gracefulsunflower

[gracefulsunflower]

ANGEL - SETH CLEARWATER X READER

PREVOUS Prologue

I

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Seth sat with the pack and the imprints after telling them about you — The little he knew anyways. He was still hung up on the fact that you would only be here for two months.

"Why don't you, I don't know, show up in the same places she is?" Embry suggested, throwing a baseball to Quil as they sat down, albeit carefully — Sam would kill them if they broke something.

Emily wouldn’t mind, but since she bought half of the stuff in the house Sam would break their fingers if they scratched even one thing.

"He's not a mind reader, Embry, God," Leah snarked, throwing an arm around her not so little brother's shoulders, pulling him slightly closer to her.

She smelled like home, so he nestled in a little closer, needing the comfort.

"But the little Cullen is, maybe Jake can ask them for some help," Embry shot back, and Seth looked elated, but then his face dropped.

"But I don't want her to think I'm a stalker or anything," Seth murmured defeatedly, and it was back to the drawing board.

The room went silent, Seth dragging the slightly good mood down with him.

"Adopt a dog," Quil suggested, and everyone looked at him.

"You said she has a dog — If you get one then you can take it for walks when she takes hers for walks. That's not that stalkerish. You have an excuse to be in the same place at the same time," Quil elaborated as he fumbled an extra hard throw from Embry, and Seth grinned so bright that it made everyone else crack a small smile.

"Quil, you're a genius! Now all I need to do is find a dog." Seth replied, his mind running wild as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts, wondering who to message.

Adopting dogs from the local shelter was really expensive, and he was saving for a new dirt bike. He only had $200 to go, and he really didn’t want to waste money on a new dog. Not when he could nearly taste the dirt bike.

"Rez dogs are having puppies all of the time man, but if you're that keen Miss Postoak is trying to get rid of her bitch since she can't afford her right now, she’s only a companion dog and the others are working dogs," Jared supplied before taking another bite of his blueberry muffin, courtesy of Emily, and Seth felt victorious as he clicked onto his Mom’s contact and called her, asking if he could get a dog for his birthday.

"You're picking up its’ crap, buying its’ dog food and leashes, and it is getting neutered, we have enough strays on the reservation as is, young man — and I'll help you set up the yard for it when you get it," She replied, then said 'love you' and hung up the phone.

Seth whooped, then calmed back down, looking around the room at his expectant friends.

"What the fuck do I need for a dog?"

Leah pinched her brother’s ear for his foul language, making everyone laugh.

•••

Thankfully, Old Quil owned many a dog in his lifetime, used for hunting, mainly, but most of them were now companions in their old age, the man hesitant to get another in case it outlived him. Young Quil helped Seth buy the needed supplies like leashes, a crate for inside, dishes for the food, a dog bed, and a vet appointment was set for Monday so the bitch that Seth adopted — named Missy, a Rottweiler Shar Pei cross (Rott Pei, Quil had helpfully given him the proper name for the breed of the mutt) could be checked up, seeing as she was due for one.

Seth and Quil now at the store, buying some dog food. The smell was still overwhelming, and mixed in with how all of the other store goers smelled it was nearly unbearable. He could even still smell the products they mopped the floors with. He put the last thing in the cart when he heard a familiar voice. You.

"Quil, shit man, that's her!" Seth whispered excitedly, then listened as you made your way through the aisles, talking about dog food for Cujo.

Quil watched his younger pack mate bounce on his heels as you approached, and tried not to laugh at how excited Seth was getting. The boy turned to face you as soon as you turned the corner, dragging your dad by his hand, a basket in your other hand.

"Oh! It's little Seth!" Alexander pointed out, making you look away from the tins of dog food on the shelf, and give him a friendly grin, dropping your dad’s hand in the process.

"Hello, hello," You greeted, and nodded towards his full trolley, "Stocking up for a vacation?"

Seth turned back at the groups of haphazardly stacked dry kibble bags and wet food cans, and numerous treat packets. Maybe he was going a tiny bit overboard.

"Uh, no," Seth admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a chuckle, "I'm getting my first dog and I think I got overexcited."

"Oh! Such a spoiled little puppy that will be! Maybe you and miss (Y/N) could take your dogs for walks sometimes! I think she gets sick of her old man slowing her down," Alexander offered, and nudged (Y/N)'s shoulder, "If you need help with the dog too, (Y/N) could teach you a few tricks. Should help her keep herself busy for the next two months."

Seth tried not to smile too hard as he agreed, but noticed that you looked less than pleased, but give him a tight lipped smile nonetheless.

"Dad, grab two dry bags of dog food," You commanded, and your father did your bidding as you somewhat aggressively threw some dog food cans into a basket, managing to dent one of them.

Your father suddenly looked less than pleased with your behaviour as you threw the last can and turned on your heel, shoulder checking him as you walked past him. Alexander looked back at the pair of boys and gave them a tight lipped smile and a small wave before leaving behind his daughter.

Seth cocked his head to the side, trying to drown out the rest of the store goers to listen to you. Quil immediately did the same.

“What in the Gods was that? Ridiculous behaviour for what?” Your father said gruffly, but not unkindly.

"Dadda, I don't want to go for walks with him!" Was the first thing Seth heard you say, which made his heart drop, but he kept on listening anyway.

"Nonsense, he seems nice! A friend wouldn't hurt," Your father tried to reason with you, but you huffed.

"If a friend wouldn't hurt we'd actually live in one place and not move around like nomads." You then let out a soft 'fuck!', most likely stubbing your toe on the stupid boxes near the mouth of aisle 2.

"Well, I'm sure this place is the place. Trust me, tiny child. If it isn't, I'll buy you your dream Dodge Challenger for a late birthday gift." Your father reasoned.

"Don't bullshit me," You snapped back, sounding like you were nearer to the doors.

