#my sweet baby Finn Shelby

[evita-shelby]

Promise?

For @novashelby

Tommy & adopted!daughter!reader

Gif by @ssa-kitsune1310

Even though you know you aren’t a real Shelby, it is always awful to be reminded of that fact.

No one dared to do it in front of your family, but there was always someone wishing to hurt you like that the moment they got a chance.

Many had heard the story of how Tommy found you half-starved in the street as a toddler cradling your dead mama before he left for the war and brought you home as his daughter. Most assumed he was your father in truth as it was known how often he frequented ladies of the night after Greta’s death.

But he wasn’t, you were some orphan little girl whose mother got kicked out of her home and died of exposure in a street corner begging for scraps. He loved you and named you Shelby and his family was your family since that night he found you.

You were raised a Shelby, you kept their traditions, you went to church with Polly and learned Rromani just as Finn did and now you would have a mother and a baby brother.

Your family didn’t like Grace, for what she did to Ada and for the betrayal that killed Danny Whizz-Bang that December. But she seemed nice enough, loved your father even if he didn’t seem as in love with her as he had been before she left.

Her family didn’t like you.

They called you the little bastard girl, the street urchin who should be sent away so you can’t steal Charlie’s inheritance or cause a rift in her marriage because stepmothers are replaceable, and children are not.

“They always send us away; he won’t love you anymore because you aren’t his real baby.” One of Grace’s cousins whispers to you as you eat sweets in your room away from everyone. “Daddy sent me to school because my stepmother told him too and now, he only loves her and the stupid baby because he’s the Boy. If Charlie wasn’t his baby too, she wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

You do not sleep a wink that night or those after because while Grace likes you now, you know too well what she’s capable of. Freddie would still be alive if she hadn’t called the coppers on him when Karl was born. The beatings and torture in prison gave him weak lungs after and the influenza finished the job.

It’s been some time after the wedding when you finally get the courage to ask your dad about it. He’s troubled, things with Grace aren’t what they pretend they are.

He doesn’t trust her, can’t have a real marriage or even love if there isn’t any trust, you heard Johnny Dogs’ wives say to each other while you played with their girls earlier and they whispered about them in their gossip.

And it was true, he never invites her to meetings and never confides in her like he promised when they argued yesterday about it. Your dad had raised his voice and told him he wasn’t changing his mind about something, and you knew what it was he meant even if you only heard those words.

“Daddy, are you going to send me away?” you put on your bravest face as you ask him in his office. You sit on his lap even now that you are older as you have always done even after Grace came into his life.

“No, sweetheart, whatever gave you the idea I would ever do that?” He asks concerned about it all.

“One of the girls at the party told me that when her daddy got married and had a baby with her stepmom, the stepmom sent her to a bad school, so the Boy doesn’t have any competition.” You tell him everything that troubles you and don’t even hide what you heard him say yesterday. “She said Grace would do it too because that’s what all stepmothers do in her family.”

“Y/N, no one is sending you away. I would never allow that to happen.” He smoothed your hair and quieted your fears, and yet you need more than just those words.

“Do you promise?”

“I promise, as long as we live, you will be my daughter and I will never send you away even if the King himself ordered me to.” He offers his palm, spits on it like he does with promises he will never break and you do the same as you agree.

You never leave his side, you grow up as a Shelby would and when Charlie leaves with Lizzie after Ruby’s death, you stay with him to the bitter end.

[anonymooseforever007]

Man of My Dreams

(Alfie Solomons x female reader)

Summary: Y/N is one of the newest secretaries at the Shelby Company and she's always eager to make her bosses proud. But one night, when Tommy give her the order to watch one of his business partners.... maybe she took the order "by any way you can" a bit to literally....

A/N: Hi y'all! There's nothing graphic, but this fic does contain a short mention of forced prostitution by some aweful bosses over their secretaries, but nothing happens here. And aside from usual Peaky Language and sexual innuendos I don't think there are any other TW's for this story! I was gonna post this later but I'm pretty please with how it turned out so here it is now 😂 I just wanted to write a nervous reader meeting cheeky Alfie! Enjoy!❤️

WC- 3.2k

Main Masterlist

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"WAIT! Don't go! You can't!"

"And why is that Treacle?"

".....because I love you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(A little while earlier)

Mr. Shelby had given you one job. Only one job left today and he said it was vey important that you complete it at all costs and by any means necessary. If you failed there maybe be a lot of trouble and not just for you. But what was that job?

Keep Alfred Solomons inside the office...

It was after closing time at the betting shop and while almost everyone else had gone home you were still working on a few papers Mr. Shelby wanted done by tomorrow. And while they wouldn't take too long, you were still a newer secretary at the company and rather eager to please your bosses. You were also one of the younger secretaries and this was one of your first jobs that consisted of more than stocking shelves or sweet talking rude customers in the bakery. And while everything had gone smoothly so far, you still found yourself accepting the extra work from time to time in order to get in your boss's good graces. He still paid for the time of course, very well actually. But as you'd learn today, late office hours often came with unexpected surprises too. 

One of these began when Mr. Shelby suddenly walked through the main floor towards his office. Only he wasn't alone. Walking a few paces behind him was another man. You'd recognized him as Alfie Solomons, an imposing man who owned the "Bakery" that Arthur Shelby was always grumbling about. You hadn't actually spoken to him or even met him yet. The most you'd gotten was rumors from the other women in the shop about all the terrible things he'd done. Even worse than some of the rumours about your boss. But tonight it appeared that would change. You didn't miss the quick glance made towards you by the Camden Town man when Mr. Shelby passed your desk with a quick acknowledgment, before heading straight to his office.

Only six minutes into the important meeting, Mr. Shelby had been called to the Garrison to deal with a fight started by his brothers. He had been annoyed to no end at having to fix yet another one of his brothers' impulsive decisions, but seeing as Polly was helping Esme with her new baby, he was the only one left to go. Well, the only one Arthur and John would listen to if they were half as drunk as Finn said. And Finn himself was also being dragged back to the bar by Tommy to help control his brothers too, so he couldn't watch the other gangster either. Even if he lacked his brother's stomachs for fighting, Finn still had almost a head over each of them and could hold them back well enough if needed. 

So Tommy brought him along too, leaving you behind with the order to keep the other gangster company until he returned. It didn't matter that Alfie had already agreed to waiting until Tommy came back. Or in his words "graciously relented more of his precious time" in the name of "proof of his good will." Tommy still didn't want him snooping around the office while he was gone. So he'd given you strict instructions to keep the gruff man in his office until he got back. You were also to make sure he didn't mess with much in there either. 

You'd never anticipate just how astray that one plan would take you...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi. I'm Y/N, one of the secretaries. I hope you don't mind, Mr. Shelby wanted me to look at his typewriter and clean up the office a bit before I left. One of the keys has been a bit sticky lately. So don't let me both you, and if you need anything let me know and I can get it for you."

You'd figured that had been a pretty decent thing to open with. It was a good excuse for staying in the office, and Tommy had wanted you to fix the key for a while now. But you started to rethink your opener, as all you got in return was a brief nod from Mr. Solomons who continued to read over the paper in his hands. Pursing your lips in a line and feeling slightly awkward now, you just nodded to yourself moving to Mr. Shelby's typewriter. You did get a questioning stare after that when you picked up the device and moved it to the table in the middle of the room. That was the table between Mr. Solomon's desk and the door. It meant you had a better chance of stopping him should he try to bolt. Didn't mean it was a big chance though. No, you didn't doubt this man could easily pin you if he tried, and you hoped in the back of your mind that he really did plan to stay as agreed. And so, glancing at the unchanging position of your charge every few minutes, you set to work on pulling apart the typewriter...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silence.

Pure uncomfortable silence had descended upon the small office nearly half an hour after Mr. Shelby left. Well, you found it uncomfortable, but Alfred seemed to have no issue with the quiet that settled over the room. By this point he'd moved from the chair he was originally sitting on to the one behind him, closer to the bookshelf. Which happened to be directly across from your own seat. 

He sat, unbothered, still reading the same contract he had when you came in. He must of gone through it twelve times by now. Occasionally, he'd mumble under his breath, causing your head to shoot up, waiting for something to happen with bated breath. One of these times, to slight humiliation, your head had shot up expecting to see him still looking down at the papers...only to be met with his own piercing eyes. Neither of you spoke at that moment, you just stared eyes wide with surprise while his remained unreadable. The moment was broken by the sound of a siren out of the window causing you to look over. You didn't notice the slight smile the briefly passed the man's face.

It had been fifteen minutes since that moment and you were finally starting to relax, thinking that maybe this really wouldn't be as bad as you thought. Keeping him here didn't seem too bad.

Until, without warning Alfie stood up and quickly walked towards the desk. Thinking he was trying to look at Mr. Shelby's private papers you also shot up. But when he turned back around you saw he was only grabbing a new pen, leaving you standing there... once again staring. He must really be starting to believe you're a creep of some sorts, you thought. Trying to save face you'd headed towards the desk yourself, under the guise of grabbing a piece of paper for the now fixed typewriter. You didn't expect him to, but you were glad the your company didn't point out the stack of paper sitting right next to the machine in the table. And with that, you went back to your seat, trying to calculate how many drinks you'd need after this. 

You couldn't explain it, but for some reason you felt like you were doing this wrong. There was some source of nerves buzzing in the back of your head that just wouldn't settle. You chalked it up to this being the "most important" job you'd been given yet, aside from when Polly had you watch the empty shop for an hour one night after locking up so she could chew one of her nephews out for their latest mess. You had been so nervous about someone trying to break in, you'd almost concussed poor Arthur with his own stapler when he'd come in the back door. The only thing that saved him was the fact he actually fell back on his ass, terrified, because you'd popped out so closely to him. You were also lucky he happened to be sober and registered it was you before fighting back. Neither of you mentioned that night to the others.... and neither of you ever would.

The silence continued for a few endless minutes longer before it was finally broken. Alfie groaned lightly as he got to his feet. Luckily you hadn't stood up this time and were able to slow the rise of your head, looking up at him slightly concerned. Even if you didn't know the man, you'd noticed the slight wince he'd made when he stood up, using the couch arm to stabilise his ascent as he reached for his cane by the table.

"Right. Now that's enough of that poppet. You said if I wanted anything you'd give it to me correct? And now I know what I want so you're gonna help me?"

Eyes wide in shock, both from the fact your burly companion spoke, and of what he spoke, you shot up once again in slight panic. Shit Shit Shit. Not only had his sudden actions threw you off your axis, but now he was also looking at you with a stare that reminded you of how John looked at Esme many times before they'd disappeared to the back rooms for half an hour or so. Esme usually came out looking brilliant as usual, but John wasn't one to hide his messy clothes or the marks on his neck. And now Alfred Solomons seemed to be giving you the same look as his eyes roved your body. He tilted his head and took another step forward, indicating that you still hadn't answered his question.

"I...I did say that yes. What do you need Mr. Solomons?"

"Well let's not dance around anymore. Call me Alfie or Alfred if you'd like treacle. I've seen you starting at me," Alfie moved around the table until he was only a few steps away, "I think you know exactly what I want. I think you know exactly how this is suppose to play out. Your boss leaving you here as 'company' for little ole me? You know what happens now right?"  

The last words were spoken so closely you could feel his breath against your face. Your breath hitched realising what he meant. No. It couldn't be that. You knew Mr. Shelby wanted you to keep his business partner company, but surely he didn't mean that kind of company. Your boss wouldn't do that right? You'd never even met the man before today and he wanted you to....

"Show me where the bathroom is why don't you? I've been needing a piss since the trip up."

Your entire body seemed to relax hearing those words. Yes, Alfred Solomons was a very handsome man, the kind you often fantasised with your friends about meeting one day. But that didn't mean you had any desire to sleep with the man for your boss's benefit. You'd heard about monsters who forced that from their poor secretaries. 'A sweeter part of the business deals' is what some of them wanted. Men like that disgusted you, and you were relieved your boss wasn't that way. If he was though, you believed you'd actually have shot him yourself for such a suggestion. Yes, you had a habit of being quiet and were often anxious about if you were correctly doing your job, but you'd be damned if any man thought he could treat you that way. Your father had taught you how a man should respect a woman and your mother gave you a gun if he didn't. A gun that was currently locked in your nightstand, but nonetheless you figured you'd have time to grab the stapler on Tommy's desk if you needed to. Though now that Solomons had brought it up, the idea wouldn't leave your mind. After all, it was just you and Mr. Solomons in the office. Mr. Shelby wasn't back yet and there was no telling how long he'd be. What if he got to you before you reached the stapler?

"It's alright dove, I'm not gonna hurt ya," Alfie's words broke through your thoughts once again, and you'd nodded this time hearing the truth in his words. He'd noticed you'd relaxed upon his last demand, only to tense up a bit in thought moments later. Based on your quick glance towards the stapler on Tommy's desk, he could tell you were now thinking of another request he'd might have made. One that honestly he wouldn't have minded indulging in he thought, taking another quick look at the woman before him. But he didn't because of the uncertain look in your eye and the scolding voice of his late mother telling him off for what he'd just done. 

He knew it was wrong of him to imply such a thing, especially when he'd only just met you and when you seemed nervous as it was. And for a man who rarely regrets his actions, he did feel a slight hint of guilt for scaring you. His mother would have tore him a whole new asshole if she'd heard him make such a comment, implying what the young woman practically had no choice to do. Given, he certainly had made many comments like those before and they were often eagerly accepted and lead to quite a few passionate nights while Cyril was sent home with Ollie... But that didn't mean now was the time for them. Not when it was late at night alone in Tommy Shelby's office the his secretary he'd met forty five minutes ago. Wouldn't that be a story to hold over the shorter gangster though? The time he bent Tommy's new secretary over the man's own desk in under an hour. Alfie felt the seat of his pants tighten slightly at that idea, but tried to push it off because it still wasn't the time for that. 

"The bathroom is this way."

Your words broke him out of his thoughts and Alfie looked over to see you standing by the office door you'd been guarding so "intensely" the whole time. Like your time in the office, the way to the bathroom was also silent. You walked Alfie all the way up to the door, and he was half surprised you didn't accompany him to actual toilet seat. 

After a few moments standing awkwardly outside the door, feeling like you sister waiting for her five year old son, Alfie finally came out again. He didn't even wait for you as he made his way back through the main floor. But instead of cutting a straight path through the other desks like before, he was weaving his way around and between the tables. Sometimes he'd pause and look at the papers on a seat even though they were likely just blank log pages, everything else having been put away for the night. Then he'd straighten up again and travel a completely different direction than before. And because you wanted to make sure he wouldn't take anything off the other desks, you followed him. 

Up and down and around. If someone were to walk into the company just now, they'd have seen what looked like a two person game of tag....One you seemed to be loosing. Finally he reached the door of Tommy's office again, stopping so suddenly, you almost ran into him. 

"Well that was a rush wasn't it poppet? Had to get me daily exercise in didn't I?"

The intimidation you felt from this man was finally starting to wear off. All of the sudden the mood of environment changed again. Alfie sighed and shrugged his shoulders like he'd made a final decision. 

"Right. That's really enough of that poppet. Seems your Boss is a no show and I'm a busy man," Alfie stated as he gathered up the papers he's been looking at. You froze, watching him stand up and make his way to the door. Shit shit shit. He was joking again right? He was suppose to stay put. But now he's moving towards the door and doing the very thing he wasn't suppose to do. Why was he leaving now? He said he'd stay. Shoot. You wanted to go back to the uncomfortable silence from before.

You looked around the room for a reason to keep him there. But aside from Tommy's stapler, you didn't see any means of holding him back. Besides it wasn't like the stapler would be of much use. Tommy always forgot to refill it when the staples were gone and had a bad habit of stealing yours and never giving it back. Sure, he technically owned every stapler in the building, but you were still very proud of your own little tool. It hardly ever got jammed. But now it was no where in sight and Tommy's stapler was as usual, empty, meaning unless you wanted to beat Alfie over the head with it, you were out of luck. Sure, you could probably toss it at him as a distraction and then roll the desk chair into his bad hip, but that just felt mean. Arthur would absolutely love it and might have given you a raise for doing it even, but there was a larger part of you that spoke against hitting a man in his war wound. That just felt like a special type of cruel. But it meant you were left with no other option but to witness Alfie walk out the door. As you watched, Mr. Shelby's words flew through your head, talking about how important it was for Alfie to stay until he returned and how you need to keep Alfie there at all costs. Suddenly, an idea hit you.

"WAIT! Don't go! You can't!"

"And why is that Treacle?" The words came out absentmindedly, Alfie already focused on what he'd do when he got home.

".....because I love you?"

Alfie's hand was on the door when he froze, hearing your almost desperate plea. Spinning around as much as he could with his hip, he faced you again. Confusion covered his face, quickly replaced by an almost cocky amusement.

"You love me?"

"Yes," you nodded somewhat confidently," I've loved you since the moment I first met you."

Alfie, tilted his head and took a step closer, raising and eyebrow.

