Eva Shelby. His wife could cheat both God and the Devil if she set her mind to it. “The three of us would be miserable, I would be your bitter wife who hates the two of you, you would hate me for keeping you from her and she would hate me for the woman I would become because of you.”

She has never lied to him and wouldn’t do so now. Eva wanted out and he owed her that.

And yet, he refused to accede to her terms once again. He hated being alone and it didn’t help when everyone seemed to agree he should take his errant wife back and remind her that those who marry a Shelby die a Shelby. To them it was less about feelings and more of the reputation they’d lost because both Eva and Lucy left the Devil of Small Heath as if he were an ordinary man.

His family had mixed feelings about Lucy, especially Polly who loathed Lucy and blamed her for the whole debacle with Grace. Polly felt the direction he was taking in his life needed a woman who could make blue bloods eat from her palm, a woman who knew the future as well as she knew herself and most importantly, was not Lucy Winters.

“But you will always want Lucy and I will never be enough for you. I need a husband who has no space for anyone else in his heart nor his bed.” There had been a note of resentment there.

The women had been warm to each other, friendlier than Lizzie had been with Lucy by a mile, but Eva would not love Lucy like Grace claimed she did. Eva had then admitted she never had the intention of sharing him when she said yes and whatever cordial feelings the women had would not survive Eva’s feelings of inadequacy and need for a man to be entirely hers.

“I can’t let you go.” Not you too.

Perhaps if Lucy had never left it would be easier to let Eva leave, but because his red demon was gone too, he knew he’d die without his witch.

Then there was her choice in men.

Tommy knows what he is, what he does and the number of people he has killed whether they deserved to die or not. He had never killed a woman, never would if God doesn’t hate him enough to force his hand.

Brilliant Chang had seduced his wife just as he had seduced the countless of women he had then discarded like yesterday’s garbage. Eva loved playing with fire, believed that because she is as otherworldly as Tommy is, she would remain unburnt.

She was fucking him, the Chinaman had let him know he’d taken her to his bed even if Eva moved with as little presence as a ghost. Chang had given him an olive branch in the form of a steady supply to the Eden after showing him its weaknesses, but Tommy Shelby will never trust that man especially with his wife and son.

Eva may not forgive him for this, but she’s left him no choice.

Taking the letters Grace had sent with her address in London ---because somehow she’d known Eva had left him--- he asked to see her. And just like he’d known it, Grace readily takes up the offer to comfort him and believe she is woman enough to replace his darling witch.

Tommy could’ve taken May, or Lizzie or any woman he desired, but no other woman awoke Eva’s wrath like the blonde woman on his arm.

He doesn’t intend on fucking her, he can fuck without feelings, but Tommy knew he’d lose Eva forever if he even thought about doing it.

They loathed each other, knew they were enemies because even when he and Lucy took her to bed, it was Eva who he desired as much as he desired Lucy and Grace hated that.

Eva simply hated Grace because she saw her for who she truly was and lacked empathy for those not of her class. Hated her even more when she set the police on Freddie for the crime of being a Jewish Communist and then for cashing in the bounty on Eva’s head by telling Campbell about it.

"You are perfect tonight." he tells the woman on his arm who has no idea he is merely using her like she used him.

The Barmaid he and Lucy fell for was an illusion, Eva and Lucy were the real thing. Like comparing a light bulb to the sun.

[evita-shelby]

writing a one shot where eva is in a poly relationship with both tommy and @emotionalcadaver's Lucy and its one of the saddest things i have written

[evita-shelby]

An Eva masterlist for all your #Evacore needs

Banner by @cillmequick

Peaky Blinders

#evacore by others

Tommy x Eva

Between the Shadow and the Soul

Nothing more difficult than love (arranged marriage au)

You read me poetry while i wash the dishes (Eva x Tommy oneshots)

A different sort of man( btsats!Tommy and Eva accidentally switch places with season 3!Tommy and a different version of Eva)

An Unholy Alliance (Grace x Tommy, Tommy x Eva)

The Duke of Saxon Shore (two shot where Duke Shelby exists)

A witch and a rose (eva & Rose Coldwell (@justrainandcoffee)

Tommy x Eva x Heaven (@call-sign-shark)