"I'm not! Matte black Dodge Challenger with red under glow for your birthday, or we live here, I swear it on Cujo's life." Your father pleaded, and you sighed.

"Fine. I'll see if one of the workers knows how to get into contact with him. I'll try to find him on MySpace or Twitter or something." You relented, then the doors opened to the front of the store, and your scent was gone.

Your Father cheered and Quil put Seth into a headlock playfully, messing up his hair, making Seth laugh as he did so.

•••

You sat on your new bed, your dog Cujo, a black Cane Corso who was getting on in his years, shown by the grey fur on his muzzle, resting on the floor next to your bed, not being allowed on any furniture. Your father was doing research in his room.

You picked up a piece of mango and popped it into your mouth as you looked up the name of the place you were staying at on Facebook. You found the profile, and clicked into it, then went straight to followers. You couldn't find any followers with Seth's profile picture, so you went and looked up the name of the school, finding their profile and looking through the followings for Seth. No luck. Even searching his name up you discovered nothing. You stalked his school until you found his name on an old post where he had won an award for a spelling bee, also discovering his last name. Clearwater. Seth Clearwater.

You logged into your MySpace account, and looked for him, and surprisingly found him. His profile picture was a photo of him with a man, standing side by side, grinning.

You found it, and let held your arms up above your head in a victorious manner, looking around the room as if expecting someone to cheer for you, then focussing on your dog.

"See how fucking amazing I am, Cujo? The FBI needs to hire me as a detective," You said, then started scrolling through his profile.

Nothing overly fancy. Just some pictures of him, people you assumed to be his family, and some of nature around the area, alongside some photos of his adventures. You clicked the 'Add Friend' button, and decided to make a new friendship bracelet while you watched movies, heading off to your dad's room to go and ask him to start the bracelet for you.

•••

Seth was currently scrolling through Twitter at his desk as his Xbox 360 started up, Leah lounging on his bed playing Mario on his DS. Technically, he and Leah shared the Xbox, but he just kept it in his room as she didn’t really play it much these days, instead choosing to play his DS. He didn’t mind. Just as long as she stayed in his room so he knew it was safe. Missy was laying halfway under his bed, gnawing at a new chew toy Quil had picked out.

His phone beeped, and a new notification popped up. He walked over and slid onto the bed next to his sister. A new friend request. He looked, and his heart started speeding up as he looked at the profile.

“What?” Leah inquired, hearing the thrumming, looking over his shoulder.

“She added me on MySpace!” Seth told his sister excitedly, showing her the profile picture of you and a black dog, along with your Dad and a woman who looked a bit like you, and accepted your friend request, then started looking through your profile.

There were photos from all around the world. Australia, Sweden, Italy, France. Your father and you were the main focus of your photos, but your nature shots were a sight to behold. There were also some with people that weren’t your father, so maybe friends and relatives. The photos of the woman in your profile picture stopped around a year ago, he noted. Your newest photo was the Welcome to Forks sign, you and a huge black dog posing in front of it, the same one from your profile picture.

A message notification popped up. He opened it, and there was a message from you.

Y/N:

Hey

“Oh my goodness, she messaged me!” Seth nearly squealed, and Leah bit back a laugh at her little brother, knowing that laughing would probably result in him attacking her with a pillow covered in a Spider-Man case.

“Well don’t just ignore it, reply!” Leah urged, and Seth looked at his sister, eyes as wide as saucers.

“What do I say!” Seth panicked, and Leah rolled her eyes, grabbing the iPhone covered in a Spider-Man case and messaging her back.

Seth:

Hey

•••

You blinked at your laptop screen, your friendship bracelet forgotten. You didn’t expect him to reply so fast. You went down to the vending machine just outside of the office about ten minutes ago and he wasn’t there, instead there was a girl at the counter, talking on the phone as she painted her nails. Maybe his shift was over, and he was at home? You didn’t think on it much.

Your fingertips ghosted over the keys, then stopped, instead picking up your phone and logging into MySpace there.

“Dad?” You called out, and he ambled into your room, a sandwich with a bite taken out of it, jerking his head upwards slightly as he chewed.

“Seth messaged me and I don’t know how to reply,” You admitted, and your father chuckled as he came over and sat next to you, trying not to get any crumbs on the bed.

Cujo immediately came over and sat expectantly next to him on the floor, but your father shooed him away. Your baby walked over and laid in his crate, looking offended.

“What do you want to say?” He asked, pulling your phone into his hand, getting ready to type a message for you.

You leaned against his muscly arm, and shrugged. You weren’t very good at holding conversations.

“Why don’t you ask him about his new dog?” Your father suggested and you grinned victoriously, taking back the phone and sending him a message.

Y/N:

How’s things going with preparing for ur dog?

You hummed, feeling content, then sent the message. Seth started typing immediately.

Seth:

She’s good! We picked her up like an hour ago and she’s currently harassing my sister, lol

A photo came through of a dog that looked like a Rottweiler, but was wrinkly, and the tail curved upwards, sitting on the lap of a girl that looked a couple years older than you, playing a DS.

“Oh! Looks like a little Rott Pei! They’re stubborn little fucks,” Your father commented, still eating his sandwich, making you giggle.

Your aunty Lara had one, over in Italy. He tended to chew any shoes left outside, and didn’t like Cujo much.

Seth:

Her name is Missy :)

Y/N:

She’s so cute! Is she a Rott Pei? Dad says they’re stubborn lol

Seth:

Yeah, she is. I’m gonna try and take her for a walk tomorrow. She’s really good on lead, and well socialised. My sister Leah’s coming too, wanna come with?

Before you could type ‘no’, your father snatched your phone and sent a message.

Y/N:

That sounds good, when & where?

“Dad!” You hissed, picking up your stuffed Elmo doll from beside you and assaulting your father with it, making him drop his sandwich.