"Well poppet, considering moment I met ya was an hour ago, I'd say it's a love that won't take long to get over."

He turned again but this time you shoved yourself infront of the door before he could grab it.

"No it's not!"

"It's not?"

Now Alfie was confused. He'd have remembered meeting a pretty face like yours before, especially it it accompanied your rather memorable personality, you'd shown today. On the other hand, you were cursing yourself out internally, berating yourself for the impulsive lie. Why didn't you just grab the stapler? Scrambling to cover yourself now, you delved deeper into your story.

"It's not. The first time we met was... it was... at.... no by.... It was by..... in .in in.... IN MY DREAMS!! The first time we met was in my dreams and I've been in love with you since then!! Yes that's it!"

You nodded vigorously, smiling, hoping he'd believe you. He didn't obviously, he knew you were still trying to follow your boss's orders.... but damn was this fun to watch. Alfie raised an eyebrow moving a step closer again.

"Are you saying I'm the man of your dreams poppet?"

"Yes! Absolutely. I think about you every night."

"You do?" Alfie was only a step away now. "What exactly about me do you think dove?"

You thought for a moment, scanning his body for things to talk about, not that it would be hard, but you felt a little pressured here. If Alfie moved any closer his beard would brush you chin.

"Beard.... Your beard is fluffy, and looks soft," you started," and your stance is...like a sturdy man's stance..you have pretty eyes too...and you have arms... I like arms. You look like you'd give good hugs... or could like make my bed," Alfie bit his lip, trying not to laugh. "Also legs, you have legs, and a cane for your hip. You could like do stuff with the cane ... maybe I don't know. Some people may like that. I know people into that." You had no clue what your were saying at this point, just rambling and Alfie didn't know if it was embarrassing or enduring. But before you could delve deeper into your hole, he stopped you.

"Alright poppet. I get it don't I? You're madly in love with me and the idea of me leaving just breaks your heart, don't it?"

"Yes?...." You nodded, not believing that he was believing it. Maybe?... "It breaks my heart and that's why you can't leave. You have to stay with me. In here. In this office....So you can't leave. Because I absolutely love you with all my heart and if you were to go I wouldn't know what to do. I'm just lost without you Alfred Solomons. You are the man of my dreams an..."

"Y/N, What the fuck?"

Startled by Finn's voice you cursed, turning around to see not only the youngest Shelby, but Tommy, Arthur, John, and Michael staring at the scene before them. Evidently during your "heartfelt" speech you hadn't noticed them arrive back to the office. Nor had you seen them opening Tommy's door, only to hear the last bit of you professing your "love" for the man who'd screwed them over more times than John had kids....which was to say a lot. Tommy's eyes met yours in confusion and slight concern as your mouth opened and closed like a fish, unable to provide an explanation. When he said keep Alfie under control he meant, just make sure the man didn't piss in the whiskey decanters or draw horns on Arthur's picture. He wasn't sure why that involved professing your love. In the back of his mind, it passed that you could be a spy, and Tommy honestly hoped that wasn't the case. He liked you, Lizzie never let him take her stapler. A drunken John just smiled in amusement, pleased with the free entertainment. Meanwhile, Finn and Michael were silently making faces at each other, arguing over who'd grab Arthur's legs, and who'd get arms if he decided to act on the dangerous glare he was giving Alfie. He wasn't actually drunk, but Arthur saw you like another Ada, and he didn't like the idea of Alfie romancing you. Arthur also had a deep seated despise for Alfie in general, but everyone knew that. Now they were all looking at your for an explanation.

Looking over your shoulder, the stapler was still empty.

Perfect.... 

[blakeswritingimagines]

Nicknames

Thomas Shelby:

Darling- 9/10, Uses it pretty often and loves to see how people react to such a cold person using such warmth in his tone only towards you.

Sweetheart- 10/10, Only used in front of family or yourself but uses it the most out of anything.

Dear- 7/10, Uses it when he's trying to butter you up or is trying to get your attention, but it slips without his thinking about it much.

Arthur Shelby:

Sweetheart- 8/10, No matter how hard up he is, he loves being soft for you with a kind touch it makes him feel better about everything he does.

Love- 1000/10, Uses it ALL THE TIME and loves making it known you belong to him no matter who’s around he’s saying it.

Little one- 6.5, Uses it when he just wants to prove he's older than you or if you're arguing with each other never really means ill will with it.

John Shelby:

Doll- 8/10, He’s so playful with you and loves having fun with you on his arm, but he also just loves showing you off.

Kitten- 6.8/10, Uses it when it's just you two alone but loves seeing reactions to it most importantly yours.

Darling- 8/10, Uses it anywhere and everywhere no matter who's around you both he loves seeing the reaction from you when he says this.

Ada Shelby:

Dearest- 9/10, She's just so soft and cute for this life and she just wants to be happy with you.

My love- 7/10, Loves to call you this and see your reaction but mainly calls you this in private.

Sweetie- 9/10, Uses it without thinking and even around others, but she just thinks it's a cute name for a cute person.

Finn Shelby:

Doll- 6.3/10, Uses it in front of others but mainly to seem tough like the other guys in his family or friends.

My Princess/Prince- 8/10, Adores this nickname for you but does save it for when it's just the two of you or if he really needs your attention.

Angel- 8/10, Took him some time, but will use this one out and about in front of whoever as well and thinks it's true.

Polly Gray:

Darling- 7.5/10, Uses it and doesn't care who is around when she calls it by this mainly because she thinks it's cute for you.

Pet- 9/10, Used it before you were together and still uses it even after you both got together.

Dragostea mea- 10/10, Loves being sweet and tender with you while speaking in Romanian to you but chooses to use this in private so it's special.

Micheal Gray:

Beloved- 7/10, This is how he introduces you to others or how he describes you to people not caring if it's used in private or public.

Baby- 2945602/10, Smug bastard says it with a smirk as well, mainly uses it in public but simply doesn't care and will just say it so casually towards you.

Honey- 5.5/10, Only ever uses it in private since he doesn't want others to see him so soft for you but also wants you to know how appreciative he is for you.

Isaiah Jesus:

Kitten- 20/10, He's so playful about it and mainly uses it in public and will make sure everyone knows he's talking to you.

Sweets- 1000/10, Loves seeing your reaction to this one but also doesn't care if used in private or public but will also use this trying to butter you up.

Angel Face- 9/10, Mainly used in private but also doesn't know how exactly this became a nickname for you all he knows is he enjoys saying this to you.

Bonnie Gold:

Honey- 9/10, Mainly used to get your attention and will use it on public not caring how anyone perceives him.

Angel- 7/10, Also used in public around others still not caring what they think but he thinks it's the cutest thing to call you.

Other half- 20/10, Only uses it in private with you so it can stay special for you both and only used it in public when you both got married.

Alfie Solomons:

Sweetling- 7/10, Uses it in private when just to both but also not as a serious nickname for you he uses it playfully.

Snookums- 20/10, Uses it playfully as well but also in public, making sure everyone knows he's talking to you.

Yaffe- 100/10, Uses it in mostly private but if he's busy and not thinking he'll use it in public but mainly enjoys saying it to you during any moment he can.

(Dragostea mea) in Romanian means my love

(Yaffe) in Hebrew means beautiful

[ljz002-world]

Verdun and Somme, Part 4

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.”

[hb-writes]

Hide and Seek

Summary: 1923 in the Little Lady Blinderverse. When Clara hides herself away at a charity event, Isiah is tasked with finding her and bringing her back to the party.

Characters: Isiah Jesus & Clara Shelby (OC)

Peaky Blinders (Little Lady Blinder) Masterlist

Comfy-vember 2024 Masterlist

—

Clara and her book were hiding, something she had taken to doing with a certain regularity at these charity events. The people who attended were always far too posh, and while Clara felt pretty in the clothes Grace picked out for her, she didn’t feel a bit like herself while wearing them. 

The clothes also made her feel like a little kid, all variations of something she would have loved to wear years ago. Back when she didn’t care about looking like a baby, or being treated like one, but Clara was halfway to an adult as far as she was concerned, and she didn’t need any childish frills to help her with looking young.

Clara managed that on her own because she had yet to experience the growth spurt that had Finn towering over her and she still had the very same face she’d had since she was practically a toddler, or at least that’s the way it seemed. Everyone was always commenting on how young she looked, surprised to learn she was an adolescent.

“Your brother is looking for you.” 

She glanced up at Isiah. Clara knew he was talking about Tommy. None of the others bothered, preoccupied with the food and the alcohol and the opulence, but because Grace was likely thinking about presentation, and whispering about Clara’s notable absence in Tommy’s ear, Clara assumed he’d sent Isiah to pull her out of hiding so she could mingle. 

Clara tired easily of such interactions, reminded by the guests of the posh girls who attended her school, and worse yet, Clara was sick of being told she looked like such a beautiful mix of her mother and her father. 

She hadn’t heard it yet tonight, but Clara assumed it was just a matter of time. 

She had Tommy’s eyes, but with Grace’s fair hair. Quick witted and sweet with a proper set of manners on her. That’s what some well-intentioned guest always pointed out. 

There was a tune when it hadn’t bothered Clara that people assumed Tommy was her father. A time when a part of her liked it, in a way, because he was the closest she had ever really had to one, but it only bothered her now. 

“Tell him to come find me himself, then.” 

Isiah snorted as he sat down beside her on the steps.

“Can’t imagine that will go over well.”

Clara shrugged, It had been a while since she had properly cared how things went over where Tommy was concerned, but Clara still held a modicum of concern because they were in a public place and she had no interest in being chastised with an audience. That would really get people thinking she was a child, Tommy and Grace’s at that. 

“I want to go home,” she finally offered, cooperative as Isiah pulled the book from her hands and started skimming through the pages.

“Just you and this book, eh?” 

Clara shrugged. “You could come if you want.” 

Isiah snorted again, not because he didn’t want it, but because it was an unlikely outcome.

“Or you could just leave me here and tell him you couldn’t find me.” 

“I tell him that and your brothers’ll have half of Birmingham out looking for you.”

And once they found her, Clara would have an earful off of him. 

“Come on, Clara,” Isiah said, squeezing her knee before he stood, stepping away. “It won’t be so bad.” 

“Isiah?

“What is it, love?”

“Can I have my book?” Clara said, holding her hand out for him to return it. 

“If I give you this book, you’ll never leave that step.” Isiah shook his head as he pocketed it within his jacket. “Come with me now and you can have it later.” 

Clara took Isiah’s outstretched hand, allowing him to help her up, the momentum of his tug pulling her into his chest. Clara stayed there a minute, letting Isiah hold her against him. 

“And you and Finn’ll come out to Warwickshire this weekend?” 

“Sure, love.” He shrugged. “Why not.” 

“Great,” Clara said as she extracted herself from Isiah's arms, the book safely in her grasp as she pulled away and returned to her spot on the stoop. "You can tell Tommy I'll be out once I finish this chapter."

Clara was unsurprised when Isiah chose not to go relay the message to her brother, but instead to sit back down beside her, allowing Clara to continue reading her book in peace as the posh party continued down the hall.

—

Peaky Blinders (Little Lady Blinder) Masterlist

Comfy-vember 2024 Masterlist

[deceitfuldevout]

Hidden Treasure (Part 8)

Arranged Marriage AU: Dark!Tommy Shelby x Wife!Reader

Warning(s): Angst, Fluff, Mentions of past domestic violence.

Author's note(s): Innocent heartfelt chapter (cue the fluff).

Your husband would have Finn either send messages to you, or simply keep an eye on your wellbeing. Although Finn hadn’t a clue of what was going on, he knew you of all people didn’t deserve this sort of treatment. He made sure to visit as often as he could for company.

You were grateful the moment Tommy finally let you out that dreadful basement. You hadn’t forgotten the promise made a few weeks ago to Finn. To bake him a signature custard from your bakery. He’d been dying to try. Soon, it became common for the youngest Shelby brother to stop by. He would either have a letter or message from Tommy. Most of them were if your husband would be late or earlier from work.

You’d pack Finn some lunch before bidding him a farewell. Most of the time it was just you and Charlie in one big, empty house. To say that he was a sweet child was an understatement. He had the power to make anyone’s cold heart melt. How could such a charming child come from a man like Tommy? You hadn’t a clue.

Of course, you could never replace Grace. You weren’t the one who’d given birth to him. But Charlie was your son in every single way that mattered. There were even a few special moments you’d spend with the other Shelby family members. You especially enjoyed bonding with the women of the family. Teatime with Polly was a particular favorite. She would give you as much advice as a wise woman could. In a way, Polly became your second mother.

As you were setting up the table Polly had been bouncing Charlie on her lap. Finn decided to stop by since today’s work was slower than usual, he choose to stay a little longer. Polly examines her finished tea. Her expression was confused at first, then startled. She shows Finn the cup, and it was as if he'd read something from it.

Polly let’s out a small sigh, “Tell me my dear…” she places her cup on the table, “…has my nephew been treating you well?”

You’re at a loss for words. How could you answer to her? Should you tell her the truth? How would she react? You made up your mind to keep it short and subtle, “Tommy provides me with everything a wife may need. What more could a woman want?” you try your best to force a smile, hoping that it was a good enough answer.

But Polly was suspicious that something wrong within your marriage. She could sense it, “You didn’t answer my question dear, has he been treating you well?” her voice is sterner this time. You tense. Your heart races, “I-I’m not sure what you mean...” you play off. Polly could tell that over the period of time since you've been married, the flicker of light in your eyes had disappeared. Blown out by the cold blues that followed into your nightmares.

At that point, Finn has had it. As soon as Polly leaves, he tells you of his plan, “Tommy’s going to some event next week, and he won’t be back until the morning,”

“Finn…” you warn. It wouldn’t be a good idea breaking your husband's trust. A man like Tommy never forgets. Finn grumbles, “I’m sick and tired of seeing him treat you like--like the dirt on his shoes! The bloke!” his hands ball into fists. You don’t think twice about his statement, in fact you understood completely why your new brother had the right to react like this. You sigh, reaching for his hands to hold, “Could you do me a favor?”

You were kept busy for the next few days, planning on yet another escape. Hopefully the last. Finn would send letters to your sister who lived in the next town. It had been quite a while since the two of you would communicate. Her and her husband had been busy since delivering their new baby.

So, it would take time to pack up their belongings before moving in with your parents. Finn would stop by the postal, on the way to wherever he was heading in order to avoid suspicion. For once it felt like everything was going your way.

As each day went by, you grew more excited to leave this place, once and for all. You let out your hair, made yourself more presentable, you even started smiling again. Tommy took note of how the corners of your lips would curl upwards on their own as you hummed a tune while making supper.

He’d been silently observing you adjusting to your new life. After putting away the dishes, you hoist Charlie on a hip before leaving the kitchen. Tommy listens carefully to your footsteps leading up the stairs before following them. He stops in front of his bedroom door, reaching for the knob.

But before he’s had a chance to twist it open a faint sound of laughter erupts. He opens the door to spot you and Charlie on the bed. Your hands reaching to tickle the boy’s sides. Seemingly unknowing that your husband is witnessing the display of affection.

You hoist the toddler into the air. Tommy notices your expression. For the first time in months, you're actually smiling. It was like some sort of trance. He leans against the door frame. Seeing you with his boy felt, in a strange way, right. As if you both were meant to be. His son loves you. You drop Charlie onto your bosom to catch your breath.

Soft giggles manage to slip out of every exhale. Charlie’s hair tickles your chin so you tilt it to the side. That’s when you notice Tommy standing at the doorway. His posture is more relaxed than usual. For how long had he been standing there?

You look away from his gaze. It always did make you nervous. His fingers twitch, curling into his palms, “I uh...” he slides them into his pockets, “I want you to be my guest for an event,” Tommy looks up, waiting for an answer. You raise a brow and sit up, still holding the boy in your arms, “Who’ll watch over Charlie?”

“Finn offered to keep an eye on him.” of course.

“Alright,” you agreed, already knowing how it would play out. Tommy nods, “I’ll be back, ‘bout three hours from now.” he checks his pocket watch. Double taking the time. You hadn’t planned for him to take you anywhere. It’ll only delay your plans. But you couldn’t risk him questioning his decision, “Sure thing.” you return. Tommy looks as though he had one last thing to say, “And uh...wear something nice,” He turns away, leaving as soon as he came. Now that was odd.

[themultifandomgal]

Tommy Shelby- Old Love Pt4

Pt1 Pt5

I wake up the following day to Charlie jumping on the bed

"Mummy wake up wake up. Nanna has made breakfast!"