Garden of Eden

tommy x eva, tommy x Lucy Winters( @mischievouslittlecreature )

look both ways

The Wreckage

tommy x eva ft evie shelby( @novashelby )

a tale of two evies

Mr. Chang

Luca Changretta x Eva

Incantatrice

To love and say goodbye(one shot collection)

Not so different ( crossover with @peakyswritings Heart, Body and Soul fic ft Nina Ferrante)

Luca Changretta x Tommy Shelby x Eva Smith

The View from my window

Jack Nelson x Eva

National Anthem

Like an American

What happens in Vegas (modern!Au)

They didn't know we were seeds(Hunger Games Au)

violent delights( 17th century knight au)

Mrs Nelson(original two shot with canon!Jack)

The Two Mrs Nelsons(part two of mrs nelson)

The Wandering (Jack x Eva ft The Wandering Jew!Rose x Alfie(@justrainandcoffee)

Dreams Unwind(inception au)

Brilliant Cheng

Necromancy

Vēnor

The Eva-verse

Devilry dancing in her blood

Eva x Tommy/Alfie x Rose

Forbidden

Strings of Fate (smut 🔞)

Cillianverse

Love's a State of Mind (Robert Fischer x Eva)

The witch and the scarecrow(Jonathan Crane x Eva)

Mr and Mrs Smith (mr and mrs smith inspired Raymond Leon x Eva)

Frecheville-verse

Two Souls Bound for Hell (Martin O’Feeney x Eva (Aoife))

The Locket (reincarnation au)

The First Date (Teeth from the Royal Hotel(2023) x Eva)

MCU

Of Gods and Witches (Namor/Kukulkan of Talokan x Eva)

Moodboards

Brilliant Chang x Eva

Eva ft Megara

Ship in 5 minutes

Tommy x Eva

Jack x Eva

Luca x Eva

A song of ice and fire ft Peaky Blinders

masterlist

[evita-shelby]

I vaguely remember trying to put all my moodboards on a list but i can't find it , so imma just do it again

Not in order i am afraid

Peaky Blinders

Sophisticated (Grace, Tatiana, May, Diana and Gina)

Miss Shelby

Something in the Orange (Tommy x Lizzie)

Odette (Lizzie Stark/Shelby)

Odile (Grace Burgess/Shelby)

Victor (Jack Nelson hunger games au)

The Black Hand (Luca Changretta hunger games au)

The Peaky Blinder( tommy hunger games au)

Eva x Tommy

Arsonist's Lullaby (Jack Nelson)

Brilliant (Brilliant Chang Hunger Games au)

A Shelby Christmas

Prosperina

Pluto

Nothing left to say

Paloma Negra

The Pearl Anniversary

Perro Fiel

The Shelby Children

Charles Absalom Shelby

Diane Elizabeth Shelby

Luca Changretta x Eva

That Yacht Life

Incantatrice

Chiaroscuro (ft @call-sign-shark Heaven and Arthur)

Faith, love and family.

Mayores

Till Death

Jack Nelson x Eva

Christmas in Paradise

Magic

Birds of a Feather (ft. @call-sign-shark Heaven Lavey)

Soulmates

The Nelsons of Beals Street

Sun to me (hunger games au)

Always (reincarnation moodboard and blurb)

Violent Delights (knight au)

September's Shrine (modern!wedding)

My OCs

Eva Smith

Mrs Rosenberg (Frida 'Florence' Solomons)

Like Fine Wine (WWII!Eva)

Apex Predator (Eva ft mean girls, Apex Predator and pink)

They did not know we were seeds (hunger games district 10 au)

Modern!Eva/Evacore

Katie Nelson

Isabel

The Secretary and the Spy (Lizzie Stark x Santiago Rosales)

Others OCs

Wonderland (Eva ft. Heaven Lavey @call-sign-shark )

Solomons and Shelby (Diane ft @raincoffeeandfandoms Allie Solomons)

Juliusz (@rysko Juliusz Ferenz)

Devil’s Sacrament (Eva Nelson ft @emotionalcadaver Lucy Winters)

Inception

Love's a State of Mind

The Fischer Affair

World on Fire

Kasia x Lois

Robina Chase

Tom Bennett x Diane Shelby

How sweet it is

Let me wrap my teeth around the world

Ewan Mitchell

Pretty Boy

Black Panther:Wakanda Forever

Of Gods and Witches

Eva x Namor

[justrainandcoffee]

Masterlist

✿ Ask Rose or one of the guests.