Cujo wasted no time in scrabbling over and eating it, making you laugh, but you quickly stopped as your phone beeped again, leaning over and grabbing it from your dad’s hand.

Seth:

Tomorrow, like 11am?

We can take out a picnic!

Me and Leah can come pick you up :)

You quickly positioned yourself so you could see Cujo in the background, your dad deciding to hop into the photo as well, holding up both of his thumbs and giving the biggest smile you’d ever seen.

Y/N:

Cujo & I are keen, so’s Dad apparently. See you then!

•••

Leah pinched her little brother’s cheek as he put the phone down, tittering at the way he blushed, the colour in his cheeks and ears becoming more noticeable with the red undertone of his blood rushing to them.

“My baby, all grown up! Going on a date with a girl-”

“-It’s not a date, Leah,” Seth said exasperatedly as he grabbed his phone and messaged Jacob, wanting to let him know first.

Seth:

(Y/N) and I are walking our dogs together tomorrow.

Jacob:

Good job bro :)

You should see if she wants to come to your birthday party tomorrow

Seth blinked. Tomorrow was his birthday. He’d be fifteen, and in two months he’d be starting tenth grade.

Seth:

I forgot about that haha

Are you and Ness coming?

Jacob

Wouldn’t miss it for the world man

I picked out a cool gift but Ness said hers is ‘practical’, or whatever

You know how she is

Seth laughed and sent back a thumbs up emoji, then leaned over and scritched Missy behind her ears, making her wag her tail contentedly. Today was a good day. Tomorrow was going to be even better.

•••

Alexander stood out on the porch of the cabin, facing the sea as he puffed on his Marlboro, the cigarette being his only source of light other than the moon, full and low over the sea.

A movement in the distance, over near some rocks, only just visible in the corner of his eye. His head snapped in the direction of it, his blue eyes nearly glowing in the dark.

Something was staring right back at him, its eyes shining green like a cat’s in the dark. A stare off ensued. Alexander moved ever so slightly, reaching for his crossbow, but the creature then spread its’ wings and took flight, the huge wing span nearly blocking out the moon as it ascended.

Alexander growled and put out his cigarette, dropping it into the metal trash can near his feet. He found what he was looking for. Now it was time to complete the rest of his mission.

•••

Mary Postoak stared at the moon through her kitchen window, opting to watch it as the sink filled up in front of her.

There was a flash of darkness in front of the moon, looking like a huge bird. She gasped, a hand going to her chest. It was bigger than any bird she saw, ever. And the last time she checked; birds didn’t have legs like humans.

A thud was heard in her backyard, and her dogs started barking, making her head for her back door, but a yelp cut her off. She instead turned on her heel, running towards her bedroom and grabbed her rifle, then ran through the hallway, throwing open the back door and loading the rifle.

She grabbed the flashlight from her deck table, and turned it on, shining it toward the scene, and gasped.

Something was hunkered over her dog, feeding from it. Upon hearing her, it looked up, blood covering its lower lip. It was hideous. Pale skin, and two enormous wings. It stood up at its full height, nearly ten feet, and stepped forward, making her drop her torch and point her rifle at it.

She fired it once, hitting it square in the chest. It growled, then lunged for the woman, attacking her before she could even scream.

§§§

Fun fact lol, Missy & Cujo are based on dogs I've owned. Again, not proofread so please kindly point out any mistakes!

[gracefulsunflower]

ANGEL - SETH CLEARWATER X READER

PROLOGUE

NEXT PART - I

THIRD PERSON'S POV

The war was now over. The Volturi had left the Cullens alone, content with the fact that they were now following the rules. Some of the older wolves still shifted regularly, but Seth had slowed down for now. He was keen on being a normal boy, for now. Currently on the eve of his 15th birthday, and working a shift at his new work — the resort, which he never took much notice to, which made sense; he lived here, he didn't need a place to vacation here.

Right now he was working at the counter, checking people in. Kim usually did it, but right now she was taking a small break to 'talk' to Jared. They were just busy sucking face, which was ridiculous. They only had ten minutes to go until their lunch break, where Seth finished for the day. Half days on Saturdays and Sundays, and in the holidays he had a couple of full days through the week, which was nice. Normal. Like every other nearly 15 year old.

It was okay though. It wasn't really busy at the desk. Seth was really there for cleaning, and answering the phones when people had a problem finding the clean towels or their lightbulbs shorted out. And besides, getting paid to play Solitaire when there were no cleaning jobs or minor repairs to be done wasn’t that bad.

The bell above the door tinkled, making Seth look up and exit his game of Solitaire. There was a huge man, with striking blue eyes. His hair reminded him of a Viking, with the sides clean shaved, revealing tribal tattoos, but the hair on the top of his head was pulled back into a plait which sat over his left shoulder, tied off with a leather cord.

The man stepped out of the way, revealing you. Your left eye was a striking blue, and the right was a golden brown. As soon as Seth looked into them, he felt the pull. The earth fell beneath his feet. Gravity wasn't holding him down anymore. It was you. You were his imprint.

After noticing the boy's intense stare, you hid behind your father slightly, letting him shield you from the boy's gaze.

Seth blinked twice, and swallowed, snapping himself out of it.

"Welcome to the Quileute Seaside Resort! My name is Seth, how may I help you today?" Seth relayed his script, trying not to focus back in on you.

"Hello, Seth! I'm Alexander Ardell. I have a reservation, one of the pet friendly cabins? I booked it online, A-R-D-E-L-L," The man replied with a grin, and Seth nodded, logging into the computer and getting the reservation up on screen.

Cabin one, two rooms, one and a half bathrooms, with one adult, one child, one large dog. Staying for two months, daily laundry service, everything paid in full. He let out a low whistle as he grabbed his room keys and information booklet.

"Two months? That's quite a while," Seth commented, trying to make friendly conversation as he gathered everything, "Wasting your school break in this boring place?"

Alexander let out a chuckle as Seth held out the package.