"Hmmm 5 more minutes"

"No mummy come on you need to get up" Charlie pulls the bed sheet off me

"Ok I'm up" I slowing get out of bed rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Charlie takes my hand and pulls me downstairs to the kitchen. He sits down next to my dad and I sit next to him. Mum places a plate of food in front of me

"Thank you" I give her a smile

"So have you decided if we're going to Polly's?" dad asks me

"Not sure. Is it a good idea? Tommy and I have only just reconciled"

"I think it will be good for Charlie" I look down at my son who's stuffing his mouth with his food

"Slow down Charlie" I scold Charlie

"Sorry mummy"

"I just don't want Charlie to be in the middle of whatever is going on"

"Sorry to say this love, he already is"

I decide that we should go and have diner that day at Polly's. So knocking on the door with Charlie in my arms was super nerve racking. Polly opens the door and smiles

"Aunt Polly" Charlie opens his arms out for Polly to take him

"Hi Charlie are you hungry?"

"Yeah let's go" I chuckle at Charlie and follow Polly into the house. The first to greet me is Arthur by pulling me into a massive hug. Next is John then Finn and Micheal. The final person to greet me was Tommy

"Thank you for coming"

"I'm doing this mainly for Charlie"

"I understand"

"Mummy hurry up I'm hungry. Uncle Arthur is already putting food on his plate. He's going to eat it all!" Charlie runs back into the dinning room

"We err best go and sit down" I give Tommy a small smile and follow where my parents and Charlie have gone. I sit down next to Charlie while Tommy sits opposite us. Johns kids and his wife are dotted around the table

"Mummy can you help cut up my chicken?"

"Of course I can" I take his knife and fork in my hands and cut up his food

"So YN are you moving back to Small Heath?" Arthur asks

"I don't know yet. We will see. I see the betting shop is doing well"

"Yeah it is" there's an awkward silence between us all.

The rest of our meal was quite awkward with a lot of small talk. I watch as Charlie and Johns kids all run around the garden when Tommy walks up to me

"Hey"

"Hi"

"Dinner was a little awkward wasn't it?"

"Just a bit" I chuckle

"He's grown since I last saw him"

"Been eating his greens, unlike his father"

"Don't like vegetable"

"I know. You never did" I finally look up at Tommy who's still watching Charlie play "Tom?"

"Hmm?" Tommy now looks at me

"Yesterday Charlie asked me if you still loved us. Hearing him say that broke my heart"

"I've fucked this up haven't I?"

"We both have" I shrug

"How do I repair our relationship?"

"Be his dad. Go play with him" I nod towards Charlie

"How?"

"He will tell you, be glad he's not a girl else you'd be playing as a princess" I say making us both laugh "you know he loves horses, bond over that. Take him to Charlie's yard to meet the horses"

"Can I have him for the day tomorrow?"

"Don't you need to be at the betting shop?" I ask frowning

"Polly's in charge tomorrow"

"Then you are more than welcome to have him"

"Would you like to join us?"

"Oh I don't know"

"You don't still have a fear of horses do you?"

"Maybe" I chuckle

"Then you definitely need to come with us tomorrow"

"I don't have any boots with me" I try to get out of going to the farm

"I'm sure Ada will let you borrow hers"

"But..."

"No buts. Your coming with us tomorrow"

"Fine, but I'm not ridding" I cross my arms

"We will see"

We continue to watch Charlie and the kids playing until it was time to leave Polly's and go home

"Mummy will we live with daddy again?"

"I'm not sure baby" I say tucking Charlie into bed

"I'd like to live with daddy again"

"Maybe one day we will, but even if we don't, daddy will always love you and so will I"

"I love you too mummy" I bend down and kiss Charlie on the forehead

"Goodnight baby. Sweet dreams"

[saintsir4n]

19

WARNINGS: MENTIONS OF WAR

1914

"YOU'VE got a what?" Finn asked, the expecting couple.

Isaiah's gasped, "In where?"

Days had passed since the celebratory drink in honour of another Shelby baby and the boys were still confused about all of it, so Tommy and Eden pulled them aside from their learnings to explain as much as possible, considering he and his brothers would be leaving in very soon.

"How is a baby in there?" Isaiah turned to his best friend.

"Sex," Finn answered, despite not knowing what he was saying.

The couple looks at each other in shock watching the two interact.

"How does he..." Eden was too stunned so Tommy took over.

"Boys, Eden's got a baby in her tummy, just like Martha did –"

"-- she might again," Eden mumbled, luckily only Tommy heard but she gave him an 'I'll tell you later' look and he continued.

"The baby will come when I'm not here, so you two need to be on your best behaviour," Tommy instructed, leaning down as they stared up at him with their innocent faces, "no messin' around, no gettin' on her nerves, just be good, alright?"

His words went straight over their heads, "Does that mean I still get sweets?" Finn asked no one in particular.

Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose, "Finn you've been told you're gonna be an uncle for the second time and you're worrying about sweets."

The Shelby boy awaited an answer.

"Yes, you'll get sweets Finny and another niece," Eden reassured him.

His brows pinched together, "What's that?"

Finn understood that he was an uncle but nothing more than that.

"Is it a girl?" Isaiah questioned, folding his arms, when he received a nod, the boys exchanged grimaces, "Ewww."

Immediately they ran off and went back to their books, leaving the couple alone.

"What the fuck?" Eden blinked rapidly.

Tommy took her hand, before palming her stomach once again.

"Now that's done, let's go," he said, nodding to the basket on the floor.

"But what's up with 'em?"

"Fuck knows."

__

Two days, the lads were leaving in two days. Tommy's heart hammered in his chest at the thought, nevertheless, he promised Eden a perfect day, filled with chocolate slices, sandwiches and a flask of tea. She wore the sweetest frock she could dig out of her closet, it was cheery red, matching the colour of her lips. He adorned a crease-free shirt which was concealed by his favourite navy blue jumper, his shoes were polished, and the gifted horseshoe and box were in his slacks.

Despite not carrying his gun with him, he decided the blades in his cap would suffice and along with the knife he knew that clung to Eden's thigh, they would be safe.

They rode Shadow once again, this time Eden was much more relaxed and free, the light wind combed through Tommy's hair and luckily didn't move a strand of hers, being that she styled it into a low bun.

After tying the horse to a nearby tree, they found the spot overlooked the city, allowing them to spread out the blanket and sit down, basking in the heat.

The sun felt like hot kisses against Eden's skin, leaving her with tints of amber, drawing Tommy's attention as he pulled out all the food he'd spent making up that morning. She was everything he dreamt of and more, the very thing that he yearned for in both body and spirit, she challenged him in ways he hated to love and often drove him to madness, but brought him back with only the right sequence of words. Eden bloody Dawkins, she was his home.

"What?" she felt his stare.

Tommy simply cocked his head to the side, raising his brow at her as a smile tugged at his lips.

"Aren't I simply a dream Tom?" she teased, winking at the man.

"That you are my love."

Eden bashfully laughed at his response and started to dig into the spread, she carved anything and everything, the previous night she'd woken up Tommy so he could make her some rose tea, he didn't have a clue of what she was on about and cautiously told his aunt about it. Polly wasn't pleased with being pulled out of her slumber but aided him anyway.

"How's the little one treatin' ya?" he gently palmed the slight swell of her stomach.

"Can't feel much, bumps don't show properly for another two months," when you're away, she wanted to add, but decided not to, "nausea's died down for now."

"Can see that," he nodded to a half-eaten sandwich in her hand, making her snort.

"And you can say it's a girl, Tom unless you don't believe your aunt," she gave him a pointed look.

"I believe her, things might change, just being realistic."

"'Cause you want a boy?"

"Did I say that?" his hand didn't leave her stomach as he picked up the flask.

"Y'know she's a girl, so you're not havin' a peaky blinder," she narrowed her eyes at him, "but by the grace of god, we have a boy he ain't becomin' a blinder Thomas alright? Promise me." he shrugged, making her hit his forehead, "You promised a perfect day so promise me."

He nodded after gulping down some tea, "Alright, I promise... if it's a boy he ain't becoming a blinder," he paused, "I'll make sure he goes to London and becomes one of those established toffs."

She scrunched up her face, "Ugh, I think I'd prefer a blinder."

They both started to laugh, but in truth wanted a bright future for their child, their children, not wanting them to be subjected to the same misfortunes they inherited, but it was a lot to ask for, let alone dream about. Money could change a lot, but it couldn't change blood.

"You thought of any names?" she asked, as he rested his head in her lap.

His eyes fluttered shut, "A few."

She gently patted him, "Spill."

He inhaled sharply, "It's a lot to ask..."

"Go on."

"Somethin' to do with my mum," his reply had her intrigued.

"Mara Shelby," he stiffly nodded at her mention, "it's a pretty name," she said smiling.

"Esme too," he added, recalling how he and John were up a couple of nights ago talking about it. Arthur joined in, and so did Ada before they passed out in the front room.

"Esmerelda," she liked how it rolled off her tongue.

He chuckled before saying the next, "Pollyanna, but don't tell Pol 'bout that."

"Secret safe with me," she giggled.

"You thought of any?"

"Nothing's come to mind, none have felt right, my mum told me that she spent months thinkin' of what to call me and then changed her mind on the day," she said, combing her hand through his thick locks.

"Really?"

"Yeah, spontaneous thing right?"

"Sounds it," as a man who made part of their child, he didn't want to influence Eden too much with the name of the baby, but the fact she was taking his input made him grateful.

"Just picturing the little girl, runnin' 'round, with a dog chasing her..." her eyes fluttered shut at the image.

"A dog, what one?" he questioned, envisioning the image also, it made his heart swell.

"Bullmastiff," she breathed out.

His eyes fluttered open. "Those big dogs?"

"Yeah, family dogs apparently, but can be brutal when needs be," she continued with the vision, believing it would be the perfect addition to the home they already dreamt of.

"Ballmastiff it is, anything else Mrs Shelby?" and with that question her eyes snapped open, glancing down at the smirking man.

She swallowed the lump at the back of her throat, "Not Mrs. Shelby yet, haven't even popped the question."

"That's true," Tommy sat up, then rose on one knee, rendering Eden to softly chuckle behind her shaking hand, "Now, I was gonna do this a while ago, back when I got permission from your parents. And yes even your dad gave me 'is blessin', a shock to me and all, but I promised I wasn't gonna fuck this up, and I'm not am I?"

"No, you aren't, keep it up."

"Been thinkin' of all the ways I was gonna ask you this, dreamin', talkin' talk my self 'bout how I was gonna ask you to be my wife, did it so often Pol thought 'bout 'avin' me admitted," a teary laugh escaped her at his confession. "So I thought what would my Edie do when she's stuck? She'd write it down wouldn't ya love?"

"I would," she admitted.

"But I couldn't do that," he jokily tutted, making her laugh even more, "I scrapped the paper and thought speakin' from the heart was better, even though I think I'm doin' a crap job at it, but you're smilin'" her smile reached her teary eyes, making his heart hammer once more, "best smile I've ever seen, the brightest too," his voice cracked slightly, "and a great woman once said 'you have to be a bright ball of fire to be seen' and I've never not seen you, Eden. You're everything to me, my bright ball of hope, Christ how sappy is that?"

"Keep goin'" She softly nudged him, despite her tears.

"Oh right," he reached into his back pocket, "even before that little one starting growin' inside you, I was gonna propose. We speak about the future and mine wouldn't be right — it couldn't be without you in it. You've always been in it, so Eden Mary Dawkins would you –"

"Yes," she practically fell into his arms, covering his face with kisses.

"Darlin' I 'aven't shown you the ring yet or properly asked the question."

"Fine, ask me," she playfully rolled her eyes, not letting go of him.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes, it was always gonna be yes," she exclaimed.

An uncharacteristically wide smile broke out on his face as he produced a small box, but that didn't stop her from kissing him and he immediately kissed back, flooding her with feelings that burst through his chest and she did the same, swirling his mouth with the joy that took over her.

Pulling away, he presented her with a ring, that she squealed out, much to his shock, sure it shone in the sunlight, but he didn't think it was much, in honesty he thought she would hate it, but it was the best he could do.

"Brought it for cheap, don't be mad," he said, settling down onto the blanket again.

Her brows furrowed slightly, "And why would I be mad?"

"You deserved better."

"It's perfect," she wasted no more time and slid it onto her finger.

She even laughed when he fitted his cap onto her head.

My secret blinder, he thought.

She wouldn't stop looking at the ring, so he took his time to speak again, "I want us to have the best weddin', but can't do it now only when I come back, so promise me you'll tell people we're married."

"For protection?..."

"Exactly, protection, our little Shelby needs it, just like you," he and his family agreed to it as well, making sure to spread the word that they'd wed, so no one questioned it. Even asking Jeremiah to pretend he performed the ceremony and Polly to put together a fake marriage certificate.

"'Course," she smiled at him, watching as he slipped on a wedding band of his own. "Should we make up our own vows then?"

"If you want," he couldn't stop smiling.

"Well, I... promise to be loyal to you, always, mind body and soul."

He let out a nervous chuckle, "Not to love ey?"

"You can love someone and hurt 'em right?" she blurted out, eyes widening at the words she spoke. It was out of experience she wanted to be cautious, she loved Tommy and he loved her, but the future they planned wouldn't be plane sailing. "I promise to always love you, also, but loyalty, our loyalty to each other can't be brought, or made, it was always there, alright?"

Tommy couldn't disagree despite himself.

"I promise to be loyal to you, always, mind body and soul."

They sealed that vow with a kiss, arguably far more meaningful and sacred than the last.

The sun brightened, bearing witness to the faux wedding, shining down on their rings with its harsh rays, before Tommy turned to whisper something to her bump, putting on voices for his daughter to hear, making his fiancé laugh at his utter foolishness as she ran her fingers through his hair. Thirty weeks left of her pregnancy to go and Tommy had to make the most of this moment, imagining what their child would look like before she popped out.

He was about to go through the flames of war, but right now all he could think of was his family, and how he would make sure to cherish them, despite how little time he had.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

for a while, i was trying to figure out how far along eden is and she's roughly two months pregnant, give or take a week.

we all know when it comes to tommy loyalty is more vital than love, merely because he's committed atrocities in the name of love and family, so he's really not one to be trusted.

how did you find this chapter? the proposal? the happiness between teden?

next time chapter will be the last before the epilogue and bonus chapter, guys so might want to bring some tissues.

[calsvoid]

I'm tempted to shoot Sebastian back at you, but instead I'll say Quinn. (and then you can also answer for Seb if you like)

send me a character and i’ll break their ass down

ooh yay two characters

quinn fabray

how i feel about this character

i love quinn so much she’s such a bitch but also she’s so real for so many of the things she does and says, she’s a character i would love to write about someday when i branch out from my tiny seblaine bubble

all the people i ship romantically with this character

my main ship for quinn is rachel i just really like their dynamic and history and i really wish the creators made them canon. i do enjoy some quinntana and fabrevans just for funsies as well. other than that i don’t really have any romantic ships for quinn. i think her canon relationships with finn and puck served their purposes in her life but i prefer them as friends with some awkward history

my non-romantic otp for this character

quinncedes my beloved, their friendship is so sweet to me and i find them so endearing. i also love the unholy trinity’s friendship they’re very awful to each other but very fun

my unpopular opinion about this character

i don’t know if this is unpopular per se but i think quinn was in the right for trying to get her baby away from shelby. she obviously had ulterior motives but shelby was real fucked up and her relationship with puck was terrible and shouldn’t have happen ever even remotely in the first place

one thing i wish would happened/had happened with this character in canon

obviously for faberry to happen but more specifically i wish we got to see more of her friendship with rachel after graduation; i feel like the writers always ignored a lot of the supposed closeness the nds had in favor of drama (or yknow just rachel’s life or whatever) but the bonds between all of them would’ve been nice to see

sebastian smythe

how i feel about this character

my SON my favorite specialest character ever he’s a bastard he’s a slut he’s the lover boy who never got a chance he’s everything to me i make it known to everyone and he will always be cherished by me

all the people i ship romantically with this character

blaine obvs my otp in the most genuine way literally what got me back into writing, but also i do like the idea of kurtbastian i just need to get myself more used to it before i really dive into them. jeffbastian is a little cute to me especially because of how bright we burn but never gonna be a super serious ship of mine. other than that, no one really or at least no one canon. many nameless faces have been in his past and future of course

my non-romantic otp for this character

my sweet match made in hell sebtana, i think about my stepcousins au so much i’ve forgotten they’re not actually canon and have talked like twice but they’re still my favs. they’re team rocket in another life

my unpopular opinion about this character

that he’s not heartless skank trash and actually a person who’s yeah pretty shitty at times but everyone in this show is pretty shitty at times and that doesn’t make them evil. it’s really easy to villainize sebastian and i get it, honestly i’ve villainized the shit out of some of the other characters before in my head, but at the end of the day he’s some petty competitive guy who wanted to fuck his crush and had the bigotry of most teenage boys at any point of the history of society. he’s neither a perfect angel of a character nor the devil and he’s got potential to grow like any of us. i don’t really fault anyone for being pissed it just kinda makes me sad because he’s my fav, but whatever yknow

one thing i wish would happened/had happened with this character in canon

pretty obvious that i wish seblaine got together but beyond that i wish they became friends again at any point in the show. i know because of the timing between flash and later seasons of the show + the overwhelming love of klaine, seblaine both platonically and/or romantically didn’t really stand a chance but i feel like they could’ve at least hinted at a reunion between the two.