Alfie, Luca, Tommy

The Evas (they belong to @evita-shelby)

The Lucys (they belong to @emotionalcadaver)

Lucy, Eva, Nina

Allie, Samuel, Alfie

✿ Spin the bottle

Spin #1

✿ The presents!

- Gift #1 @peakyswritings

- Gift #2 Lucy Winters (@emotionalcadaver)

- Gift #3 Tommy Shelby

- Gift #4 Eva Smith (@evita-shelby)

- Gift #5 @zablife

- Gift #6 Nina (@peakyswritings)

✿ Actual presents

-Moodboard + blurb by @peakyswritings

-Moodboard by @emotionalcadaver

-Just one last present (fic) by @runnning-outof-time

-The best forgotten birthday (fic) by @evita-shelby

-In Venice moodboard by @lunarubra

Alfie x Rose masterlist

[evita-shelby]

Look both ways

or i skipped ahead while reading @emotionalcadaver 's stories with Lucy, and got inspired this angst filled fic Eva realizing their polyam relationship with Lucy won't ever work and divorcing Tommy.

cw: failed polyamory relationship, mentions of murder, divorce, misery, angst, mentions of infertility and codependency issues

takes place in 1920, since that is when Tommy and Eva eloped in the og fic.

When Tommy began to court her, the witch assumed Lucy Winters would not pose much of a problem.

Not because Eva was completely fine with sharing a man and fucking a woman in the same relationship, but because the witch hadn’t really taken the time to see this would never work out in the long run.

Don’t get her wrong, she was sexually compatible with Lucy, the witch just didn’t seem to form a romantic relationship with the woman and as time went on found her near constant presence in her life…irritating.

It's her fault, Eva has never been able to share, be it toys or her tiny luxuries during the revolution, and especially her romantic partners. Be it hating every second Antonia spent with Franscisco, or the attention Diosdado gave the women he eventually fucked behind her back and now the constant presence of the Red Demon in their lives.

Eva had believed herself above the women who allow themselves to be trampled on by their significant others, prided herself in having the self-respect and strength to burn every fucking bridge and move the fuck on without ever looking back.

And yet, she is here letting her jealousy take hold because she just had to foolishly agree to marry him when her petition for asylum here fell through. She could’ve gone to America or even the loser’s table in Paris, but instead she agreed to be the official wife of Thomas Shelby and the third point of the triangle.

There was also that she was pregnant, and kids always make it all the more complicated.

“My family wouldn’t approve.” Eva hides her joy at having Tommy all to herself as they go down to London for a visit well enough to fool him and even Lucy who for once may explore a life where she is not giving Tommy’s shadow a run for its money. “You know how people can be.”

And because they will know he has a mistress that she does fuck (on occasion) and even lives with them(unfortunately), they will not look down her as much. They will offer to deal with the issue ---mistresses were not allowed for the men who marry into their family as a Riley daughter’s happiness goes above monetary gain, especially the last living witch in their family--- and she will halfheartedly refuse.

This would keep Lucy alive, for now.

But it would not last forever, so Eva has decided this ménage à trois has to end.

It has too because Eva knows it won’t be long before she takes up the offer. They’ve been married a handful of months and already Eva knows if this goes on any longer, she will be backed into a corner and accept the offer to have the third person in her bed murdered.

It will break their hearts, his most of all, but it has to be done. It would be painful, but the pain would pass.

Tommy will be allowed to be a father to their son, they will eventually heal from it and neither will be driven miserable because Eva’s choices at the time were Tommy and automatically becoming a British Subject or being extradited to Mexico and executed for treason.

But Eva no longer needs his ring on her finger to stay alive, her family had now successfully made themselves part of American High Society and would always have the money and influence to keep themselves not just alive, but thriving to spite their enemies.

It will be difficult, especially when she does actually love Tommy and would love nothing more than to be happy with him and have the life she saw when they were alone in that bathtub in Brighton. Because of course, Tommy only gave a weekend without Lucy and even three days after they eloped in June, the universe was telling her that perfect life with those four children did not include the Red Demon.