"My daughter, (Y/N), she's homeschooled. I thought a nice seaside vacation would be fun, she likes exploring places she hasn't been before," Alexander replied, ruffling your hair as you grabbed the keys and booklet off of Seth with a quiet 'thanks'.

"Your cabin is cabin one, straight across the way, there's two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and a kitchen and the rooms are smoke free. Please, call the office if you need anything, here’s your keys and information booklet and enjoy your stay!" Seth chirped, and you and your father smiled at him, all teeth, before exiting the way you came.

You had blue and brown braces, the same shades as your eyes.

As soon as you were out of sight Seth grabbed his phone and called Kim. The line rang twice before she answered.

"The lightbulbs are in-”

"I know where the lightbulbs are Kim! You need to get down here, like, ASAP." Seth said breathlessly, pacing behind the desk, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat.

"What's wrong?" She questioned, and Seth could hear a car door opening and shutting over the phone.

"I imprinted and she's here and she's in cabin one and she has a dog and her dad is here with her and she's really pretty and her braces are blue and brown like her eyes and she's only gonna be here for two months so I need help like now please and thank you," Seth told her, all in one breath, and the office door opened once more, this time Jared and Kim entered, making Seth hang up the phone.

"How are you feeling, kid?" Jared asked, clapping Seth on the shoulder, hearing all of the conversation on the phone.

“I don’t know — Hopeless,” Seth sighed, leaning against his pack brother.

Jared gave him a side hug, then looked at the clock.

“Well, your shift is over — Should we go and see Sam and Jacob?” Jared offered, and Seth could only nod, although the thought of leaving you pained him.

Seth looked in the general direction of cabin one, and Jared chuckled, clapping him on the back before leading him out to his car.

§§§

Hi! This is based somewhat on Midnight Mass, a Netflix series, and as the first paragraph stated, this takes place after Twilight saga/Breaking Dawn ends; the movies specifically because I've never read the books, lol. Also; not proofread so if you see a mistake please kindly point it out!!

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 47

PUBLISHED: 26/07/2022

(I forgot to copy some chapters onto here shhh)

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You woke up to an urgent pulling of your hair, and sat up. One of the twins. Isaac. He gave you a cuddle, and you held him a bit tighter than necessary, then got out of bed, balancing him on your hip. You headed into the bathroom, washing your face, and wiping Isaac's with a baby wipe. The house was painfully quiet.

You poked your head into the nursery as you passed it. Rosalie was gone. Finn probably had her. Or Isiah. He had come to stay at yours for a bit. It was too painful for him to stay there, at the house that he and Ezzie had made their own. You didn't blame him. You hadn't been in Bonnie's apartment or vardo yet. You didn't want to.

You headed downstairs, sighing at the fact that there was no noise. Saoirse would usually be humming, or giggling, or reading a story to the babies and animals, or playing an instrument, or singing, or talking. Just making noise. But the only noise was the cat meowing. You shook your head to rid yourself of the sad thoughts, not wanting to ruin your day before it started.

You hummed, although it wasn't nearly as nice as Saoirse used to, and entered the kitchen, where your daughter was up in her high chair, and your other son was sat at the table, both of them eating toast. Your husband was sat with a vacant look on his face. He looked more than tired. He looked exhausted, and you knew it wasn't just a physical one. Finn had lost two of his best mates in the one go.

"Finn?" You said softly, putting Isaac next to Finley, who gladly grabbed some of his brother's honey covered toast, even after Finley tried to swat his hands away.

"Just — tired," Finn explained hoarsely, and you pursed your lips and nodded.

You made your way around the table to your husband, and leaned down, giving him a quick kiss, then pulled him into a tight hug.

Finn placed a hand on your knee, and squeezed it thrice, grabbing his coffee with his other hand.

"I love you too," You replied, grabbing the mug next to his own and sipping it, knowing it was meant for you.

"You staying home again?" Finn asked, feeling a bit more normal after his cry.

"Yeah, I think Jeremiah has things to do so one of the girls and I will be watching Jeremy and Bon-Bon." You explained, and your husband nodded.

Isiah needed a bit more help with the babies now that Ezzie was gone, and you were all too willing to help out with your niece and nephew, and so was the girls from your netball team. They were all absolute godsends, always bringing around food and offering to watch the babies and taking Saoirse to and from school, even though it was all out of their way.

"It's Poll's birthday today," Finn informed you, and you swore, then walked over to the fridge, grabbing a small box off of the top of it.

"Can you give her this just in case I don't see her?" You asked, and Finn nodded.

Rosalie, now done with her toast, squealed, wanting to get down.

"No, you're in baby jail because you keep on opening the baby gates!" Finn chastised his daughter, wagging a finger in her direction, and Rosalie giggled.

"Oh, Finn, don't put her in baby jail! She's just exploring, right ring-a-round the Rosie?" You defended jokingly, going and getting your daughter out of your chair, bringing her over to sit on your lap.

Finn reached over and grabbed the boys' toast, and told them to come around the table to the three of you. They did so. Finn balanced the pair of them on his legs, and listened as Rosalie babbled to the twins, and Finley babbled back to her, throwing in some of his big boy vocabulary in there, telling her about his adventures with 'Untle Tarl' in the 'orch' (they picked 'appas' together, according to Finley).

You scolded Finley when he said a certain four letter word starting with 'f', Finn just laughing, knowing that his uncle Arthur most likely taught him it (you had walked into Linda and Arthur's once and caught Arthur encouraging Finley to swear — "Come on, Finley, say 'fuck' and I'll give you a chocolate!" "...Buck." "Close enough, mate.")

"We'll get through this," You told your husband, who nodded, but you weren't sure how you would or how long it was going to take.

You just knew that you'd get through it somehow.

•••

Thomas and Polly approached the group gathered in Charlie's yard.