[evita-shelby]

Finn’s mums and dads

Or the 5 times Finn called Eva mom and the one time he called Tommy dad

Gif by @outerbanksxpeakyblinders

“Bye, mum.” Finn said as he rushed out the door after getting his packed lunch from Eva.

She knew Finn had a crush on her, but somehow him thinking her as a mother figure made her apprehensive.

Should she tell Polly about it, or Ada?

No, it would be awkward enough as it is. How do you say ‘Finn called me mom and I am not concerned because now I feel old and responsible, but because I don’t know if that is okay with you, his real family’ without dredging up things that are difficult to speak of already.

Martha Shelby had gotten the baby blues and her idiot husband, the arrest of both Arthurs and not having the money to give Thomas a chance to use his potential in university had driven her to step into the canal.

Or that was what Polly had confided in her, and something Ada doesn’t know she knows.

Yeah, that seems sensible.

Keep your mouth shut and carry on, Evita, the witch tells herself as she goes back to her chores.

“Come here, kid.” Eva crouched a little to get a good look on the blood on Finn’s lip. “Does anything else hurt?”

A fight in class, one boy had called him names and called Ada a slut and Finn responded to those words with his fists.

Polly didn’t know yet, but she would be livid. Not at Finn, but at the boy and his mother who was already on Polly Gray’s black books.

“No. I’m fine, mum.” He said, still sniffling from being blamed for all of it.

“Finn calls me mum all the time, Ada too, he thinks the world of you. I hope you aren’t put off by it, Eva.” The older witch said as Finn played with colored pencils on the dining table.

This time Eva can’t keep quiet, especially when she tells Polly about Finn’s altercation in school.

“No, not at all. I just wasn’t sure if you were comfortable with that, Pol.” The witch said relieved. Some don’t like that; some utterly hate the idea of anyone thinking of other people being seen as a mother figure.

“Are you comfortable with that? With the idea of being a honorary Shelby?”

“I don’t think it is healthy that he calls your mother.” Grace expressed her opinion quite boldly after Finn called her mum as he thanked her for the ice cream she had bought him.

Finn had never seen a museum, and Eva had taken observing the Irish broad like a scientist observing bacteria in a petri dish.

She came here often, met up with a man Eva didn’t know and today, Finn tagged along.

“Mrs. Gray is fine with it, as is Ada Shelby.” Eva said coolly.

Grace was jealous of her friendship with the Shelbys. Apparently, she wasn’t quite sure her boy toy’s no at Uncle Jack’s proposition weeks ago was a real and firm no.

The witch feels guilty for using him as an accessory, but the kid also got to see the museum that Ada expressed a desire to work for until a background check revealed she was a Shelby, a communist and engaged to a Jewish man.

But Eva doesn’t give a shit her subject of interest is jealous of her, that is of no consequence to the retired spy.

What she does give a shit about is a lying rat telling her not to show love to a child.

So she pricks her with her next words.

“Besides, if I do end up becoming Mrs. Thomas Shelby, it will be easier for him to adjust to my presence.”

“Mum!” Finn runs to her, and Eva is relieved when the Billy Boy trying to show off being Kimber’s driver buys into the lie.

In the next second Eva stops being Miss and turns to Mrs even though she would have been eleven or twelve had she been Finn’s mother.

“Oi, you sweet talking my sister-in-law?” Esme lies with ease and a scowl that sells it even to John who is with her.

The driver stutters an apology and returns to the vehicle as the three Shelbys and Eva walk down the street to her grandmother’s house.

Finn comes over every chance he gets, more especially now that he has asked her to help him catch up to the other boys in school.

“That’s Tommy Shelby’s wife you’re speaking to.” John said making it worse.

He's planning to surprise Polly with an acrostic poem written and recited by him on her birthday.

A surprise Thomas knows about because the boy pilfered one of his books on poetry.

Well worn and well loved, and the last thing the witch had expected to know about the gangster she has only spoken to once.

“Your brother won’t think it funny, John.” Eva warned as the newly married widower jokingly called her his long-suffering sister-in-law.

“Let him and blondie fight over it, least we could do to him after what he did to Ada and Freddie.” Esme laughed.

“Happy Mother’s Day.” Finn stands there on her doorstep, with his hair combed and neat, in his Sunday’s best and holding a small but rather adorable bouquet of sunflowers.

“He’s giving all of the women he considers mother figures flowers,” Thomas explains as he stands there at her doorstep and the witch finds herself replaying that strange little fantasy where they are something more than friends.

But she wants him, loves him in the way she loved Antonia.

“They’re beautiful, Finn. I and honored that you consider me one of your mums.” Eva thanked him genuinely and the boy turned beet red and stammered a ‘you’re welcome’.

“There’s a poem too, Tommy helped me write it.” Finn said and Eva’s immediately drawn back to the man she cannot want.

“And who’s the lucky lady getting those?” Eva asked seeing the forget-me-nots Tommy was holding.

And it is because of that that she must refuse his offers of courtship at every turn.

“We saved the best for last; these are for our mother.” There is a pained undertone to his voice, a sweet sadness that is becoming on him.

“Tell her I said hello, then.” She said and sent them on their way.

“I love you, dad.” Finn mumbles in his sleep and clings to Tommy who doesn’t bother hiding the heartbreak those words cause him.

Eva is no stranger to him and the things he hides beneath the surface, and yet this makes him feel as if he’s somehow bare to the bone before her.

This was just supposed to be a drive to the countryside where they’d pick a pony for Finn, just Tommy, Finn and Eva.

It had been a beautiful fantasy, him with a woman he loves on his arm, quietly pretending Finn is theirs doing something any family does.

He should be used to it, Finn liked to make up for the lack of a father by calling those he finds worthy of the title by it.

And then it comes careening down when Finn says those four words after falling asleep on the picnic blanket.

Tommy, Arthur and John were his primary fathers, then Jeremiah, Charlie and Curly and now, Freddie fucking Thorne.

But it had stopped when they had come back and never with something as strong as an ‘I love you.

“I love you too, Finn.”

[zablife]

Dark Games (Part 3)

Arthur Shelby x Evelyn (OC) x Finn Shelby

Summary: (Dark AU) When power hungry Arthur is left to run the Eden Club unchecked, he forces his women into dangerous games with the characters of the London underworld. What happens when Finn interferes with his newest girl?

Author's Note: Written for @shelbydelrey Peaky x Lana Festival. Inspired by "Dark But Just a Game" by Lana Del Rey. Final part to the series.

Warnings: language, slur, drinking, mention of drug use, violence, mention of human trafficking, some incorrect history

Part 1, Part 2

“Finn, what are we looking for?” Evelyn asked, clutching her bandaged hand to her chest and listening for Arthur. He could return at any moment to find them rifling through his office. If he did, their meddling would get them both killed. She wanted to leave for the safety of Warwickshire as Finn had promised sooner rather than later.

However, Finn knew it wouldn’t be enough to take Evelyn to Tommy. He’d turned a blind eye to their brother’s indiscretions in the past and this would be no different. If Finn wanted Arthur stopped for good, he needed something more, evidence Arthur was falsifying the ledgers for the club and stealing from the family. Knowing time was running out to collect them and get Evelyn away, Finn paced the floor, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“I need the books, Evelyn, if we’re going to shut down the Eden Club,” Finn explained and Evelyn nodded in understanding. “Where has Arthur hidden them?” Finn asked as gently as possible. 

“There,” she pointed to the safe in the corner with a shaking hand. “But I don’t know the combination, Finn,” she confessed tearfully. Finn approached, rubbing his hands up and down her arms as he looked into her eyes. 

“It’s alright. We’ll figure something out together, yeah?” he said in a calm, soothing voice as he pushed the hair from her face. The closeness of him and the need for comfort overtook her and Evelyn leaned up to place her lips to his. Finn didn’t hesitate to pull her closer, deepening the kiss he’d wanted for months. His body cocooned her in warmth and a feeling of safety she needed to shut out the world that had shattered around her. 

Losing himself in the sweet taste of her and the softness of her skin, Finn failed to hear the footsteps behind him or the shadow of his brother looming large as the office door swung open unexpectedly.

With his usual bold, swagger, John strode to the center of the room, booming voice laced with amusement. “Well would you look at my baby brother,” he chuckled.

Evelyn’s whole body tensed and Finn moved to shield her with his body as John began to circle them, jabbing a finger in Finn's face. “Sly bastard, you’ve got some balls going after Arthur’s girl. Shall I tell him there’s a fox in his hen house?” he asked with a wink.

Before he could think of a reply, Finn paused, clocking the slight slur in his brother’s speech. John was already drunk and that meant he wouldn’t waste time running to Arthur when he could be having a woman himself.

“Piss off, John,” Finn said as nonchalantly as possible, waiting to see if his assumptions were correct.

John raised his eyebrows in mock shock and thumbed his nose with a sniff. “Alright, alright. No need for that. Couldn’t give a shit anyway. Just came down to take a tenner,” he said, pushing past Finn to get to the safe. Evelyn eyed Finn, holding her breath as she watched John spin the dial with practiced ease. While John had his back turned, Finn gave Evelyn a nod, squeezing her hand gently as he moved to the desk and called out to his brother.

“Oi, John, you going back home in the morning?” he asked casually. John turned slowly, pulling a bill from the stack of cash he held. 

“Dunno, why?” he asked, voice tinted with irritation.

“Tommy called,” Finn lied. John pocketed the money and rubbed a hand down his face as he shook his head in disbelief, stepping away from the safe to question his brother.

“Yeah, what the fuck does the king of Birmingham want now, eh?” he asked with a roll of his eyes. Spying the open door of the safe, Evelyn inched closer, fingers itching to hold the black book that lay in plain sight. Finn watched her movements from the corner of his eye and tried to hold his brother’s interest a moment longer as she closed in on the evidence they badly needed.

“Says a family meeting’s in order. He wants all of us to come tomorrow,” Finn said, heart thundering in his chest, hoping John wouldn’t ask too many questions as he hadn’t worked out the details himself. Shoving his hands in his pockets he looked past his brother’s confused expression to see Evelyn tucking the ledger into her handbag and he exhaled with relief. Deciding it was time to wrap up, he clapped a hand over John’s shoulder adding. “We’ve got an early morning so go easy on the whisky, yeah?”

John broke out in a grin, pulling his brother close to him round the neck. Forehead to forehead he whispered, “Go give the whore a good seeing to and I’ll keep Arthur away. Have some bloody fun for once.” Finn’s stomach turned, but he was grateful for the alibi, needing time to get Evelyn away safely. With a quick nod, he took her by the hand and made a dash for the back entrance. 

Evelyn looked over her shoulder as she ran, tripping on the cracks in the pavement. “Don’t look back,” Finn urged as he helped her, tucking his strong arm under hers to keep her from falling. Even as Finn helped her to the car, she had trouble believing she was actually leaving the place that had been her home for so long. As the lights of the Eden Club marquee faded in the distance, she wondered what lay ahead.

————————-

Arthur exited the car with a groan, feeling the extent of his sore limbs and pounding headache the moment he stepped out into the daylight. The last place he wanted to be was Arrow House, summoned to his brother’s side for another useless meeting. He knew how the day would proceed and he abhorred listening to Tommy drone on about the plans for his empire when he had plans of his own. A day wasted, he thought as he flicked his cigarette into Tommy’s pristine rose bushes, hoping one would catch fire.

He took the front steps two at a time and ordered the maid to bring him whisky as he stumbled toward Tommy’s open office door. However, the voices he heard inside gave him pause. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the hallucination of his Evelyn. He swore he heard her quiet lilt before crossing the threshold, but thought better of it. The booze and the snow were playing tricks on him surely.

However, his confusion soon turned to horror as he entered the room to find the imposing presence of Alfie Solomons standing at his brother’s side. The King of Camden Town stood dressed all in black, an evil grin permeating his features from beneath a wide brimmed hat. He gestured with open arms as he greeted him in a booming voice. “Arfar!” he cried out.

Arthur stood rooted to the spot, looking between Alfie and Tommy who stood hands placed on his desk, boring a hole into his brother. Finn and Evelyn sat on the sofa by the fireplace, and Arthur couldn’t help but notice how Finn’s thumb stroked over the back of Evelyn’s hand in a soothing gesture every so often. 

“Have a seat, Arthur,” Tommy said, voice dangerously low. 

“No, no, no,” Arthur said, waving his hand in front of him. “I ain’t stayin’ for this bullshit,” he proclaimed. He turned to leave, but the door was swiftly closed in his face by a blinder, guarded from the outside until their business was concluded to Tommy’s satisfaction. Arthur had no choice but to stay and face his wrath. 

“Arthur, Mr. Solomons and I have a few questions for you about the goings on at the Eden Club. Make yourself comfortable. We have a lot to discuss,” Tommy said as he threw the black ledger down on his desk with a thud. Arthur’s eyes flicked from the book to Finn, knowing he was involved, but unable to prove it. He clenched his jaw and balled his fists, stiffly taking a seat in front of Tommy. "There are a few irregularities here, brother,” Tommy said, flipping through the pages with mild interest. He closed the book and stared up at Arthur adding, “And I would be prepared to forgive that with a bit of repayment, but Mr. Solomons--”

“Call me, Alfie,” Alfie offered, seating himself at the edge of Tommy’s desk. “We’re friends now, you and I, Tommy,” he said with a nod.

“Of course,” Tommy said. “Alfie here has told me about the deals you’ve been making in London. See that’s very disappointing to me. Cause we’re family and family has always been my strength. Until today…that all changes now that I have a new arrangement in place with the Solomons family. You, Arthur, are out,” Tommy proclaimed, reaching for a cigarette. Rubbing it across his bottom lip, he searched his pocket for a lighter as he looked to Alfie asking, “Shall we tell him what becomes of him?”

Alfie held up his hand, “No, he’s a big boy. He knows the road,” he answered. “And he knows what he did has earned himself a place in hell already.” As Tommy took his time lighting up, he allowed Arthur to squirm under the penetrating gaze of the mad baker. The look he received was scathing and Arthur realized this was about more than business. He turned to look at Evelyn over his shoulder and she hid her face in Finn’s shoulder.

Turning back to Alfie he spat, “So this about the whore?”

Enraged, Alfie leaned forward clutching Arthur’s shirt front in his large hands to bring them face to face. His eyes lit with fury and the patches of irritated skin around his jaw turned an angry red as he seethed, “She was carrying my fucking child, you worthless cunt!” Pulling Arthur from his chair he staggered with the weight of the other man, raising him from the ground until Arthur began to choke. “And you took her from me so now I’m going to ring the life from you,” he warned, thick fingers inching closer to Arthur’s neck. 

Tommy stood emotionless, almost disinterested as he watched his brother’s eyes bulge out of his skull, face reddening as he awaited his fate at the hands of the man he’d wronged. However, just before Arthur lost consciousness, Alfie suddenly released him, letting him drop to the carpet with a thud. 

Evelyn shook her head against Finn’s chest whispering, “Finn, please, I don’t want to see this.” He hushed her, stroking her hair, and trying to shield her as Alfie came to stand over Arthur’s heaving body. 

“Nah, don’t think I will kill ya now, pikey,” he said, boots crushing Arthur’s fingertips painfully. “Would be too good for ya. So we’re gonna take a drive with my nephew Goliath and have a bit more fun, yeah?” He stamped his cane and a large man entered the office, his footsteps hitting the floor with such force it made the lamps rattle. Finn gulped at the sight of the giant, hoisting his brother in the air like a rag doll and carrying him out without a word.

Alfie fixed his hat before giving a nod to Evelyn and then Tommy. “Good doin’ business with ya, Tom,” he said before exiting the room. Evelyn looked around the now quiet room, a surreal feeling washing over her. Vengeance did not feel the way she expected. 

—————————

Three years later…

Finn passed through the busy restaurant he operated with Evelyn. After the nasty business with Arthur, Tommy rewarded Finn’s loyalty by making him his own boss. Although some days he wondered if it wasn’t Evelyn he was working for as she had no problem taking charge. Truthfully, Finn didn’t mind because it made him proud to see her thriving after everything she’d been through at the Eden Club.

Evelyn was determined to make a better life for herself and Finn. Despite Tommy's charity, the first year had been difficult and they lived in near poverty. However, the second year things began to turn around and this year they even stood to make a tidy profit from their hard work. However, her ambitiousness worried Finn at times, her drive to succeed becoming the sole focus.

Always on heightened alert, Finn found Evelyn at a dark corner table with a Chinese couple. She seemed to be in a heated discussion with the man as the girl sat next to him took in her surroundings uncomfortably. Finn frowned at the pair, wondering what they were discussing as a small brown envelope passed between them.

“Evelyn, what’s going on?” he asked, capturing the attention of everyone at the table.

“I’m conducting business, Finn. Did you need something?” Evelyn asked sharply. 