“You've been distant, you’re even sleeping in a different room these days.” Tommy is never one to bring up their issues, but he knows from the moment she let him inside her grandmother’s house, that they would be equals, that they were partners in life and business.

And because otherwise she’d avoid it, partly due to Lucy’s near constant presence, he waits until there’s nowhere to run.

Like he did when he picked her up in his car knowing he would hate every word she said because Tommy Shelby is the biggest idiot when it comes to love, but knew even then that Eva would never lie to him nor lead him wrong.

“Didn’t feel comfortable anymore.” And just like then, he will hate everything she will say now. He had hoped Eva’s friendship with Lucy would turn to love, but he knows the witch is slow to surrender her heart and that she looks both ways before she takes that leap of faith.

It took her nearly six months to make up her mind about him, it was cruel of him to make her accept a third person in a relationship Eva had assumed would be of two. They should’ve talked about this, about what would happen if she and Lucy weren’t anything but friends and that maybe Eva’s jealousy would become a problem.

“When I agreed to marry you, I had assumed I could learn to accept her existence in our marriage or that she could be tempted to live a life of her own and not as your shadow.” She looks out the window refusing to look at him because she has no idea how to keep herself together and not jump out of the fucking car.

“So you didn’t look twice then.” He concludes knowing how careful she is with these sorts of things. She’d been hurt before, hurt badly enough that Eva needed every assurance that those she gave her heart would put a gun to their mouth before hurting her.

“No and now I am fucking miserable.” The tears come out along with the truth and he has no choice but to park the car on the side of the empty road. “I don’t love her, Tom. I tried but I can’t.”

Eva’s not looking at him and she knows the pain clear on his face as if she was, hears it in the heavy sigh he lets out as the dam bursts.

Because that’s the thing, he would have to choose between them because there isn’t a world where the three would be happy together. “You should’ve told me sooner.”

“And then what? She’d get her own place and live apart while we share you? I already I feel as though I have to fight for every moment I can get alone with you, because as much as I tried to overcome it, I am a selfish woman when it comes to love.”

It was a pipe dream to think that the arrangement would ever function as they naively thought it would.

What would happen when he’d have to prioritize the wife and children at home? Would she be able to live knowing the kids would never see her as a third parent and that society would only see her as Tommy’s whore and nothing more? That Eva would only allow her in her bed when she felt like it and that when Tommy becomes a politician, it won’t be Eva, but her uncle who orders her death?

As much as Eva hates to admit it, her family is not wrong to see permanent mistresses as a weakness begging to be exploited in those seeking to move up the ladder with a Riley bride on their arm. A temporary fling barely mattered, a lapse of judgement that usually spared the other, but Lucy would eventually be killed by her uncle’s orders or even hers to protect their family and Tommy’s career.

The witch refuses to have her life in her hands like that. She meant it when she said Leopoldo Carranza’s life was the last she would take in 1918.

“We’ll get a divorce; I will stay in London, and you will be as present as you wish to be in our son’s life. It will hurt us deeply, but we will get over it. The business won’t be affected since I own my own shares in your company and yours will be inherited by Charlie.” The witch dries her tears with her sleeve and refuses the handkerchief she had embroidered with the same monogram in his signet ring for him.

“And if I refuse to sign those papers?” He holds back his anger and pain at having it all end like this, but there is no other way.

“Eventually I would have forced you to choose between us knowing that you would have to choose me for Charlie’s sake as well as your career. You have me or you have her.” this time she does look at him. To see the words sink in as he realizes the game is over and it would be better to leave the game at a draw instead of playing to the death. “I can live without you, you can live without her, but is Lucy able to live without you?”

Eva had the luxury of a family and life that taught her to know her own worth, to be independent and to know when to accept defeat like those before her had done. Lucy, bless her soul, like a sunflower chasing the sun, she grew in the direction of Tommy.

She was too dependent on him; it would be like ending an addiction. The only way you could overcome was to have the strength to fight for yourself, sadly, Lucy did not appear to be willing to break away from Tommy nor would Tommy allow it out of fear that she would leave. Just as Lizzie couldn’t move on from him and Grace went as far as to sentence Eva to death and him as well when she saw that he chose to believe Eva, a stranger, over her.