"Happy birthday, Poll," Finn greeted, giving his aunt roses and a kiss on the cheek.

He then fished around in his pockets and gave her the box.

"From (Y/N) and the rest," He said, then stepped away from Polly, and Curly approached her.

"You grow grand in the horse shit, Poll," He congratulated in his own little way.

"Curly, pour some beer, aye?" Tommy asked, and Curly scuttled off to do it.

"The train to London leaves in an hour. Arthur, Michael, you're coming with me," Tommy said, trying to light his smoke.

"Tommy, I have to take Gina to the hospital today." Michael interjected, and Finn tried not to roll his eyes.

"A week ago, three members of our family were killed by Jimmy McCavern. The man we're going to speak to in London is establishing a relationship with Jimmy McCavern," Tommy took the beer that Curly offered, "So, cancel your appointments, and Ada can take Gina to the hospital."

Isiah bristled at this information, and Finn put a hand on his shoulder. He wanted to go with them too, but he knew that it wasn't the right time, or that he wasn't the best man for it.

"'Cause that's what women do," Arthur added, making Isiah scoff as he took a draw from his cigarette.

"Clean that shit off your shoes before you get in me car, aye?" Tommy told his cousin, taking a puff of his own cigarette.

Michael looked at him in a way that said that he wasn't impressed with his older cousin.

"Michael, they will give it and give it until your case is proven, and then they'll take it. From you, but mainly from me." Polly said, looking at her son, then at her nephew.

"Polly, you go to the hospital and speak to Aberama Gold. You tell him there is a strategy in place to avenge the death of his son and daughter, so not to do anything rash. And take with you the heartfelt condolences of the whole family," Tommy instructed his aunt, making Isiah frown.

Isiah knew Tommy meant his words, that he was truly sorry that Esmeralda and Bonnie had died, but couldn't the man say it with a bit more emotion?

"Why me?" Polly questioned as Tommy took a sip of his beer.

"Because Aberama Gold is in love with you. He even got an haircut," Tommy replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "And the smell of your perfume might help ease his pain."

Finn's mind drifted to you teasing him about Aberama being his 'favourite uncle', and he fought the urge to snicker.

"Tommy, I'm forty-five years old today." Polly informed her nephew, clearly not having it.

"Forty-five years old and still breaking hearts, eh?" Tommy said, and Arthur said a 'yeah' in agreement.

"To Polly," Tommy announced, raising his glass.

Everyone else followed suit, raising a toast for the matriarch of the family.

"Curly, organise two wagons to take the souls of Esmeralda and Bonnie Gold's souls to heaven," Tommy commanded, and Curly nodded, "Isiah, fetch his boxing gloves from the gym to burn with his body. Grab anything from your house that Esmeralda would want gone up in the smoke with her."

"Ezzie," Isiah muttered softly, knowing how much his wife hated being called by her full name.

Finn clapped Isiah on the shoulder, and led his best mate to his car, not wanting to leave him alone.

•••

You bounced Rosalie and Bonnibel on your knees as you read them a story, the boys drawing on a piece of paper with Dorothy. A car pulled up outside, and the dogs started barking. Finn Junior hopped up onto the bay window seat to see who it was.

Dottie walked over to the window to see who it was.

"Mary Bone and her baby," She announced, and grabbed the girls off of you, allowing to go and answer the door and tell the dogs to stop barking.

Mary came up the walk, the setting sun making her look all the more gorgeous, cradling a baby wrapped in a purple blanket. You welcomed her in, and ushered her to the kitchen, putting on the kettle for the pair of you.

"Is this bubby then? Oh, gorgeous!" You cooed, and she chuckled, turning the baby in her arms so you could see them better.

"Her name is Cara," Mary stated, and you cooed even more, telling her how pretty and romantic her name sounded.

"She's going to be a heartbreaker when she gets older," You said jokingly, going and grabbing two teacups and putting sugar and teabags in them.

"Hope not — I hope she'll be like her father, falling in love with the one woman and staying with her," Mary replied, and you grinned at her.

"Who's the father? You didn't tell me you were in love!" You complained, going and grabbing the biscuits from the pantry.

"I'm not the one he's in love with," Mary admitted, and you clucked your tongue sympathetically.

"Oh, Mary. Any man would be lucky to have you," You consoled, and grabbed the chocolate you stashed earlier, then going and sitting back across from her, snapping it in half and giving her the big piece.

She took it gratefully, and you pulled over Jeremy and Bon-Bon's stroller, Mary setting Cara down in it after you reclined the back of it. You got up and poured the now boiled water into the teacups, and milk, then carried them back over to the table, setting Mary's down in front of her.

"I didn't just pop around for a visit," Mary said as you settled back into your own chair.

"Oh?" You asked, confused, looking over at the woman as she rocked her child back and forth in the pram.

You picked up your teacup and took a sip.

"Cara; she's," Mary began, but paused, then sighed, looking away from you, "She's Finn's."

You gasped, and your grip on your teacup loosened, sending it clattering onto the table, sending lukewarm liquid pouring across the table and into your lap.

"What?" You questioned, your voice quiet, eyes narrowed at the woman across from you.

"She's Finn's," Mary repeated, still not looking at you.

"How dare you," You said through gritted teeth, standing up and making you way around the table to her, stopping in front of her.

She still didn't look at you.

"As if Finn would touch the likes of you — He has a wife. My husband would never," You spat, "And the next time you accuse my husband of that shit, you look me square in the eye."

Mary looked at you, and smirked, "Well then maybe you don't really know your husband, because on those nights you'd stay home while he and Isiah were out drinkin', he'd come and seek me out, and we'd head to darkest corners of the bar."

You scoffed, rolling your eyes as you picked up the teacup in front of Mary.

"I'm serious, (Y/N)." Mary continued, standing up, following you across the room to the sink, "He wanted to feel the touch of a real woman. One he wasn't forced to marry."