Finn's attention was momentarily stolen by a glimpse of the girl's tattoo, hidden on the inside of her arm. His skin began to crawl as he thought of the recent rumors associated with the mark and his eyes snapped back to Evelyn with urgency. “I need to speak with you,” Finn insisted.

“We’ll continue our discussion Thursday?” Evelyn asked the man seated before her. He nodded congenially, reaching across the table and placing a chaste kiss to her hand before standing to leave. The girl at his side teetered awkwardly in her high heels as she waited for him to don his thick winter coat with fur collar. Then she trailed nervously behind him as he confidently took the lead out of the dining room, patrons staring at the mismatched couple as they passed.

Finn fell into a seat and took a deep breath as he gestured toward the envelope between them. “Evelyn, what’s going on? What is that?” he asked.

“It's opium,” she said matter of factly. Finn pinched his nose, afraid of what she might say next, positive no outcome would benefit them.

“No salt, no flour…the purest available in Europe. It could make us a fortune,” she said eagerly, opening the envelope and tapping the golden crystals out onto the wooden surface before her. Finn exhaled sharply, this had not been in his plans for them. He didn’t want to operate the way Arthur had.

“And where are we to get it?” Finn asked, humoring her for a moment to satisfy his curiosity.

“Brilliant Chang,” she replied, leaning back in her chair with a smile.

“That’s where I recognize him from. He’s the man who’s been in the papers. They say he killed a girl,” Finn said warily, brow creased with concern.

“She killed herself,” Evelyn rushed to correct him. “And he was cleared of all charges,” she explained.  She laced her fingers together, leaning in to confide, "But he has people watching him so he needs someone to sell it. He wants it to be us, Finn,” she said with a heady giggle.

“I don’t know, Evelyn,” Finn said, shaking his head. This sounded like an unnecessary amount of trouble to bring into their lives. Also, she clearly wasn’t aware of the other ways in which he made money.

“Evelyn, do you know anything about the girl with him today? Why she has that tattoo?” Finn prodded, thinking of a delicate way to broach a potentially upsetting subject.

“Of course,” she replied icily. “It’s a mark of ownership. Just another part of his business, Finn,” she shrugged, reaching for her drink and downing it. Finn looked on with a horrified expression as she slammed the glass on the table and crossed her arms defensively.

“What the fuck difference does it make, hmm? The deal is done. I was tired of taking handouts from your brother. And you can’t tell me you don’t want to make your own money?” she said angrily. Her eyes stared back at him, hollow and lifeless.

“I just want you,” Finn answered in a soft voice. "The Evelyn I knew when we started,” he added earnestly. Where had she gone? Sometimes he felt she had been lost years ago while playing dark games with his brother. 

---------------

Tag list:

@peakyswritings

@evita-shelby

@shelbydelrey

@alanadetigy

@wandawiccan60   

@severewobblerlightdragon

@lovemissyhoneybee

@theshelbyslimited

@kittycatcait219

@callsign-fangirl

@christinasyellowflowers

@notyour-valentine

@theshelbyclan

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@polishcrazyone

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@little-diable

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@watercolorskyy

@l1-l4

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@runnning-outof-time

@babaohhhriley

[rhettabbotts]

Shelby my friend, I heard you weren't feeling so great and I wanted t pop in and see if you were ok. I know stuff that comes up with the family sucks, but all the same I wanted to see if you were ok and hope that tomorrow will be better. I was gonna leave a little soft thought/thot I've shared with a few mutuals, with you for the evening if it'll cheer you up (if I was closer I'd leave a basket of homemade chocolate-peanut butter cups or some homemade cinnamon cookies on the front porch for you, lol)

I love the thought of Rhett turning an abandoned barn on the property into your own personal library. You, him Royal and a few friends from the rez renovated the shit out of that building and turned it into a super cozy place full of shelf after shelf with little niches in the stairs and little hiding places for books in your ever growing collection (sometimes those same friends that helped you renovate the place will come to borrow books and you gladly lend them).

Speaking of which, you wouldn't know it, but Rhett's actually a pretty voracious reader. He's read anything and everything but his favorites are always ones like Frankenstein, Dracula, Gulliver's Travels, Swiss Family Robinson and Sherlock Holmes. He's especially fond of books that have a bit of a rap and ones that make the town church hag squirm. He's read Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer during the summer along with books that remind him of Pirates of the Caribbean (yeah I'm lookin at you Treasure Island). He's even got a copy of The Jungle Book as well as Robin Hood and Doctor Doolittle. You've even heard him giggling a little bit when you caught him reading some seriously erotic novels while you were moving the whole entire collection into the barn.

And when you two start welcoming the babies into the family? It's nights spent in the cozy corner of the barn in an old wingback chair that used to belong to Cecelia's grandma, the cats all curled up on their little tower with the little ones all gathered around Rhett as he reads them the tales in The Just So Stories, Grimm's Fairy Tales or other tales while you work on your knitting or crochet while you listen at the same time.

I hope this makes you feel better Shelby, I know things might suck with everything going on, but it will get better.....it might take a while, but it will get better.

my sweet friend thank you so much for your kind words🥺

and this soft thought!!!! i absolutely believe rhett is an avid reader, especially during the winter months when they can’t do much around the ranch. spending time in the library in the evenings sounds so cozy!!! and when your little ones are born they constantly beg to go out and read 🥺

[danceyreagan]

Finn Shelby~Has Good Sense and is A Good Friend.

Summary: Finn and Mona look for a present for his girlfriend and he tries to convince Mona to date Isaiah.

After They left the betting shop Mona and Finn went to a jewelry store to try and find a birthday gift for his girlfriend. The walk over had been rather quiet and bit stiff. Finn was sure it had something to do wit Isaiah. Him and Michael had walked in on them and judging from the energy of the room something happened. Ever since Mona had been rather quiet and he was waiting for the proper moment to break the ice. Finn knew Isaiah was infatuated with Mona and wanted to get to know her better. He figured it was his duty as his future brother in law and best friend to plead his case for him.

Currently Mona was staring at the jewelry case at a green and brass jewelry set that was so ugly Finn questioned her taste levels.

“Mona”

“Hmm?” Mona hummed a response still never looking up from the case.

“What do you think?” Finn asked holding up a pair of emerald earrings.

“Bit much. Where is she going to wear those? The library?”

Finn shrugged his shoulders and put the earrings back on the counter.

“What about this ring?” Mona asked holding up a ring so discolored Finn wasnt sure if it was supposed to be gold or if it was rusty.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it ugly”

Either Mona had no taste, which was hard to believe because she was always so put together, or her mind was elsewhere. Finn was sure it was the latter.

“So...” tired of the tension, it was time get to the bottom of this.

“What were you and Isaiah talking about?”

“The party.” Mona moved around the counter so that now she was facing Finn but her eyes were downcast on the case below her.

“What about it?”

“He was either going to invite me, which you already have. Or, he was going to ask me to be his date but, Tommy interrupted us so Im not sure.”

“What would you have said if he asked you for a date?”

“Honestly?” Mona asked finally looking up at Finn. “I dont know” and that was truth. She was conflicted. She didnt know how she felt. In fact she barely knew him. Having never spent more than five minutes in his presence didnt give her a lot to work with.

“what do you mean?”

“Oh Look!” Mona held up a pair of earrings. Ugly. Again. She really wasn’t taking this serious.

“She’s 16. Not a 30 year old prostitute”

“Fair enough. How about these?”

Finn rolled his eyes and exhaled growing irritated by Mona’s tactics “You’re avoiding the question”

“Am not”

“Are too.”

“Am not”

“just answer the question!” Finn raised his voice finally reaching his breaking point.

Mona looked up from the earrings she had been admiring with a mock innocence. “What was the question?”

“Mona!”

Finn fascinated himself. How could he remain so patient? He was sure it had to do with being Tommy’s errand boy. But in all honesty Finn had more patience and sense than all his brothers combined. He really was heading for Sainthood. At least thats what Polly tells him.

“No. Or yes. I dont know.”

Finn looked at her and raised eyebrows in a gesture to get her to elaborate.

“Look, Isaiah seems like a nice guy. But I dont really know him do I? She looked down and let out a long sigh before continuing. “But Finn, what I do know, I dont like. He’s killed people. And Im not sure thats something I can handle. Who’s to say he wont kill the wrong person and they want revenge? This either ends with him or mysef getting hurt or worse.”

Finn couldn’t fault her for feeling that way. He knew if anything happened to Tabby because of the Shelby business he would never forgive himself. He may actually kill Tommy himself.

“Plus, I know at least three women at my work who all brag about sleeping with him. Why would I do that to myself?”

Finn wasn’t sure how to respondz he knew Isaiah and Michael slept around. There was no denying that. But, Isaiah was his best mate and he had to do what he could to win Mona over.

“He’s never killed anyone”

Mona looked down momentarily, then back up at Finn with a questioning look.

“Killed, blinded, he’s still dangerous Finn.”

“Yes, Isaiah has slept around, I wont lie to you. He likes you, like properly likes you. Just get to know him. Business and women aside, he’s a good guy. He’s full on soft once you get to know him. Just give him a chance.

“Finn...” Mona said in a kind of whisper eyes still on the jewelry case below her

“Mona, you never know”

“No, Finn look, I know what you can get Tabby.”

@thewanderingblinder @twistedrunes @allaboutjoecole @finnbloodyshelby @pb-bonniegold

Feedback is Always Welcome. Inbox open.

[babybluebex]

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒. | 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 | after watching you mother his boys, tommy is intent on making you the mother of his real children. 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 | tommy shelby (peaky blinders) x fem!reader 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 | 3.3k 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | smut (MDNI!), raging breeding kink, creampie, unprotected sex (please use a condom), tommy has A Thing about you being pregnant 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 | i have no excuse other than Horny For Cillian Murphy (can u blame me lmao) i wrote this so quick it made my head spin // taglist blog: @cremebruhleewrites

“Well, God, Finn, that’s the third time this week!”

The lad smiled at you, convinced that, if he were sweet enough, he would be out of trouble. Both of the knees of his pants were ripped and scuffed thin, and you could even see the fresh stitches from two days ago, when he had last come home with his pants all ripped up. “Sorry,” he said, and he fell down into one of the overstuffed seats in your living room. As much as you tried to keep a nice home, your husband’s brothers and employees always managed to find a way to foul it all up one way or another. You tsk-ed as you fixed the doily atop the chair that Finn had disturbed, and you called, “Tommy, love? Bring me my sewing kit, won’t you?”

Somewhere upstairs, you heard your husband shout ��Just a moment!”, and you tugged up your sleeves to your elbows as you settled yourself on the floor in front of Finn.

“Make yourself useful and read me the paper,” you grumbled. “Or turn on the radio. Something productive instead of sitting on your arse.”

“I could just take my pants off and leave them to you while I go actually do something,” Finn offered, and you heard Tommy’s footsteps coming down the stairs. Quickly, he entered the room and passed you your carpetbag of sewing supplies, and he boxed at Finn’s ear.

“Like hell you’re stripping down in front of my woman,” Tommy said. “Not even your girl wants to see your skivvies.”

“Well, fuck you,” Finn said, and he hissed as Tommy gave him another wallop on the ear. “Oi! She curses worse than that!”

“Mind your fucking manners around the missus,” Tommy said, and he snatched up the newspaper from beside Finn. You deftly threaded your needle and pulled Finn’s leg over to you, and you heard Tommy light a cigarette as he sat down in his chair.

“Stop twitching your leg,” you mumbled as you began your work, and Finn fussed with his cigarette as you fell into the pattern of sewing. As much as you acted like you hated having to mother the entire Shelby clan, you actually loved it. You loved how every man needed you for something different and expressed their affection for you in different ways; sure, there was Aunt Pol for that feminine touch, but there seemed to be something special about you. During the year that Tommy had courted and subsequently married you, all the boys had started up a running joke of calling you Mother; mainly because you treated every single man as if they were your son.You patched up all their injuries and mended their clothing, you made them tea or poured them a drink when they visited the house, you gave them the spare bedroom if they had nowhere to sleep, and it could be guaranteed that someone would join you at the dinner table every single night, hounding after your warm, hard-cooked dinner. You wouldn’t trade the title for anything in the world (especially when they called you Mother Shelby or The Missus), but you felt a little off whenever they did call you that. Only because it had been a year, and you still hadn’t succeeded in giving Tommy a baby.

It wasn’t for lack of trying. Almost every day, Tommy would fuck you hard and fill you up, but nothing had succeeded yet. You had tried just about every trick you could think of, every old wives’ tale in the book— eating a lemon, putting a pillow under your hips, having sex only in the morning— and you were starting to wonder if there was something wrong with you. Surely, after a year, something should have happened, even on a statistical level. It just didn’t make sense. In fact, the absence of a baby was starting to eat at you. You had voiced this to your husband, and he, in his wisdom, had told you that it would happen eventually and not to worry. “It’ll happen when it needs to,” he told you, kissing your shoulder. “Don’t fret, love.”

Tommy read the newspaper and smoked his cigarette as you worked, but your mind stayed solely with him and the delicious memory of that morning. He had woken you up with two fingers in your cunt and, when he noticed that you were awake, he had sunk down and buried his head between your thighs until your legs were shaking around his head. The sun was hardly coming through the lace curtains by the time that Tommy had sunk his cock into you, and the low light made his sweaty chest glisten as he hauled your legs over his shoulders and fucked you hard enough to make the headboard rattle against the wall. “C’mon,” he huffed, slapping your ass and pawing at your tits. “Cum, honey, cum for me, make a big fuckin’ mess in my cock.” You did as he had told you, as you always did, and Tommy had wasted no time in filling you up, just as he always did. He fell down onto his back next to you and huffed out a few labored breaths as you rested your cheek against his burning chest, and he cast his big blue eyes down on you when you sighed. “Hey,” Tommy whispered, his voice cracking, as rough as sandpaper, and he lifted your chin up with his finger. “I know what you’re thinking, love. I feel good about this one.”

You nodded quietly, and your finger lightly traced the scars that had healed and leveled on his chest. “If it’s a girl, I’d like to name her Edith,” you whispered. “It’s a lovely name.”

“Edith Violet,” Tommy nodded. “Edith Violet Shelby… What a fuckin’ top-notch name. She’d be a spoiled little thing, I’d be sure of it. And if it’s a boy?”

“Thomas,” you replied. “I’d name him after you.”

Tommy sighed lightly, content, and he sealed his lips to yours in a kiss. His arms went around your shoulders and held you tight in his warm, sweaty, post-sex-hazy grasp as he kissed you hard. “God, what a thing that would be,” Tommy whispered into your mouth. “Having a little critter running around with my name… I love it.”

Looking at your husband from across the parlor, you could tell that his mind was too laid with Edith Violet and Thomas Junior. He seemed to be reading the newspaper, yes, but his eyes weren’t moving nor his mouth mumbling along. You quickly finished with Finn’s pants, and you looked at the young man. “Now, you’d better keep those out of my sight for at least a week,” you told him. “If I see those pants again, I’m going to go mad, do you hear me?”

“Yes, Mother,” Finn said and rolled his eyes, but he kissed your head nevertheless. “Thank you.”

“Of course, darling,” you said. “Do you wanna take some roast home with you? It’s supposed to get cold tonight.”

“I’ll be alright, Miss,” Finn said, and he offered you his hand to aid in standing up. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Tommy…” Tommy gave an indiscernible grunt towards Finn and flipped the page of the newspaper, and Finn made his way out of the house. You waited until he was fully gone, the front door closing with certainty, before you moved to Tommy and sat down easily on his thigh. Tommy gave you a little smile and cast his reading material aside, and he circled his arms around your waist and pulled you fully into his lap. His face buried in your neck and kissed all over your skin, and he mumbled, “Been waiting to get you alone all day.”

“I’m here, my love,” you whispered, carding your fingers through his slick black hair. “What is it you want?”

“Well…” Tommy began, and his deft fingers played at the buttons lining the back of your blouse. “Right now, I feel quite partial to your tits.”

“Good Christ, Thomas Shelby, you’re insatiable,” you chuckled. Nevertheless, you helped him shrug yourself out of your shirt, and he pressed his cheek against your warm breast. His hand, hot hands slid up your bare back and cupped your shoulders, and he placed light kisses on your skin.

“Lift up your skirt, honey,” Tommy said against your tits.

“What for?” you asked cheekily, and Tommy bit at your nipple hard enough to make you gasp in pain.

“You’re going to ride my cock,” Tommy told you, as if you had no say in the matter. Truthfully, you really didn’t, because you knew that Tommy knew that you’d never refuse him any part of you. You were always so welcome to give your husband whatever he wished. “Seeing you be so good to Finn just reminds me of what a good mother you’ll be… If nothing else, I’m gonna fill you up right now, just to see if we might be lucky.”

“I thought you said you felt lucky this morning,” you said, but you helped Tommy tug up your long skirt anyway. Your hands went to undo his pants as his came to grasp your tits, and he kissed your neck greedily.

