#shelbysibling

[megswritingplace]

How Do You Sleep? (Shelby Sister fic)

So, for the first time ever, I’m posting my work on Tumblr as well as AO3. This fic will follow a slightly altered timeline for the Shelby’s, as another Sibling is introduced (and John is still alive). Any thoughts/comments/questions are appreciated. I’m hoping to make this a whole story, but bare with me as writings block is strong atm.

Chapter 1

St Abigail’s School for Girls, Sussex 

“As you know from the letters we sent Mr. Shelby, we had a few tense years to begin with. But, considering her upbringing, that was to be expected,” the woman Tommy was following spoke plainly, unbothered that she had just openly insulted him and his family. He nodded along though, hoping the insult would counteract the fact that he had never read any letter the school had sent him. He never saw the need for the correspondence, it was their job to deal with any problem, and what could he have done from Small Heath anyway? 

“The recent years have shown a remarkable improvement. I would go as far as to say she’s now one of our model students,” the woman continued talking, as she led him down yet another never-ending corridor.  

Her words surprised Tommy greatly. He had hoped he was coming home with an average report at best, even that would have been better than the rest of the Shelby’s put together. Well, except Michael, and possibly Ada, although Tommy knew she only liked to think she was better than her name after living in London for so long. A ‘model student’ was much more than Tommy was expecting, especially when he remembered who he had brought here all those years ago. The thought made him apprehensive to see who he would be taking home this afternoon. If she had changed so drastically, how would she fit back into family dynamic again? 

“I apologise again for not being able to keep her here until her 18th Birthday, but we really need the space back for some of the new girls coming before September. And now she’s officially finished, we can’t legally keep her here. I know you’re a busy man Mr. Shelby, but you’re only her legal guardian for a few more months; and the last I heard there was talk of University,” the woman stated. To Tommy’s ears, she sounded more excited than she had any right to be. University was a word the rest of the family barely knew, it was sure to go down like a led balloon if it was ever brought up.  

Before the woman could add anything else to her one-sided conversation, she finally stopped walking. She had brought them before two large mahogany doors, that looked just as heavy as Tommy’s heart felt in that moment. The two brass knobs attached felt more domineering than anything Tommy had faced in years, including his now frequent trips to Parliament. He would rather face unrelenting Politicians than whoever was waiting for him on the other side of these doors.  

Tommy was able to take one deep breath before the woman pushed the doors open, forcing him to step inside. Tommy took the room in for a moment, finding it similar to his study at home. It felt just as luxurious, and ironically just as fake, as his own. His gaze wandered until it reached the one high-back leather chair facing away from him. From there, his gaze got stuck on the top of the head that was peeking out at him, covered in hair that looked incredibly similar to his own.  

“Alice?” Tommy jumped as the women’s who brought him here spoke, he had forgotten all about her. As she spoke, she began to approach the girl in the chair, whilst Tommy’s feet felt frozen to the ground. “Are you ready to go?” the woman asked with a smile, “Mr. Shelby is here to collect you.” Either the girl in the chair did not answer, or she spoke so softly Tommy could not hear her, but before he could register what was happening, the girl in the chair stood up.  

Tommy held his breath as the girl turned around to face him. He averted his eyes away from her face as soon as she turned, he could not bring himself to look into her eyes just yet. Instead, the first thing he took note of were her hands. Whilst one was cradled loosely in a fist, the other was delicately holding onto a book. With her index finger marking the page she was on, the book was turned so Tommy could read the title. Tommy’s instantly recognised the book and the cover, it was the same copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland he had dropped her off with. Based on the tattered look of the spine, Tommy guessed this was not first time she had reread it. A twinge of guilt pierced Tommy at that thought, though he could not explain why.  

Tommy knew he was making the situation more awkward than it needed to be, refusing to look into her eyes, and not even greet her, but something inside was stopping him. In truth, he just did not know what to say, for once. He had spoken to all manner of people over the years, and with his newly attached title, making small talk was an almost daily occurrence to him. But this was different. It was foreign but familiar. The last time he had seen her, she was ten, and did enough talking for the both of them. She could have talked for hours on end, about horses, and playing, and reading. But now, he had no idea what the girl in front of him would want to talk about. She had lived a separate life for the past seven years, alone, independent from the rest of Shelby’s and Small Heath. Another pang of guilt hit Tommy at that thought, though he knew why this time. It felt like the only similarity between now and seven years ago was the book she was holding. 