"Well, he seems to enjoy my touch, we've got three kids to show for it," You snarked, not missing a beat, turning to face Mary, "And you'd hardly be able to call yourself a real woman after saying you slept with my husband."

"Oh, but I am," She replied, feeling terribly bold, "See, the difference between me and you, (Y/N), is that you're a girl, and I'm a woman. You dress yourself in whatever's fashionable, change with the trends you know, you paint your nails silly colours-"

"Yellow's my favourite colour," You interjected quietly, looking down at your now cracked nail polish.

"-And you're still graceless. Awkward. However, I, the proper woman I am, I don't keep up with the styles. I dress in clothes that suit me and my body, I don't change just because something new is in style it all cycles back anyway, I paint my nails sensible colours, not childish yellow, of all things, and I have grace only you — and other little girls — could dream of," Mary finished, and you looked down at the ground.

What she said was true. She was five years your senior, three years Finn's senior. She was Ezzie's friend first, but got roped into your friend group easily. You never got on with her as well as the others, just because of your age difference, and partly because you were jealous of her.

She never walked into a room, she floated, her dress billowing around her, she never talked, she chimed, her voice sounds so angelic that it would be a crime to say she just talked, and every move she made was so precise, so calculated, that you'd think she was dancing. She never missed a beat, stepped out of formation. She was perfect, in every sense of the word.

Now that you were thinking about it, Finn could've slept with her. You wouldn't blame your husband, either, if you were single and she swung your way you'd try to bed her without hesitation.

She was gorgeous. You doubted her story of her sleeping with Finn a little less now.

"Here's what we're going to do," You said abruptly, wanting to stop your train of thought before it got worse, "We're going to get a blood test, to see if the baby has a blood type that could make her Finn's daughter. If she does happen to have a blood type that could make her my husband's daughter, then we're going to get Polly Gray to do paternity test. Our way. The gypsy way."

Mary nodded.

"If, and that's a big if, Cara is Finn's daughter, then I'll make sure you get money. I'm bad but I'm not fucking cruel," You reassured her, then dipped your finger in her tea.

After finding that it was lukewarm, no longer boiling hot, you threw it on her, the soggy teabag hitting her square in the face.

"Now, you absolute harlot, get the fuck out of my house before I grab a knife from the drawer and stab you with it," You threatened, placing the teacup into the sink, and she nodded, scurrying across the room and picking up her daughter, then hurrying out of your house.

You watched her leave out the window, and sighed, going over to the table and packing everything up, washing up the teacups and wiping up the spilt tea with a wet rag. You sniffled as you did so.

"Fuck Mary Bone, fuck her and her being so fuckable — and fuck anyone else who looked at my husband!" You ranted to the four walls as you scrubbed at the floor violently, then threw the rag up into the sink.

You were too mad to cheer when it made it in.

"Dot, you alright in there? I just need a minute!" You called out, your voice cracking as you did so.

"Yeah, they're all getting tired now, you're right!" Dorothy hollered back, packing up some of the toys the kids were using.

You thanked God that you had a friend like Dot, then the phone rang. You sprung up to answer it.

"Hello?" You croaked, and winced at how bad you sounded.

"(Y/N)! Baby!" Finn shouted, and you sighed, knowing your husband was probably off his face on booze and snow, "Solve an argument between me and Billy here, yeah? Now, when you mop, you - you vacuum the floors first, right?"

"Yes, Finn, you vacuum the floors first," You huffed, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand.

Finn whooped over the other side of the phone, "I told him that! Hey — you don't sound too good. D'ya need me home?"

"I'm fine, you stay out," You reassured your husband, not wanting him to come home yet.

"Okay. Love you, see ya when I lay eyes on ya next," Finn said, then hung up the phone before you could even reply.

You tsked, and sighed, heading out of the kitchen and up to your room to change clothes.

•••

Finn stumbled into the stables, to the cot you always had set up for him when he came home shitfaced. He woke up still drunk this morning, so he decided that it was best to sleep it off  before going to you and the kids. He had to tell you that Tommy wanted Billy to stay with you and him, so he could keep an eye on the man.

Finn heard someone clear their throat, and he looked up. You were sat on the cot, an unimpressed look on your face.

"Hi," Finn greeted quietly, and you gestured to the bale of hay next to you.

He went and sat there, confused. Usually you'd just leave him be.

"Finn, in ten days' time, you're getting a blood test because Mary Bone came here yesterday and said that her new baby was yours," You told your husband, not wanting to beat around the bush.

"What?" Finn asked, feeling dread creep up inside of him.

"She said you slept with her, and that her child is yours," You repeated, looking at your husband, "She's wrong though, isn't she?"

Finn studied your poker face, and shrugged, making your jaw drop.

"I'm fairly sure she's not," He said hurriedly, "But I'm usually too shitfaced to remember anything."

"Finn Theo Shelby!" You thundered, "If you got her up the duff I'm taking the kids on the road!"

Finn stood up, albeit with a struggle.

"You can't do that to my kids!" He protested, and you scoffed.

"I can and I will," You challenged, "I've got more right over them than you do, and you know it."

Finn stayed silent, mulling over your words.

"And if you have a problem with it, then you should go to Tommy, although I don't think Tommy would care about it," You snapped, and Finn looked utterly wounded.

You touched a nerve. You knew it.

"Get out," Finn hissed, and, instead of apologising, you plumped Finn's pillow and walked out of the barn, leaving your husband there in his misery.

§§§

Hi guys, please please PLEASE go share my pinned post, it’s a GoFundMe to help me escape homelessness & DV 🫶🏽

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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[gracefulsunflower]

Hey y'all x long time no see or long time no read I guess 💀 I've literally been working on chapter fifty since I finished chapter forty-nine like two years ago.

Buttt I'm back with a new chapter and a HUGE favour to ask you guys!