“Ah, won’t hurt anything to try again,” he whispered, and he sank his teeth into your skin. Your skin bristled at the feel, and you hurried to tug out his cock. He was already hard, his soft skin thrumming with his heavy pulse, and you shifted your legs to straddle his hard thigh for just a moment before you sank yourself onto him. The shock that rocked through your belly and pussy was enough to make you gasp and squirm a bit, and you wrapped your arms around Tommy’s neck and pressed your forehead to his shoulder.

“Fuck, Tommy,” you whispered as his rough hands went under your skirt to grasp your soft hips.

“Ah,” he hissed in your ear and gently nibbled at your earlobe, where your earring dangled nicely. Tommy always found a way to spoil you, with new dresses or jewelry or trips to the cinema, and he nudged the tip of his nose against the pearl that hung from your ear. He couldn’t even remember when or where he gave you those earrings, but they looked beautiful on you. “God, you’re so tight, mouse… Feel so fucking good.”

Your hips jolted forward at his quiet praise, and you both gave little noises of pleasure. Your skin felt like it was on fire as you moved in Tommy’s lap, and he dug his blunt fingernails into your skin as he hooked his hips upwards into you. Just as swiftly, he covered your mouth with his palm and touched his finger to his own lips, and he whispered, “Arthur’s upstairs… Don’t want him hearing us, do we, Mrs. Shelby?” You shook your head and Tommy gave you his sly, foxy smile before scrunching his nose and fucking up into you again. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath through your nose, and you moved with your husband as he fucked you as hard as he could manage. The chair underneath him creaked every so often with his movements, and the sound of his skin hitting yours was just so dulled by your skirt covering the whole affair. Eventually, his warm hand fell from your mouth and situated itself back under your skirt. However, instead of going to your hip, his hand found himself at the apex of your legs, and he pressed his thumb to the top of your hole, feeling his cock easily sliding in and out of you with the pad of his finger. He smiled again and wet his lips with his tongue, and he surged forward and captured your nipple in his wet mouth once more. This time, he sucked hard, surely leaving a mark, and your own hands scrambled for his shirt. You helped him get undressed every night (not that you needed to, but you adored helping your man), and you were quick to get rid of his stiff collar and tight tie to unbutton his shirt and vest to expose his smooth, milky chest, dotted by the same freckles that covered his cheeks and neck. He was panting as he sucked at your tit, and his thumb resituated from your pussy to your throbbing clit. He hardly swiped his finger along the burning-hot nerve when you jostled in his lap once more, fire exploding in your pussy and belly.

“Tommy,” you whined, pressing your mouth to his hair to try to keep yourself quiet. “Fuck, Tommy. Fuck me, honey, more.”

“M’gonna give you that fuckin’ son you want, mouse,” Tommy grunted, tugging at your nipple with his teeth. “In a few months, you’re gonna get all big with my baby, everyone’ll know what you let me do to you.”

“They already know,” you giggled. It was a struggle to speak coherently with the way that Tommy was rubbing your clit and fucking into that soft spot inside of you, but you knew that, even if you only gave half-formed words, Tommy would be able to read your mind. “Everyone knows how I let you do such sinful things to me. You know… I think Arthur heard us the night I let you take my ass.”

Tommy groaned long and low at the memory of that night, and you clenched your pussy around him to elicit a deeper moan. His chest was beginning to flush a bit pink, creeping up his neck, tiny spots of sweat dotting at his temples, and you carded your fingers gently through his hair and placed a soft kiss on the crown of his head. “Are you going to cum, Mr. Shelby?” you whispered. “Oh, Tommy, my love, please come, honey. Wanna feel you dripping out of me, sweetheart, please come.”

His cock throbbed inside you, and you knew that he was so, so close to his release. You smoothed his hair down the back of his head and angled his face up to look at you, and you rolled your hips down to meet his as they came upwards, and you could have sworn that you saw death flicker in your Tommy’s light eyes. “Oh, when I’m pregnant, my tits are gonna get all big,” you whispered, and Tommy gnashed his teeth as his hips moved harder and faster. “My belly will swell nice and fat, I know you’ll be all over me every day and every night. My love, you’ll simply become a feral animal around me. Oh, Thomas… Imagine little Tommy having your eyes.”

“Edith Violet had better have your eyes,” Tommy huffed with a chuckle. “She’ll be a spitting image of her mother, that girl will be. If she’s anything like you, I’ll be beating off boys with a club.” “If little Tommy is anything like you, we’ll be in big fucking trouble,” you giggled. “He’ll be a handful the whole time… But I wouldn’t have anyone else’s baby.”

Tommy clenched his teeth again and slammed you down hard onto his cock, and you saw stars dot your vision as you came around his cock. Your body convulsed against your will, dragging Tommy into a tight embrace and whimpering in his ear, trying to stay quiet, as he had asked you to, and Tommy grunted deep in his chest and emptied himself inside you. You both breathed heavily for a few moments, trying to recover from the quick and rough fuck, and Tommy pushed your hair behind your ear as a watery smile cam over his pink mouth. “I really feel good about this one,” he chuckled, his hand rising to press against your belly. He gave a soft hiss as the pressure on his cock, still inside of you, and you bit your lip as you nodded in agreement.

“If this doesn’t work…” you began, but Tommy captured your face in his fingers, and he shook his head quickly, his eyes big and glossy.

“It will,” he said firmly. “You’ve got to be positive about this, mouse. Say it. Say that I just got you pregnant. Say it, Mrs. Shelby.”

You smiled at your husband, and you jokingly rolled your eyes. “You just got me pregnant, Thomas,” you chuckled. “In nine months, I’m going to give you that son you want so badly.”

“Would it be so bad if we had a little girl?” Tommy mumbled, gently rubbing your belly. “Tying ribbons up in her hair, playing princess with her—”

“Tommy Shelby, are you saying that you’d play princess? You’ve gone soft,” you smiled, and Tommy shifted underneath you to finally pull his softening cock from your heat. He carefully helped you shrug back into your blouse, and his fingers did the buttons back up smoothly.

“I could,” Tommy said. “Only if I can be the king.”

“You already are,” you told him, moving to sit on his knee when he finished with your blouse. You crossed your legs at the ankle and began to do his shirt and pants back up, and he captured his cigarette case from the side table and struck a match to light up a fresh fag. “You’re the king of Birmingham, my love.”

Tommy took a deep drag on his cigarette, and he gave you that sly fox smile again. “Fuckin’ A-right I am.”

It took approximately six months to be entirely sure that you were pregnant, and you knew that every day of uncertainty ate up your husband’s guts. You didn’t want to get his hopes up over a measly missed period, though, so you kept quiet about it until you were one hundred percent sure.

The certainty came one morning, the first snowfall of the season. Upon waking up, you found your marriage bed empty, and, seeing the empty hanger on the closet door, you knew that Tommy was already at work. He probably had been since before the sun rose. You sat up, protesting the morning for a few moments, and you finally got out of bed. Your toes touched the floor and you looked downwards in pursuit of your house slippers, and you felt like you had been hit in the face when you saw your stomach pressing at your nightgown. How long had you been like this? Had anyone noticed yet? God forbid if Arthur or Michael saw your pregnant belly before you yourself even noticed it.

Your excitement couldn’t be contained, not even long enough to get decent in your house robe.

“Tommy!” you cried, racing through the house. Everyone you encountered widened their eyes and then averted their gaze from you, and you again yelled, “Tommy! Thomas Shelby, where are you?”

“My office, mouse!” your husband yelled, and you heard him speak again, softer. You didn’t even stop to wonder if someone else was in there with him, possibly for an important business meeting. No, this couldn’t wait.

The moment you stepped into his office, you saw Arthur sitting across your husband’s desk, and Tommy grabbed you tightly and shielded you from Arthur’s view with his own body. “Jesus fucking Christ, woman,” he hissed and instantly shrugged off his jacket, draping it around your shoulders and trying to hide the bit of skin that your nightgown didn’t cover. “Are you hurt? What’s wrong? I’ve got business, mouse, I can’t—”

All you had to do was grab him around his wrist and press his palm to your lower belly, and Tommy, for once in his life, found himself speechless. You watched his face, trying to see any semblance of emotion, and you watched his cheeks go deathly pale before flushing pink. “No,” he whispered, and a smile split his face. “Oh, my beautiful… My wife!” He picked you up and kissed your cheek, and he held you tightly as he nestled his own cheek into your neck. “Oh, my girl… Mother of my child…”

“Tommy,” Arthur said gruffly. “Fuck is this?”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Tommy snapped. “Let a man be happy his wife’s pregnant.”

[padfootdaredmetoo]

Hey 👋 I’m not too sure if your doing requests( if not completely ignore this it’s fine:)) but I was requesting a peaky blinders one-shot where reader is like an orphan and lives in an orphanage and tommy the philanthropist he is goes down to the orphanage with Polly,John,Arthur,and Ada and whoever else you want and they see reader going at it with on of the sisters. You could choose the conflict or their argument but yeah, if you could draw the reader as someone who’s quick and sarcastic with their words like a speak before thinking type of person you know. Also can this be like a tommy Shelby x daughter!reader kinda like a found family kind of trope. Sweet kisses love your stories❤️

Dear Anon,

I hope this does it justice!! I changed a few things because I felt like it fit the story better (I hope that's alright) but there is lots of family stuff. And lots of Lizzie and Tommy - not something I have ever written before so hopefully that's also alright. Sweet kisses back to you love, thank you for this wonderful idea!!!

Warnings: peaky type stuff, religious language? Implied that a priest was going to assault the reader, bad words, not descriptive death of parents, mentioned death of a baby, grief, so much sweetness and hurt comfort and hopefully laughs. I promise it's not as dark or sad as it sounds. Also some Grace bashing / group hate.

Word count: 6606 - may have gotten carried away...

Part 2

Tommy watched Lizzie closely as they approached the large building. According to his sources it housed around a hundred and fifty children, the building was large but it didn't seem that large. 

It was gray and rainy, much like every day. The dark dampness didn’t bother him as it had seeped into his bones and made a home long ago. At this point, he was convinced that the sunlight would simply cause him to turn to ashes if it ever reached his skin. 

Lizzie looked nervous but that was expected, he felt beyond nervous. Suddenly hoping she would change her mind altogether. Children were overrated, he would know having raised Finn and half of John's kids. But after her she lost the baby, he would do anything to bring some happiness to her. He knew he wasn't the best husband, but he was trying to do better every day. 

Walking up the steps a voice in his mind started to remind him that he would only be bringing this baby into a world of danger and horror. Only going to ruin them so no God would allow them refuge. He pushed them down as best he could, reaching out to hold Lizzie’s hand. She looked taken back at the gesture, another thing wrong with them. Wrong with the situation. 

They were escorted in to look at the babies. They were just as expected, plump, cute, and small. Tommy tried not to look at them too close, no point in getting attached. Lizzie would pick a baby, and he would attempt to be a good father. 

He hated that he knew what it felt like to reach out for parents that were not there to hold you. He was sulking when a commotion caught his attention. 

“For Fucks sakes woman! ” A girl shouted. 

“You listen here. Father Stryker is a noble member of this community and organization. You will do what he asks of you.” A woman responded in a cold tone. 

“We both know that’s not what God would want you old bat.” The girl snapped back and he held back a smile. 

“Now you listen here, we do not know what God wants, that’s not our place. He has a way -” 

“No, he sure as hell doesn't. God would NEVER.” The girl demanded. “I thought God was in all of us, and GOD doesn't want me to be alone with him. In fact, I would say he’s overcome with passion about the issue. It would be a sin for me to ignore his protests.” 

“I will not tolerate such language, you foul girl!” The sound of a slap was dealt out. Tommy felt an odd feeling of unease about the situation. 

“You let this happen! You. And you will BURN FOR IT. Mark my words, you will suffer an eternity for his sins. There are no amount of crosses under the sun for Jesus to croak on that would make up for your grotesque choices you evil witch.” The girl's voice was pure venom, and Tommy was overcome with an urge to protect the girl. What type of place were they running here? 

“I want her,” Lizzie said clearly standing next to him looking at the Sister that was showing them around. 

“Sorry Mrs. Shelby ?” She asked looking for clarification. 

“The girl in the hall.” He looked at Lizzie landing her eyes on a girl that must have been about 15 standing off with the nun in the hallway. Her face was beet red, making her blue eyes seem extraordinarily bright in contrast,  her fists clenched ready for a fight of any size. That girl did not care what happened, she wasn't going to back down. 

“Ah, are you sure? She’s quite temperamental.” She responded looking embarrassed. 

“Excellent, I’ve never seen anyone look so much like my husband,” Lizzie said with a smirk on her face.  

“We’ll take her. And I’d like a word with management.” He asserted firmly. This was not the sort of thing he could look the other way on, plus it would only further the family image. Win-win. 

______________________________

Another sister came into the hallway. 

“Sister Margret, she has been requested by a family.” She said quickly. 

You were positive this must be some type of trap. But a tall angular woman moved into the hallway. She looked like someone from a painting, impossibly pretty, elegant, clothes worth a small fortune. This was impossible. 

The sister grabbed your arm and pulled you away from that bitch. Far away from the classroom you were terrified of. 

The lady looked you up and down and removed the sister's hand from your arm. She shot her a warning look and the sister apologized. Whoever this woman was, she meant business. 

“I’m Lizzie, Lizzie Shelby.” She said in a voice that belonged on a stage. You introduced yourself feeling embarrassed. 

“We’d like to take you home if you're alright with that.” She asked holding her arm out. Normally you didn’t like being touched for any reason, but being escorted out of the place was a good enough reason for you to make an exception. 

You looped your arm in hers and she strode out of the place with her head held high. 

“The Paperwork -” The sister called out 

“Get my husband to deal with it.” She called back, her voice dripping with power. You accompanied her into a very expensive car. You sat in the back seat beside her and watched her take in your appearance as if it had changed being in the natural light. 

“Do you read?”  She asked you lighting a cigarette.

“I had a tutor before my parents died.” 

“How did they pass?” 

“Car accident.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Me too.” 

“We’ll expect you to go to school.” 

“You’d be a shit parent if you didn't.” You mentally kicked yourself. “Sorry I -didn't” You were stumbling over an apology as the door opened and a man got into the driver's seat. 

“That’s my husband. Thomas.” 

“Hello,” You said feeling completely deflated. “It’s nice to meet you, both of you, It’s nice.” You couldn't remember a time being so embarrassed. You wished that they would just run you over with their expensive tires. There were just too many emotions in such a short period. 

An hour ago a priest was forcing himself on you, telling you God would never allow you to get adopted, and here you were making a fool out of yourself with your new parents. 

That phrase stung so bad you visually imagined pushing it from your mind.

“Did you sort the paperwork?” Lizzie asked in a frosty tone that made you wonder what their relationship problems were like. 

“That and a few other things.” He responded in a tone you assumed only ghosts were capable of. 

“Like what?” She said looking out the window with resentment. 

“Taking the place over.” He responded easily. As if it was no big deal, like spending money on petrol for the car. 

“What do you mean?” This caught her off guard and you watched a bit of hopefulness come to life in her eyes. 

“Saw things.” He hesitated, obviously aware of your presence in the car. “That I didn’t think God would approve of.” You caught a slight smirk on his face in the mirror. His eyes told you it was easier to poke fun at the situation. 

Lizzie hummed in approval, and even though you’d only known them a few minutes it felt like progress. 

_______

They wanted to give you a few days to settle in before introducing you to the whole family. Something you saw as a bit of a red flag. The house was massive, but it was clean and quiet. Both a blessing and a curse. You were too shy to ask for something to do or go explore. Your bedroom was unbelievably beautiful, and warm. 

There was a knock on the door that caused you to jump. 

“Yeah?” 

“Can I come in?” Lizzie’s voice rang through the door. 

“Of course” You responded stiffly. She came in and smiled at you, she pointed to your bed but you didn't understand what she was looking at. Should you not have been laying on it during the day? 

“Is it alright if I sit?” She asked you and you realized that’s what she meant. 

“Yes!” You sat up straight feeling like an idiot once again. You’d had to sit through two dinners each equally painful due to your rambling. 

“How are you settling in?” She asked kindly. 

“Um, fine. It’s nice. I love my room.” 

“What do you get up to in here?” She looked around with a frown. 

“Mostly sitting and thinking.” You responded blandly. 

“Are you sure I can’t take you shopping for anything?” She’d asked at least three times, and you felt horrible imposing on them further. 

“I don't want to bother you.” You finally broke. She let out a strange laugh. 

“Bother me. All the time. Big stuff little stuff, doesn't matter.” She picked a piece of lint off of your bedspread. “Plus kids cost money you know. That’s no one's fault, so don’t carry it like a burden.” 

Your eyes stung with tears. That was not the narrative you had grown up with parents or none. You’d always been acutely aware of the burden your existence placed on people. Her words made you feel like you were special, not something your parents could give you. This brought on a very large mix of feelings. 