Tommy knew he had stalled for long enough. He lifted his eyes up, knowing it was time to greet the girl in front of him. However, when their eyes connected, he still found himself at a loss for words. His mind was racing trying to think of something to say. If he could not say something now, how would he cope in drive back to Birmingham? He should have brought John or Arthur, or even little Charlie with him. All three of them would be able to break this silence easily, even just by saying nonsense. Tommy opened his mouth in the hope that some words would fall out, anything would do at this point.  

However, just as he did so, a small smile came across the young girl’s face. For the first time, he noted she had an air of patience around her, a trait he never remembered her possessing before. It felt as though all she was waiting for was for him to finally connect his eyes with hers, because when he did so, she was the one to break the silence.  

“Hello Tommy,” she said in a voice as soft as her smile, something that should have warmed Tommy’s heart, had he not noticed a hard look instantly cross over her eyes. “Long time no see brother.” 

- 

Arrow House, Birmingham 

“Why the fuck are we going to all this effort Pol’?” John complained, watching yet another maid flit about the room, cleaning up non-existent mess. He was exhausted just watching them.  

“Yeah,” Arthur piped in from behind the newspaper he was reading, “it’s not like she’ll notice, she’s the messiest of us all.” 

Polly rolled her eyes at her nephews. Alice did use to be the messiest Shelby, but that was when she was ten, and lived in a house full of men. She had spent the last seven years away from them, learning things the rest of Shelby’s could probably never comprehend. Polly knew the girl making her way back with Tommy was not the same one that left with him, and she was not sure the rest of the family understood that. But they had all changed so drastically, how could they not think she had as well? 

“Need I remind you what school she’s been for the past seven years? Don’t you remember Pearl Higgn’s niece going to St. Abigail’s? She only went for a year, and look how she came back. You shouldn’t be expecting the same wild little ten year old to be walking through those doors later,” Polly knew she sounded harsh, but they had to be told. If they had unrealistic expectations for her, they were sure to be disappointed, and these boys could never hide their expressions well.  

Polly heard Arthur snort from the corner, before mumbling, “oh, we all remember how Pearl’s niece turned out,” making Polly roll her eyes.  

“Come on Pol,” John started, “even at ten, she had the most gypsy blood out of all of us. Running around the streets barefoot and filthy. Even Tommy couldn’t stop her most of the time. Do you really think the years could get that out of her?” 

Polly shook her head at John’s naiivity. Despite everything they had seen and experienced, the Shelby boys still held onto hope that their sister would come back to them just as innocent and sweet as when she left. Polly knew better though. Even if she had been in Small Heath, Alice would not have stayed innocent for long, but at least they would have experienced it first-hand and known why. Now though, seven years of mystery stood between them, and who knew what had happened to her in that time? And if Polly knew one thing, she knew the years at that school would have definitely got the gypsy spirit out of her, by whatever means necessary. 

[prettygreenpills]

Hello, can I get a Polly Gray oneshot, where Y/n is her niece, the youngest one of the Shelby siblings and she gets a shot into her chest? Polly taking care of her, etc.

thank you, have a nice day

Of course darling! Thank you for requesting, I hope you’ll like it!

characters: Polly Gray x fem!reader

rundown: y/n, Polly’s niece gets a shot and her aunt panics

warnings: getting a shot, blood, wound, language!, etc.

request status: opened

“Fuck you Tommy!” You screamed as he adjusted your body in his arms while he was trying to get inside of the house where his and your aunt lived.

“Pol?” Thomas asked with some difficulties in his voice and you clenched your teeth because of the pain. You felt your shirt getting more and more wet and when you looked down at your body, you saw blood running out of the wound.

“Kitchen.” She said only and Thomas took you there. A gasp was following and you heard someone taking some stuff away, probably cleaning the table where Thomas put you in a moment. “What happened?”

“She got a shot. Chengretta,” Thomas answered and when a soft hand took your shirt off, you whined out in pain, a brave tear running down your cheek.