Recently, due to unforeseen circumstances of DV, I've become homeless. I am safe, but I am travelling back to my hometown to get away from it and stay safe, but for that to happen I need at *least* $2000 (yay fuel prices!) that I don't have just to cover fuel so I've started a GoFundMe!

For me to get home I have to drive through 3 different states and the drive is 3 days long, stops included. My GoFundMe is linked in my bio, as well as this post, please please please share it around or donate if you can and if you're of age to do so 🫶🏽 any donations made will help me get home safely as well as help me find my feet until I find work.

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 46

PUBLISHED: 24/07/2022

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Finn followed Isiah and Arthur into a the Garrison, which was surprisingly lively, the patrons singing along with the performer. The performer stopped when they entered, and some of the patrons started exiting the pub. It made Finn feel powerful, the authority he held over them. He knew it was a bad thing, but fucking hell, he loved it.

Finn sat down at a table, straightening up his jacket, his best friend taking the seat next to him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm just gonna take a short break. Thank you. Yeah," The singer announced, and Finn bit back a chuckle.

Arthur sat down at the table his younger brother was sitting at as a member of staff hurried over and poured the group drinks without anyone having to say anything.

Arthur started clapping for the performer, making the rest of the people in the room do so.

"Beautiful, Billy. Beautiful," Arthur declared, "Really nice. Really nice."

Finn was too busy looking at the man across the table, intrigued by him. It was rare he ever got to meet anyone in the barely legal side of the business nowadays. Usually it was Isiah, or Oscar, Bonnie's ... friend. Everyone knew they weren't just friends, but they still called each other friends. Oscar wasn't here to help now, though, because he was babysitting. Finn hoped that he had bathed the kids by now. Finley always became a troublemaker when you didn't stick to the schedule, thinking he could get away with anything, and he usually roped his siblings and cousins into his plans. Jeremy, Isiah and Esmeralda's year and a half old son and Bonnibel, their nine month old daughter loved running amuck with his and your children. All little troublemakers, and Oscar was always letting them get away with things.

"Really meaningful, you know, a heartfelt song." Arthur continued as he poured the drinks, "I like it. I really do."

"Boys ... This here is Billy Grade," Arthur introduced, "Man I was telling you about."

"Billy, this here's my kid brother, Finn." Arthur said, gesturing to the younger man.

"Hey," Billy replied softly, with a quick nod of the head.

Finn returned it, and so did Isiah.

"Have a drink, Billy." Arthur said softly, but Finn knew it was an order.

"I can't, my voice is..." He protested softly, and Finn tried to suppress the need to snort.

"Drink, Bill." Arthur said, and Billy replied with a soft spoken 'yeah'.

"Yeah," Arthur murmured in reply, raising his own glass quickly and throwing the liquid back.

Billy did the same, looking over at Isiah and Finn, unsure of who exactly they were.

"You boys won't remember," Arthur began, "But I remember when Billy here made a living on the football pitch."

Billy laughed at the memories. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Yeah, that was a long time ago, Mr. Shelby." Billy said, grinning softly.

"Yeah. What a left foot aye?" Arthur asked, remembering the absolute weapon Billy was on the pitch.

"Yeah." Billy agreed, then the men chuckled.

Isiah watched the interaction. To anyone that didn't know what was going on, it would just look like a pair of old mates catching up. But he knew that it was much more important than that.

"And then what? Manager, right?" Arthur said, pointing at Billy, "Hmm?"

Billy chuckled, tilting his head in thought, "Well, yeah. And now I'm a singer."

"Are ya?" Arthur cut in, "Every football team in England — knows Billy Grade, and he knows a few people too. Didn't you, Bill, aye? Hmm?"

"One or two," Billy agreed.

"Useful," Arthur told the two younger boys, "Very useful."

"But what do you do, Bill, aye? Hmm?" Arthur continued, "You're in here, singing, or whatever the fuck you call it, in shithole pubs in Birmingham."

Arthur tutted, shaking his head softly, "That's no way to make a living, boys. Degrading."

"I love it," Billy defended, "I really do. I love it."

"And thank you, by the way, for inviting me here tonight," Billy added, "I really appreciate it. So, thank you very-"

"-Don't thank me," Arthur interrupted, "I didn't invite you here to sing."

"I wanna listen to music, I'll buy an Al Jolson record. Hmm?" Arthur said, "That's what I'd do. Real singer, ya know? Melody, tune."

Billy started stuttering, and Finn felt slightly sorry for the man. He was actually a decent singer.

"So, what is it that you want, exactly?" Billy asked confusedly, and Arthur stayed silent for a few beats, deciding his next words.

"Finn will explain the nature of my proposition," Arthur replied, then sat up in his chair, pointing at Billy, "You'll listen to him, won't you, Bill, aye? You'll be attentive, won't ya?"

"Yeah, of course. Of course," Billy agreed, knowing that saying no wasn't an option.

"'Cause Isiah here, he'll show you the fucking consequences if you don't." Arthur announced, and Billy stayed silent.

Arthur took that as a good sign.

"All right." Arthur said, then stood up, "I'll leave you with the bottle. Hmm?"

He patted Billy on the shoulder, and Billy reached up to remove his hand, but quickly withdrew it, making Arthur do the same. Arthur shook his head, then walked off.

Billy looked at Finn. He looked young. Late teens, early twenties. He then looked at Isiah. He looked around the same age as Finn, maybe a bit older.

"What proposition?" He questioned the boys,  and Finn moved his chair forward, and grabbed a paper from his pocket.

"Right. What I want from you, Billy, is for you to write down a name and a number next to every one of those football teams, yeah?" Finn announced, unfolding the paper and pointing to some of the words on it.

"Why?" Billy questioned, still confused.

"Why?" Finn replied, "People like to bet on those kind of things these days."

"We're a gambling enterprise," Isiah added, grinning.

He loved stirring people up with Finn.