“Don’t cry, really all this is-”  Her face appeared displeased with your reaction and it only made your hurt more. 

“Normal. Not for me, it’s not. If you wanted a kid that was used to this you should have had one yourself.” the words flew out of your mouth and she was up and out of the room before you could try to apologize. You felt so much worse, you wanted to pull out all your hair trying to make it stop. 

You stopped trying to hold the tears back and got up off your bed to apologize. An embarrassing apology was better than them shipping you back. 

You followed the sound of her soft crying sounds. Through a door that was slightly ajar. It was a beautiful nursery. They had tried to have their little spoilt children, the guilt only became worse. 

You locked eyes with her and decided the truth was always best. 

“You treat me better than my parents. But they're dead and it hurts. I don't want to bother you both, it's already some kind of miracle that I got adopted at this age, I don't want to push my luck. Or live through you getting bored of me and then tossing me aside.” 

For a moment you thought she was going to shout at you. But she just nodded in understanding. You both were crying, so why not try to risk a hug. You got down on the sheep skin rug next to her and hugged her. 

Her grief wrapped around you with her slender arms. She pushed your face against her chest and kissed the top of your head. You didn't understand, but the hurt in her felt a lot like the hurt inside of you. So you leaned into the feeling crying just as hard. 

“I lost her. She was born and - nothing anyone could do about it.” She said after a long while. The thought made your heart break all over again. “They told me I couldn't have kids. Spent years avoiding it like it was the plague and now, God it hurts.” 

“I’m so sorry.” 

“I’m sorry for you too. My dad left before I was born, mother passed when I was 13. Prostitute till I was twenty.” She let out a sad laugh. “This life.” She motioned to the house with her arm. “Is not the life I came from and my husband doesn't have much. But he has money, so don’t ever feel bad for spending it.” You looked up at her in shock. There was no way she was telling the truth. She looked like she belonged in a palace like you wanted to trust her with the whole world. So elegant, kind eyes. 

“We’re the same then” you whispered. 

“Absolutely not!  If you become a prostitute I will have officially become the worst mother in history.” She said causing you both to laugh. 

“I’m not good with people.” You joked along. Tommy pushed the door open and you stiffened slightly. No matter how you tried to calm down, he made you uneasy. Like he would be impossible to please or get to know.

“It’s not a whore house?” He said with a confused look having caught the end of the conversation. You’d never seen a man look more confused as the both of you were tear-soaked holding each other on the floor. 

“Not anymore it's not.” Lizzie quipped causing him to almost smile. You wondered what made him so stuck up.

“Good lord, how did you guys make all this money again?” You asked cheekily, causing Lizzie to laugh. 

“Just you wait.” She said lightly, but you couldn't help but know already that it was not God’s work that placed them here.

“Come down for lunch?” he asked you both, still slightly put off by the situation. 

“Yes” she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands, you watched her walls of composure surround her once again. 

“Come on. Let’s see how much trouble we can get in before supper.” She said helping you up. 

_____________________________

You stopped by to pick up people on the way to the shops. 

“We’ll get Esme first. She’s John’s wife. Tommy’s younger brother - he made a deal with the Lee family - a bunch of gypsies - Tommy needed men, and she needed a husband. Technically I almost married John. It was a complicated time. But they both get along like a house on fire. She holds him down pretty good, probably the only reason he’s still alive.” You listened as she drove you through the countryside. “Then we’ll get Polly. She’s Tommy’s Aunt. She probably goes up against him the most. She’s some kind of Gypsy royalty, a very peculiar woman, but she means well. Hated Tommy’s first wife Grace. Well, we all hated Grace. Us women tend to stick together. We have to put up a good front against the boys or they raise hell like nothing else.” 

“You’re all gangsters then?” You asked her catching her slightly off guard. 

“Technically he’s a gangster turned politician. But trust me having been on the receiving end of both there really isn't a difference.” 

You blushed at her words and tried to hold your tongue. 

“I shouldn't have said that last part.” She flicked her cigarette case open and lit one up. “Forget I said that.” but you started laughing. You pulled up to a country-style house, chickens squawking loudly at the car engine. 

“Oi! That is not a baby!” A woman with wild curly hair approached the car. She slid into the backseat and you felt awkward sitting in the front. You looked at her looking you over. “Total babe, but not a baby.” She said with wide eyes in disbelief.

“She’s fifteen,” Lizzie responded looking at you like you were a brand new car. 

“Good lord. Going to have to beat the boys off of her. She’s pretty like you.” 

You blushed heavily at her words unsure of what to do with the attention. 

“Eh, as long as we keep her close I think we’ll manage just fine.” Lizzie smiled and turned the car around. 

“I’m Esme, I’m sure Lizzie caught you up to speed.” She lit a cigarette and smiled at you as you introduced yourself. She asked you lots of questions, about how you liked the place. 

“It’s cold. You can say it, love.” Esme blurted out. “It’s a monument to Grace. Should have been burnt down the second she left us.” You could tell this was a part of the stormy ocean of problems that rested between your adopted parents. You put that piece of knowledge into your back pocket. You pulled up to a stylish-looking complex and a woman in a black suit and sunglasses approached the car. 

“I was going to offer to babysit for you when you need a rest - but by the looks of it I’ll be asking you for help, love.” 

“How many kids do you have?” You asked while you waited. 

“Too fuckin’ many,” Polly responded climbing into the back seat. “I thought you asked Tommy for a baby, not a miniature replica of yourself?” 

“Come off it Pol,” Lizzie said starting the car. 

“I’m serious, I thought I was seein’ a bloody ghost. I’ve known you since you were the size of a potato, when I say she looks just like ya, I fuckin’ mean it.” 

You looked at Lizzie and wished you looked even a fraction of how beautiful she was. 

“How's he managing with this then? He was always good with the kids when they were little but I can’t imagine he’d know what to do with her.” Polly said stealing Esme’s cigarette. 

“Eh, like everything else, he’s adjusting.” Everyone seemed to find this funny. 

“You look at me, that boy gives you any trouble you call me alright. I’ll set him straight.” She was strong like Thomas but soft like Lizzie, and something distinctly her own. You could tell she was in charge. 

“Thank you.” You said sheepishly unsure of what else to say. 

“You're welcome, love,” She said kindly. 

Shopping was a lot. You cried on the way home and they had a unique way of comforting you while also making fun of you, making you laugh. Once you started laughing with them it seemed impossible to stop. You assumed that you would all pile into the sitting room, but instead, you piled into the kitchen, which quickly became your favorite space in the house. A large wooden table surrounded by something that felt so perfectly warm. Grace clearly didn’t touch this space much. 

They poured you cranberry juice and set into a bottle of whiskey. The jokes got worse as the night progressed and for once your sharp tongue and misplaced comments brought a great deal of joy. 

“Where did you find this girl!” Esme said between laughs 

“Fighting off a Nun in a hallway,” Lizzie replied still laughing from the joke before. Tommy and you assumed his brothers appeared in the doorway.

“Wow, Looks like you Lizzie, but with Tom’s eyes” John said, or you thought it was him because he went to stand behind Esme and she looked up at him in a way you hadn't seen before. 

“And his mouth.” Esme quipped and you hoped it was a compliment. He reached across the table to shake your hand. 

“John” 

“It’s nice to meet you” You introduced your self. Arthur came and gave you a crushing hug. 

“They got you out numbered now brother.” He joked letting you go to pour himself a glass of whiskey.

Tommy gave you a tense look, like he was worried about something. He took the seat next to you puting space between you and the boys. 

“Might be enough women to put some life back into this place.” Polly said with twinkling eyes. 

“I’ll try my best.” You responded quickly seeing that Tommy didn’t seem happy. 

He stuck close to your side, sliding glasses of Whiskey away from you as the boys started drinking. His youngest brother was only a few years older than you, and he showed up with a bunch more men that introduced themselves politely before joining into the savagery. 

You scooted your self along the bench to sit closer to Tommy not knowing the others well enough to want to sit as close. 

“Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with such a wonderful girl! May she shine bright for us in these dark times. To the newest Shelby!” Arthur’s voice boomed and your face turned bright red. Everyone finished a drink, but you caught Lizzie and Tommy sharing a look. 

Tommy put his arm around and you were grateful to have something to lean into with all the commotion. They were the loudest and rudest, most funny group of people you’d ever seen. 

“Think it’s time for bed, eh?” He asked you quietly and you nodded. 

“Alright! Clear out you lot. She’s got to get to bed. We can have a proper dinner tomorrow night!” Tommy called out causing a few groans. 

“But we just got here!” Finn mumbled.

Everyone said their goodbyes and goodnights to you moving out of the kitchen. Polly placed a kiss to your forehead. She said something in a different language, to which Tommy responded with a sharp nodd. 

Once everyone had piled out the front door, they took you up to your room. You hit the bed feeling more tired than you could ever remember.

_________________________________________

You slowly became more at ease around Tommy. Sitting alone at the table didn’t frighten you nearly as much. You heard him shout at people occasionally and that made you determined to keep your distance. 

It wasn't until Lizzie stayed away for a night getting stuck at Esme’s due to a storm. You assured her that you ate dinner and that everything was fine. In reality, you'd been sitting by the front window praying for her to come back. You hated storms and you’d just trusted that she’d be there and know what to do about it. 

Eventually you decided to retreat to your room to avoid any conflict. 

“Goodnight.” You poked your head into his study. 

“Night, love.” He responded kindly looking up from his papers. You thought about bothering him for a moment, telling him that you were scared. You decided to slip up to your bedroom instead. Girls your age didn't get scared of these types of things. 

Without Lizzie, there was an impending sense of doom about the place. Like there was pressure pushing down on you. Listening to things creak and shift, you had an idea that maybe without Lizzie here Grace’s ghost would try to snatch you up. 

Laying there listening to the storm and the house, your mind cooked up a story of revenge. Grace would kill you to get back at Lizzie for stealing her mourning husband. Maybe that’s why Lizzie’s baby wasn't born right. Your heart started to race as your stomach twisted.

There must have been some deeper story, Lizzie always seemed like she was very hurt by Grace, despite having come into Tommy’s life after. But Polly’s known Lizzie since she was a baby….

Questions were swirling in your mind non stop trying to make sense of it all. Your door made a horrid sscreeching sound and you let out a scream in response, pulling the blankets up above your head. 

“LEAVE ME ALONE GRACE.” You shouted hoping that it was enough that you could see it was her this whole time. She’d be deterred by your cleverness and the quilt Polly had made you. 

The quilt was tugged away from your face and you balled your fists ready to fight her off. However you looked up at Tommy’s horrified face instead. 

“I don’t do well with storms” You blurted out hoping that would make it better. You both looked at eachother for a moment.

“Let’s make some tea.” He said firmly. You knew that you’d fucked up and the last thing you wanted to do was have tea over the situation. You got up and he pulled your quilt around you, keeping his hand on your shoulder as you moved down the stair case. 

You watched him light a fire in the kitchen and grab two glasses and fill them with whiskey. 

He passed one to you and sat across from you, he took off his glasses and placed them on the table.

“Why do you think my first wife is out to get you?” He cut right to the chase.

“I got scared of the storm, and Lizzie is trapped, Grace- it’d be the perfect opportunity to get revenge on Lizzie for stealing her mourning husband.” You rushed the words out wishing you were dead. Tommy actually chuckled.

“That’s the story you’d been told then?” 

“No, just the one that made sense.” 

“How so?” He took a sip of whiskey. 

“Everyone says this place is some kind of shrine for her, Lizzie hates it. Hates her, why exactly,  I’m not sure but I know it’s because she’s hurt.” 

“Lizzie is hurt by Grace?” He asked with a wrinkled brow, you didn't think he was capable of such emotions. 

“That’s obvious.” You said sadly. He made a humming noise.

“I didn’t intend to marry Lizzie. She got pregnant and I married her.” He answered easily, suddenly you were very angry at him. Happy he did right by her and married her but - 

“Doesn’t mean she hasn’t always loved you.” You argued. 

“Is that so?” 

“Obviously. Have you ever looked at her? This place, the family, everything, me. Obviously.” You were dumbfounded. How on earth could someone so smart and sharp be so daft. “She puts up with a lot of shit around here. Not once has she ever mentioned leaving or hating you.” 

“Perhaps I should talk to her about it.” 

“You’d better. Everywhere we go men look at her.” You said trying to scare him into doing the right thing. 

“I’m sure they do, she’s a pretty woman.” He answered tensly. Suddenly you started to worry that maybe he wont ever love her, and if that was the case he would certainly never learn to love you. Panic started to wash over you.

“Do you want to watch the storm then?” 

“How?” You answered even more uneasy. He got up and you followed him through to the dark sitting room. He pulled the curtains open adding the slitghtest bit of light to the room. You helped him turn the couch around to face the big window. 

You watched him pour more wiskey and sit down motioning for you to do the same. Wrapped in Polly’s quilt you sat next to him and he put his arm around your shoulders.

“The only way to stop being scared is to face the thing that scares you.” He explained easily. He held you close to his side as you watched the dark figures of trees swaying violently. The lightening causing you to jump. Eventually things calmed down but you found yourself wishing that it would continue on so you could spend more time sitting like this. He just sat with you tucked into his side sipping his whiskey. 

“ I do care for you and Lizzie. More than anything.” He kissed the top of your head. “Things in the past weren't always easy or safe. Keeping her at arm's length seemed like the best way to keep her from ending up like Grace.” 

You listened to his voice in the dark, feelingthe pain in his words. 

“However, I would hate for her to leave me for a man at the shops.” He said lightly and you snorted. 

“Sorry for overstepping - I didn’t mean that she looked back at them” 

“S’alright.” He answered easily. Suddenly you saw headlights coming up the drive. You felt his body tense. “Hide behind the desk,” he said seriously. He grabbed a gun hidden in the paneling on the wall. You could hear the door open and to your relief, you heard Lizzie’s voice. 

“Fuck sake, Thomas! A gun! Scared the bloody life out of me!” She started to scold him but suddenly she stopped. “Are you alright? Where is she?! I knew something was wrong! Where-” her voice was muffled and you assumed it was because he was holding her.

“She’s fine, in the sitting room” He answered calmly.

“The sitting room at this hour!” 

You got up and moved back to the couch hoping that they might sit with you a while longer before going up to bed. 

“Why is the couch the wrong way?” She asked sitting down pulling you against her. “Miss me enough to sit up at the window like a couple of dogs.” 

“Something like that.” You said enjoying the way she held you tightly. Tommy came to sit down on the other side of you. His arm came across your shoulders pulling Lizzie towards you slightly. 

“Did you give her whiskey? She smells like distillery.”

“One glass to calm her nerves, won’t hurt her any.” You felt him reach over you to kiss the top of her head. 

“Alright. But don’t you go turning into your father.” She said sternly causing you to laugh. 

You sat for a while with the them till eventually the gray sky started to brighten with the sun of the next day. 

“Let’s get to bed. We can all get in a nap before the day starts.” Tommy said. Lizzie followed you through to your room to help you into bed and make sure you were okay. After you were settled you heard them talking down the hall and hoped that he was ready to face his fears. 

The next day you all had breakfast around noon in the kitchen. Lizzie and Tommy seemed in better spirits, might have had something to do with the marks on her neck, but you hoped he’d talked to her about the situation. 

After that night things were noticeably different. You went to school and tried to get along with the other kids, your marks were not great, leading to long nights in the kitchen studying extra with various family members. Esme was the best person to sit with, having learned maths and reading from her mother. She knew how to encourage you without stressing you out. 

Tommy on the other hand would look over the material and already look stressed. He always tried to keep his temper in check, but it was unbearable feeling him be frustrated with you. Eventually he caught on that you did worse with him there because of the added pressure, he learned to just sit next to you and work on his problems and offer you help when you needed it. 

It took a lot of struggling but eventually you were caught up and getting good marks. 

Things were going well till some old business needed to be handled. Tommy was to go away for two weeks, something that seemed to crush Lizzie. 

To her surprise he called her everynight. You’d watch her sitting on kitchen counter talking and occasionally laughing. Then he’d talk to you about school and the weather, telling you that he missed you. That was when you realised that something must be very wrong. He was clearly in a great deal of danger where ever he was. Polly came to stay at the house with Arthur, you enjoyed having them around but it only confirmed your suspicion. Everyone seemd it was best to keep you in the dark on the whole thing. 

 When he came back he was very different. Somebody, or some people, were most certainly dead. A great relief fell over the family and something was different about him. He had a smile on his face when she rushed to the door to greet him. You watched how they held eachother and thought back to when you’d first met them. Things were very different. You eventually butted into the hug feeling left out. 

______________

Extra Blurb. 

Eventually the unthinkable happened. The boy you had your eye on at school asked you out. Not knowing what to do or what the rules are you decided to get some more information on him make sure he was worth the risk of asking. 

Finn laughed at you.