“Okay Y/n, I will need to check how deep is the bullet and then I’ll have to take it out. Thomas hold her,” she told him and someone put some napkin into your mouth. Thomas walked over to the table you were put on and he stood behind you, holding your arms down with his hands.

Polly took a knife and she rip opened your shirt. She didn’t care if you had a bra or not, no one cared. As she saw the wound and realized that the bullet had opened your skin and was in your muscles, she sighed.

“Arthur bring me some alcohol, Tommy I will need you to hold her still. Y/n this will hurt as hell,” Polly told everyone what to do and you just nodded your head.

The oldest Shelby waited for Arthur to get back with the bottle of alcohol and she opened it. Looking at you, she asked if she could. You just nodded your head and Thomas gave you a clothing to bite on it while Polly would be cleaning the wound.

“How do you mean Changretta?” Polly asked and she clearly didn’t care you were in pain.

“They are here in Birmingham. The same Changretta,” Thomas said and then you weren’t able to listen to them anymore.

As the first drop of alcohol arrived onto your chest, you clenched your teeth around the clothing you were given. You screamed into it and kicked your leg since you couldn’t move your upper body at all, because of Thomas.

“Why was she there all alone?” Polly asked from Thomas as she poured alcohol onto your wound again and you screamed into the clothing.

Polly took something into her hand and she just looked at Thomas. He didn’t answer her and Polly nodded her head in your direction and Thomas understood.

He held you on the table as strong as he could. Polly took out tweezers and she buried them into your wound, searching for the bullet. She took it out, listening to your loud scream. She poured even more alcohol onto the would to make sure you wouldn’t get some infection.

Thomas didn’t answer her and Polly put the bottle with the alcohol down onto the table, being clearly mad. She took napkins and covered your wound.

The theme seemed to be closed. Thomas knew he screwed up and Polly knew that he knew. All you could hear was your breathing, the deep breaths you were taking. No one seemed to be in hurry any longer and everyone seemed to be resting at least a little.

“Now, why were you there?” Polly opened the topic again and you closed your eyes.

“Went for a basic walk. They were there. They knew I am a Shelby and they shoot me.” You said as straight as it was possible and Polly sighed.

“Anything else?”

“No,” you said simply and Polly helped you with covering up the wound. When you were all bandaged, you made sure you could breath and wanted to jump off already. But when you tried, pain ran through your chest and you hissed.

“Thomas take her to my bedroom. She will spend here few days.”

“But-“

“No,” Polly cut you off and you rolled your eyes. Thomas lifted you up and you put your hands around his neck, making sure you wouldn’t fall. And then you let him take you into the room where Polly sent him.

“So you went for a basic walk?” Thomas asked, smirking and you couldn’t run away from there. Since he was holding you.

“She doesn’t have to know-“

“About that you tracked them down and wanted to kill Changretta,” Thomas finished your sentence and you hated the fact he knew much more than he was supposed to. As you both arrived into the room, Thomas put you down softly and you breathed out, hissing in pain. “I will send Polly.”

“Tell her to hurry up please,” you whined out and tried to breath calmly. Thomas just nodded his head and when you looked at him, he smiled. “Don’t tell her-“

“I won’t,” he promised to you and walked away from the doors. In the following seconds Polly arrived and she had some tray with lot of things on it. As she saw you laying in the bed, she walked over to you, sitting onto the edge of it.

“Drink this, this will help you with pain. And then I will put compresses on it.”

“Compresses?”

“Tea compresses,” she said more clearly and you took a deep breath, drinking some medication she brought you. Polly took the glass you were giving back at the moment and then she started undoing the bandage to make it easier to take care of it.

“Fuck-“ you breathed out as she softly laid the compress onto the wound and you rested all of your muscles when you realized it was warm. It was some kind of comfortable.

“I told Thomas to go with you everywhere since now. You won’t be walking alone in the streets.”

“What?! Why?!” You asked back immediately, making your stomach muscles tense and then you hissed in pain.

“Because if they shot you few inches upper we would be burning your body by now,” Polly said and you breathed out from relieve, pain and sadness at once. Polly looked down at your wound and then she stood up. “I will go and take more napkins. Don’t you dare move.”

“As if I could,” you said and watched the woman leave, waiting for her to come back as soon as she left.