“I suppose this is the end then.” He tries not to, but the words catch on his throat.

The love was there, but it didn’t do a damn thing besides make them all miserable.

“Promise me one thing, Tom.” One last thing to make this heartbreak worthwhile.

“Anything, love.” He reaches out for her hand, and she doesn’t pull away.

Because if there is anything Eva hates more than sharing a person, it is having the universe make her a better person than she ever wanted to be. It would have been easier to just let her uncle kill her, but Eva has never cared for the easy way out.

“That she looks both ways before she leaps.”

part 2: The Wreckage

[evita-shelby]

The Wreckage

sequel to Look Both Ways where we get the reason why Lucy left and why Tommy and Eva couldn't make it work after she filed for divorce.

cw: refrenced suicide attempt, mental illnesses, unhealthy coping mechanisms, angst, drama, murder accusations.

you know something nice to distract yall from the US Elections tonight

@justrainandcoffee @mischievouslittlecreature @zablife @call-sign-shark @hoodeddreams13 @thegreatdragonfruta

After Eva had that vision of Lucy blowing her brains out, she takes the first train back to Small Heath and gets there just in time to stop her.

They have a much-needed talk, it falls on Eva to convince the redhead that it is not her fault.

Considering they are all in various states of disrepair, the witch fucking hates to be the Strong one while the other two points of the triangle get to lose their shit about it. Eva is too busy trying to keep them from hurting themselves to even mourn her own loss.

Tommy isolated himself and got so drunk he ended up in a holding cell for his own safety, Lucy ended up believing the Shelby Clan’s words that she shouldn’t have remained Tommy’s lover when he decided to court and marry Eva.

Eva barely had time to settle in her new leased townhouse before the Universe decided she could not just wash her hands of them and move on with her life. She hates it when her powers force her to be a better person.

The witch had to explain how her previous relationships had not left her in the condition needed to accept having a man who is not entirely hers, how she knows they will all be the better for it and that if anyone is at fault it is Eva for being too desperate to avoid her impending execution.

“How do you hold yourself together like that?” Lucy had asked as she confided in her about her plans to seek out her maternal family. She needed time as well, they all did.

“Because neither you nor Tommy have given me the chance to properly fall apart.” The witch admitted wryly, she was as honest with Lucy as she was with Tommy ---sometimes she’d use it to purposely hurt them to assuage her need of space and the fear that Tommy didn’t love her as much as she did him. “Trust me, I should have been in London crying my heart out and fucking a stranger with a thing for pregnant women instead of bailing Tommy out and keeping you from making my decision to save myself obsolete.”

“Then why save me? You could have been happy with him; you are giving him a child.” The redhead ---still wallowing in her despair and guilt--- demands to know why Eva didn’t seize her chance at happiness. “He said you told him you’d have four children and live in the country.”

“And if I had let you die, I would still be second place even if you were a ghost tormenting him. No life is worth living with a man who doesn’t love you the way you need him to anyways.” The dark-haired woman answered bluntly as they sat down a little further away from what would have been a crime scene.

“I can’t stay here. Not when everyone blames me for it.” By everyone she does mean everyone.

The Shelbys had taken Polly’s side and everyone else correctly guessed Tommy having a lover is what destroyed the fairytale romance.

It was a terrible place to be, Eva had not considered how cruel they’d be to Lucy only focused on leaving a man who placed Lucy over here time and time again. Why Tommy couldn’t just marry her and avoid this mess was beyond Eva’s comprehension.

Marriage is safety when you do not love in the conventional way.

“Have you finally given my suggestions to find your mother and your aunt some thought?” she asked the Red Demon who had been reluctant on accepting Eva’s offer to help her find her family because neither she nor Tommy appeared to be capable or surviving without the other.

They could, they are just too pessimistic and they refuse to give it a real, honest try. Eva had been there once, and now seeks to pull them out of the dark waters even if they like it there.

“Yes, maybe if I had said yes when you offered the first time we wouldn’t be in this mess.” And because Lucy wants to see if Tommy would be happy without her here. Not by being the ghost haunting him, but as the lover who left him. “You should’ve told me we were making you feel unloved.”