“Not from the best family. But not a rival either, Tommy’s sure to have a fit, and Lizzie, I’m not sure. All in all, I don't mind the guy, you might be better off not telling them.” He said looking out the stained glass window of the Garrison. “If he gives you a hard time, come see me yeah? Don’t let him take you out of Small Heath” He looked at you seriously. 

“Sure thing.” You said getting up. You shouted a thank you over your shoulder rushing out of the pub. 

You thought long and hard about the situation. He made you laugh, didnt seem to care to much about your last name or who your dad was. Didn’t care that you were adopted. He was very polite, but enjoyed your peculiar sense of humor and misplaced words. 

You thought about turning him down. It was too complicated and anything that would upset your parents was too much of a burden. Thinking of what you would say to him, your heart gave a painful wrench. 

You went downstairs towards Tommy’s study. God this boy better be worth it or you’d put him in the ground. 

You poked your head in to see him writing and Lizzie sitting on the sofa reading a magazine. 

“Erm - So.” You started and watched them both look up at you. 

“What are you wearing?” Lizzie said smiling at your dress. 

“Go upstairs and change” Tommy cut you off before you could respond.

“Theres a boy -” You watched his face fall into his hands. “And he’s picking me up in a half hour if that’s allowed.” You fumbled with your words, wanting them to say yes badly.

“What boy” They said at the same time, giving eachother a glare. 

“Noah Solomons. I met him at school.” you responded expecting an explosion. 

“No. absolutley not. No way on earth am I sending you anywhere with him.” 

“Finn said he’s alright.” You started by stopped once he let out a sigh. 

“Finn! Fucking bastard.” He pinnched the bridge of his nose. 

“Where is he taking you then?” Lizzie asked

“Just around Small Heath for dinner. I told him that I can’t be out late.” Your face got red and you looked out the window.

“Put on a longer dress. The purple one, and put your hair up -” 

“Tommy! Don’t make her wear the purple one” Lizzie started to argue but stopped once she saw the look on his face. Her eyes narrowed back at him. 

“How bout I wear the red one -” 

“The black one is fine” They both answered suddently. 

“Just put on a cardigan,” Lizzie said getting up. “I have a nice one upstairs.” You followed her up to her bedroom. She pulled out a nice cardigan and some less opaque stockings. After you’d changed you looked yourself over, more modest, but that wasn't a bad thing. Especially if it got Tommy’s blood pressure back down. Lizzie got your hair up and you were grateful for her help. 

“Do you think dad will let me go?” You asked as she fixed your make up. 

“Dont think he can stop you. But, we’ve done business with his father. I think he’s worried this is apart of some elaborate plan.” 

“I don’t think so, but I’ll keep an eye on him” You were even more nervous now. Lizzie gave you lots of advice and you felt bad making her this worried. When you walked down stairs you could see Tommy talking to Noah at the door. 

You loved the way his face lit up when his eyes landed on you, he looked at you like you were the most beautiful thing in the world. You watched the front door swing shut, keeping him on the other side. 

“No.” He said firmly looking at Lizzie.

“Going to have to let her find her own way sometimes.” 

“No I don’t. Not with boys, not dressed like that.” He responded angrily. 

“Look, I told Finn where we are going, he said him and Isaiah would be around to keep an eye out. I’ve known him for the past two school years. I - please” You looked up at him in what you hoped were puppy dog eyes. You saw the conflict rage in his eyes.

“Fine.” He sighed in defeat. “But you don’t like something, anything, you call me from the restaurant and -” You cut him off with a big hug. 

“I won’t be out too late. Love ya” You said flying out the door before he could change his mind. 

__

He kissed you on the cheek on the door step, promising to take you out again next weekend. After saying goodnight you watched as he drove down the drive way before opening the front door.

You were surprised at how quiet it was. You slipped your shoes off and followed the lamp light into the sitting room. Much like the day with the storm, they sat on the sofa turned around to face the large window. You moved towards them to see your dad looking beyond relieved, and mum asleep on his lap. 

“So how was it then?” He asked you handing you the last bit of whiskey in his glass. You sat down next to him, watching him look you over for anything out of place. 

“Felt a bit like the Queen to be honest. More Blinders than people in that restaurant. Not to mention people watching from their windows.” You gave him a look as he started out the window. “But he was nice. I -He is nice, I enjoyed myself”

“Just for food then straight back?” 

“You already know that’s what happened. Can you help me get the pins out of my hair?” You turned away from him and felt him struggle to find them, pulling slightly too hard. 

“What? No, this is my job hands off.” Lizzie said groggily. “What did I miss? Tell me everything.” You felt the two of them shift and Lizzie's expert hands start bringing your hair down. By the time she’d gotten it brushed Polly and Esme had showed up for a full debrief in the kitchen. 

You were giggling like mad for hours with them, hearing their stories about past lovers. Some sweet, other cautionary. Eventually it was time for bed and you stopped into Tommy’s office before going to wash up. 

“Dad.” He gave you a shocked look then you realised what you had said. You didnt feel like apologizing though, too tired to make a big deal of it. You leaned over and gave him a hug. “Thanks for letting me go tonight.” You felt his arms wrap around you tightly. 

“I don't like it, and there will be lots to talk about tomorrow. But I'm happy that you're happy.” You kissed his cheek then headed up to bed. You knew that he’d probably already called Noah’s father, a tense conversation awaited you, but you had no doubt it was because he loved you.

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[saintsir4n]

PROLOGUE

where tommy shelby decides to take a leap of faith

___

1913

"COME on 'Saiah, maths ain't that hard, even I could do it and I didn't know my dividing from my multiplying,"

"What's that?" he groaned, dropping his pencil and pouting his lips, which Eden thought was adorable, but she couldn't say it aloud otherwise he would whine and cry about being treated like a child. Brat. "Those ain't real words."

"They are, trust me and you'll learn 'em soon. Don't worry kid, just remember we have to get this homework sheet done, I don't want your teacher actin' up."

"'Cause she's a... what d'you call it, a b-bitch?"

Her eyes widened at the curse, "Isaiah."

"You say it and so does Finn," he quickly explained, patting the table.

"Neither of you lot are supposed to say it. You're kids!"

"I'm almost six," he said cheekily as if it meant anything.

She pinched his cheeks, "Still a baby to me."

"I am not a baby, Dad said I'm a big boy," he spoke grumpily, "I can count to fifty y'know?"

Knocking at the front door caught their attention.

Eden frowned because she knew her parents had a key, same with her uncle Jeremiah and he didn't stop preaching until he 'put the fear of god into small heath', even though she couldn't tell if he believed the words he spoke. Whoever was rapidly knocking slightly worried her.

"How about, you stay here and count to fifty like a big boy and then we can stop for a bit," she hushed him before he could clap excitedly, "I'll throw in some sweets if you can keep quiet and finish one of these sums alright?"

Isaiah nodded happily and started counting, holding his hands up to help him, not wanting to ruin his chances of getting some sweets along with his Friday night chips that his dad brought home with him.

Eden cautiously approached the front door, all while wishing she brought a knife from the kitchen or a nursing needle from the nursing course she was taking (following in her mother's footsteps she was).

If she had a religious bone in her body she would've prayed, but there was no God in Small Heath, only devils existed 'round here.

And that was who was on the other side of the door.

Thomas bloody Shelby.

Stood there leant against the archway of the door without uttering a single word.

Tilting her head upwards, Eden met his impenetrable gaze.

During their school years, not one word was exchanged between them, well being in different years groups would do that and the fact he never seemed to stray far from his two best friends Greta and Freddie, just like Lorenzo and Dorris never strayed from her. Not one word and yet she usually talked to his brother John, with him being in the same year as her.

Eden didn't know what to do other than glance behind her, hoping not to see Isaiah making his way around the corner but luckily all she could faintly hear was him struggling to count. When she turned back she gulped at the sight of Tommy. Eyes as piercing as snow, not even the peaky hat could protect her from his stare. With his fairly chapped lips and a jaw that could slice its way through the thickest bread one could buy at the local bakery, she took a step back, swiftly raking her gaze down his slightly worn suit and dress shoes that must've been polished this morning.

Tommy was frustratingly handsome and to him, she was infuriatingly beautiful.

He was there for a reason, though he'd never uttered a word to the girl he'd grown up with he knew there was more than what met the eye. He knew her closest friends, which sibling of his she spoke to, her parents' profession and what she might do with her future. He knew she would come to the door cautiously considering the rough street they lived on. He knew her short hair would be styled back in a bun which unintentionally insinuated her flawless features. And he knew she would be wearing an ankle-length skirt and a loose-fitting blouse similar to his aunt. Why? He just knew.

They never spoke a word to each other.

Not one word until now.

"You lost?" she asked, leaning forward and glancing around the noisy street.

And what he was about to say next, she could never have predicted.

"Come to my uncle's yard, John told me you know where it is," he replied shortly, taking her back.

She blinked at him, ignoring how his gruff voice made her feel, "Hello Tommy, nice to see you too."

He continued, unaffected by her sarcasm, "Just come."

Her grip on the door tighten, "And why would I listen to you?"

He shrugged, "Well, As your future husband, I want to show you things that no one else will."

A laugh of disbelief escaped her lips and yet she didn't smile, much to his chagrin.

"And what things are they Mr Shelby?" her grip on the door loosened slightly, which he took note of.

"Anything you ask, meet me at my uncle's yard and don't be late."

"And what if I am?" she dared to ask, rolling her shoulders back and insinuating her neck. A bear neck, like always. He assumed that a cross would cover it, but even when they were all forced to go to church as kids she never wore one. "What will you do huh?"

His tongue swiped over his teeth before answering, "Then I'll just have to wait for you then eh?"

She wanted to smile at his answers, they were all so...charming, but why would she believe the ladykiller of small heath? Just as she went to reply, she was interrupted.

"Edie!" Isaiah's little voice boomed through the little space, making her sigh and Tommy raise a brow and cocked his head to the side, letting his eyes dart around the small foyer of the narrow home. Cleaner than my house that's for fucking sure. It looked cosy and warm, filled with pictures, hanging from the walls and cluttered on the small table near where shoes laid, "Counted to a fifty, I did."

"Then finish the sum!" her voice pulled him from his thoughts and a ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.

Hearing Isaiah's huff and groan, Eden exhaled and turned back to a rather amused Tommy.

"What?" she questioned, finally dropping her hand from the door.

"Nothing," he paused, "I don't remember you being so good at maths at school."

Her brows pinched together, "You didn't speak to me at school so how would you know that?"

"Finn tells me things," he recalled all the times his littlest brother would run home after being babysat by Eden and gush over every little thing she did, "You help him with readin' and writin' like Isaiah back there."

"Two little shits that drive me off the bend," she blurted out, then went to correct herself remembering who she was speaking to, "shit- I mean-" he swiftly cut her off.

"Thick as thieves those two," he said, amused by her cursing, "Our Finn is head-case and despite Jeremiah stalking through town and trying to fill it with hope and all the godly advice in the bloody world, Isaiah is just like my brother."

She hummed and then changed the conversation.

"Am I even your type? Because the women I've seen you with are the same colour as my palm if that."

"So you watch me," he noted rather smugly, though his face didn't show it, his eyes beamed slightly.

"Easy, I notice things."

"As do I," he retorted, "You're wrong, about the women you see me with," she raised a questioning brow, urging him to go on, "I don't have a type, you can say there's a pattern —"

"And you wanna break it with me? No chance."

She didn't want to be the first black woman he bedded, even though she highly doubted she would be. Well, that and she didn't want to give in to the small-town gangster.

"Haven't you heard? Life is full of chances," he jested.

"Cute."

"And you should take one on me."

Rolling her eyes, "Since I watch you..." her tone turned mocking, "I could've sworn you have a woman, at least that's what the streets are saying."

"The streets of Small Heath are full of lies," he spoke, pulling out a cigarette tin, growing slightly irritated from all her assumptions and questions. He didn't think it would be easy to get someone like Eden Dawkins, he liked a challenge, but she was fucking stubborn. Like trying to force the wrong bullet into a barrel, it won't fucking go. "And fuckin' smoke," he added, pulling out a lighter.

Not being able to help herself her gaze dropped to his lips just as the cigarette swiped against them before he lit it. He took a drag and turned his head as the smoke escaped.

A sly smirk appeared on his face after noting her stare.

"What?"

"Nothing," she quickly cleared her throat and ignored the beam in his icy eyes, "it's just that you contribute to the latter well enough," she uttered, quickly nodding to his cigarette. Fuck I need one.

"Yeah, the factories help me out a bit."

She almost smiled.

"I suppose, but I'm just remembering what I was told... you know about you being taken."

"By who?"

"Whom," she corrected.

"Fine, whom?"

"The eyes of small Heath." Her eyes, but she wouldn't admit that.

"Alright. You think if I had a woman I would look at you, be on your doorstep?" he asked after taking another drag, even offering her a hit, but she refused, despite needing a release of her own.

"I hope not. Or I would let her know that her man's a dog," she said, holding back a smile.

He made a noise, "A horse is more fitting."

"Ah yes, your family loves to ride," she quickly added, "John's on four feet more than he's on two."

"It's in the blood. Gypsy blood," he informed, waiting to see how she would react to his background.

It wasn't a secret where his family came from, most people were disgusted by them, many hid it well, whilst the others got a beating if they opened their gobs.

He was glad when he didn't catch any indifference in her demeanour. She didn't care or didn't see any faults in it. He supposed that she couldn't, being black and all, but if you weren't pure-blooded you would get put into the same boat as everyone else or the bottom of the barrel. And that's where one would find people like them; Watery Lane.

"I'm scared of horses," she admitted.

He squinted, "What has a horse ever done to you, Eh?"

"Mum doesn't like 'em, so I guess she passed that on to me."

"Suppose I have to change that," I will change that.

"Not without asking that girl of yours," she finally smiled at her own joke and so did he.

He playfully rolled his eyes, "I'm available, not with anyone and those who say they're with me are lying alright."

"Alright. Because I don't like cheaters. I despise the lot of 'em, just like those toffs despise us."

"It's a good thing I'm not one then ain't it?"

Finally giving in, she shrugged, "I guess you're right."

"And what about you," he turned it on her, "I heard I weren't the only lad in knockin' at your door."

She hummed, folding her arms, "There's a long list."

Narrowing his eyes, he didn't know whether or not she was playing with him, "How long?"

"No need to bawl and shout. According to the eyes of Small Heath, it goes from here to bloody Black Country. But all you need to know is that you could be at the end..." she trailed off.

"Last darlin', last."

"Oh really?"

"Changretta won't storm your mind when you next see me I promise you that."

She laughed, "Changretta, which one? Just like you Shelbys, there's many."

"You know which one, I don't have to spell it out for you," he took his last drag and let the cigarette drop before stomping it out.

"You might, I'm a woman y'see, I don't always get things straight away, have to get a man to dumb things down f'me."

He almost smiled again at her teasing, but all joy faded as he spoke.

"Luca," he pronounced as clear as day, with his jaw tightening ever so slightly. That bloody jawline. He knew she was heavily involved with the Changrettas, her closest friend was Lorenzo for Christ's sake and she even talked to the Angel also. But Luca... he and Luca never got along. not during school or out of it. Shelby's and Changretta's... like water and oil. Them being Italian meant they were also the bottom of the barrel, but that didn't mean they had to get along. "That Changretta."

She began to grin and even though he wanted to enjoy her expression, he took a mental picture and decided to save it for later.

"Ah, so the eyes of Small Heath have told you about me and him is that right?"

"Yeah, these bloody eyes seem to know all."

She hummed, "Bloody nosey."

"Too right," he agreed.

"So confident, where has this man been for the last couple of years? Pestering other doorsteps and desecrating other homes," she motioned to the used cigarette, which made him quickly kick it away.

"Making sure he was the right man for you," he spoke not taking his eyes off of her which made her cave and look away, much to his amusement because he caught the light blush kissing her caramel skin.

"You've got the charm," she annoyedly admitted, "it's all in the eyes."

He huffed out a chuckle, "Don't stare for too long, yours will get stuck."

Feigning offence, "And then I won't take you up on that offer, oh no."

Checking his watch, he tsked and ignored her quip. He shot her one last look and then spun on his heel, before shouting, "I'll see you at Charlie's yard Eden!"

"No, you won't!"

"Don't dress up for me!"

"Wasn't gonna!"

And with that, she slammed the door shut with the biggest smile on her face.

"Edie!" Isaiah yelled, "I'm done!"

"Sure you are little man!"

"Can we get sweets now?" he eagerly asked after she entered the kitchen and saw the biggest drawings all over his homework, making her curse.

"You ain't done. Your dad will be on my arse if he sees this."

"He won't. Just like I won't tell him about Tommy comin' over."

His cheeky grin widened at the glare he received.

"Fine," she gave in, "but don't tell your dad."

"Promise."

"Alright get your coat," she huffed as he ran away, "little shit."

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a/n:

dorathy dandridge is eden’s face claim. this story is also on my wattpad account, but I know that many people cannot access the app/website so I’ll try and post on both.