“I know, but I feared losing him, and while I do get on with you, I do not like you that way. We are just too different.” Part of Eva still wants the life she saw with Tommy that morning in Brighton. Is it wrong for her to desire her own happiness after life took everything from her? Why was she losing her one thread to life again? Why couldn't someone else be the one to sacrifice their happiness for her instead of her doing it every single time?

“I had guessed as much. I am not as ignorant as Polly makes me look.” Her ex lover nodded in agreement, and both said their goodbyes before parting ways.

The last person seen with Lucy was Eva. A gunshot was heard and only Eva came back.

There was no body nor signs of a struggle, but he knows what the witch is capable of. She had one demand when he refused to sign the papers in London.

Me or Her.

And when he refused to choose her then and there, he left to drown out his sorrows and make his choice.

He loved both women. He loved Eva fiercely, loved her fire, her strength and her ambition to take back everything she had lost.

But he loved Lucy more. He couldn’t just leave her like this. It would kill her.

“We will have everything we have ever wanted, mi amor.” She had proclaimed that morning after their wedding.

Four children, a baronetcy, a career in politics. They would be as happy and as in love as they were that morning.

He had been a fool to assume she saw Lucy in it.

And because he was going to choose Lucy over her, Eva killed her.

She was just as damaged as them. Lost everything she ever had, and now that she stood to lose the chance to have it all again with him, the witch took it.

What Lucy was capable off wasn’t close to what Eva could do. Eva had the advantage of money and magic.

“You killed her!” he cannot contain himself when he finds her still packing up what she owned in Ada’s old room. She had moved there when it became clear he would sleep with both women.

Eva is shocked from his words angry in ways he had never seen. The words had hurt her like a blow to the stomach and woke the beast underneath the soft warm skin

“Oh, yes, because I would be so fucking sloppy as to have the murder weapon in my hands and be so obvious!” The witch mocks him and denies it. "If I had killed her, you would have never found out about it."

He should’ve known she wanted him to choose her.

He couldn’t choose so she choose for him.

“You killed Lucy!” he shouts again as he comes to shake her and demand to know why she did this to her.

Eva slaps him hard enough to leave a mark.

“I didn’t fucking kill her! Why would I go through all the trouble of divorcing you if I intended to kill her?” the witch shouts back when even her hand on his cheek is not enough to break him out of that thought.

“Then where is she? Why were you the only one to come back here?” He knows deep down she didn’t and yet he cannot stop his mind from finding a reason to believe she did.

“She needed time away from here, to get away from a place that hates her. Just as I am doing.” We need to be away from you.

“Then why didn’t she tell me?” he asks the woman who he knows won’t ever forgive him.

“You wouldn’t have let her go, just as you are not man enough to let me go.” She hates as strongly as she loves, and now Tommy knows what the Witch’s anger feels like. “Just as you are so fucking full of it that you fucking came here and accused me of killing your precious Lucy.

Me, the mother of your child, the wife you promised to love and cherish before God and Men; and you couldn’t even love me enough to give me the presumption of innocence.” Her anger turns to hot tears as she lets him have it. “I should’ve left England when I had the chance.”

Tommy has only seen Eva cry three times in his life. The day he taught her to shoot, the day she left him and the day he killed her love for him.

“I'm sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I know you would never do that.” Even when he means it, even when he tries to show her how truly sorry he is for the way he acted, for the fucking way he doubted her like this, his wife flinches away form him.

Moves away from him as if his touch physically hurt her.

“If it had been me who disappeared, you wouldn’t have accused Lucy of killing me.” She won’t ever forgive him, there is no love for him in her eyes only hatred he created and he will have to live with that for the rest of his days. “You do not love me like you love her, now I wonder if you ever loved me at all.”

But he does love her, and that is what makes it all worse. He’s lost her even when that is the last thing he wanted to do.

“Evie, please---” Tommy chases after her, refusing to accept the defeat he crafted with his own bloody hands.

“I will never set foot here unless you are dead.” The witch refuses to look at him as she too walks out of his life and leaves him standing on the wreckage of their love.

She was right when she called him a fucking fool when it comes to love. Always right when it comes to him and not once has she ever lied to him.

Which is why he will set this right, even if it means following her to London.

story continues in Venor