"I know who you are." Billy said quickly, and everyone caught the hidden meaning of his words.

They were a gambling enterprise. Amongst other things.

"To fix a horse race, you give the outside a bit of cocaine," Isiah told Billy, who muttered a 'Jesus', and Finn fought the urge to tell Billy that Jesus couldn't help him here, "To fix a football match, you give the goalkeeper twenty pounds."

Finn eyed Billy, who still looked unsure. Billy looked over at Isiah, then back at the paper. Billy chuckled nervously, then reached for the pen, and got ready to write.

"You're a Peaky Blinder now, Billy. Hmm?" Finn asked, and Billy just gave a silent chuckle and nodded.

•••

A car came up the Arrow House driveway noisily, and Lizzie got up, grabbing the hands of both of her children.

"Okay, kids, come on. Let's go to bed," She instructed, feeling nervous.

"Why? Who's coming?" Charles questioned his mother, wanting the celebration to continue a bit longer.

"That's the thing, Charles. We don't know. We never know." Lizzie stated, hurrying out of the drawing room, Frances helping her with the kids.

Tommy opened a cupboard in his office, and grabbed a gun, ready for whatever danger might be on his doorstep. He crept outside, and stood in the doorway, behind the stone entryway, and waited.

The car came to a stop, and the car door opened. Johnny Doggs hit the ground hard, and grunted.

"Tommy!" He called out, and Tommy stepped out onto the gravel, aiming the gun at the car.

"Out of the fucking car." He commanded, rushing up to the car.

"Don't!" Johnny protested, knowing who was in there.

"Get out of the fucking car now, or I'll open fire!" Tommy repeated, ignoring his friend's protests.

Aberama Gold struggled out of the car, and limped around so Tommy could see him.

"You looking for traitors?" He asked, and Tommy lowered his gun, "There's one!"

He pointed to Johnny Doggs with his good arm.

"With his ribs mashed up!" He added, and Johnny sobbed.

"The man's gone fucking mad, Tom!" Johnny said, eyes filled with tears.

"You did this?" Tommy asked, eyes flickering between Aberama and Johnny.

"With one arm and a hammer, and a mighty pain, a mighty fury!" Aberama shouted, eyes filling with tears, approaching Tommy, "They killed them. My son. They shot Bonnie and they put him up on a fucking cross! Then they finished the deed, killing my kids in the hospital room where they rested!"

Aberama sobbed, and Tommy just looked at the man. There was a time for comfort, but that time wasn't now.

"Who did?" Tommy asked calmly, and Aberama threw a piece of balled up paper at his feet.

Tommy grabbed it and unfolded it.

'BY ORDER

OF THE

BiLLY BOYS'

Was written in black marker, and the note was streaked with blood.

"Only Johnny Doggs and his kin knew where we were camped," Aberama stated, and Johnny shook his head.

"No Tom," He said, attempting to stand, "No, I swear to God, I never told—"

"—I'll fucking kill you!" Aberama shouted, and moved towards Johnny.

Tommy put down his gun, and ran over to the men, pulling them apart and trying not to aggravate any of their injuries.

He restrained Aberama, yelling at the sobbing man.

"It's shattered!" Tommy yelled, "Listen to me! Listen to me!"

He grabbed Aberama's face in his hands, "Your shoulder is shattered. You don't get it fixed, you'll lose your arm."

"They're gone! They fucking killed them! My babies!" Aberama screamed, trying to thrash out of Tommy's grip, "I'll fucking kill you!"

"Listen to me!" Tommy shouted, "How can a one-armed man avenge the death of his kids, aye?"

Aberama stopped, panting for breath, seeing reason through the red hot rage flowing through his veins.

"They crucified my son and shot my kids ... for you," Aberama informed Tommy, casually, as if he was talking about the weather, "My children, my flesh and blood — no longer here. Because of you."

Tommy paused, and let Aberama's words sink in. Bonnie. The fighter, full of bounce and always with a smile on his face, gone. Hang on. Aberama said kids, plural. Did one of his daughters die? Or two? Or three, all of his daughters, leaving the poor man childless and his younger brothers without wives? Esmeralda, full of sly remarks and fierce enough that only Isiah Jesus, a boy who Tommy watched grow up, could tame her? (Y/N), his baby brother's wife, with stubbornness that fit right in with the Shelby brood, and a natural warmth that people could only wish to have? Saoirse, oh God, little Saoirse who hadn't even gotten the chance to grow up yet, to see what life was really about. The little whirlwind of a girl who Karl had become best friends with? At least one of them was dead, and if Tommy was any good with showing his emotions he’d be visibly upset by now. All of the Gold children had worked their way into his Shelby-Jesus family. Shelby-Jesus didn’t even sound right nowadays. Shelby-Jesus-Gold was the way he thought about his family, like a blanket made from scrap fabric, worn out in places, a bit odd, but still good and warm.

In his distraction, Aberama pushed Tommy away and picked up the gun that Tommy was holding, and two gunshots sounded, but it wasn't from Aberama's gun.

"Get away from my house!" Lizzie yelled, running up to the men and aiming the revolver at them, "All of you!"

"Get away from my child!" She screamed, her voice coated with pain and anger.

"This is my house," She continued, aiming the gun right at Tommy, "And I don't want you back. I don't want you back!"

Tommy stalked towards his wife, and grabbed the revolver from her, taking the bullets out of it, then walked over to Aberama, grabbing the gun from the broken man.

"You wanna take on the Billy Boys? You need me alive." Tommy told Aberama, then looked at Lizzie, "Everyone fucking needs me."

Aberama leaned on a stone decoration with a groan.

"Call an ambulance or a man will lose his arm." Tommy told his wife, who quickly looked at Aberama.

She stepped backwards slowly.

"And call Finn and Isiah, tell them to get to ... Finn's house. I'll go over there soon." Tommy said, then looked over at Aberama, "His children are dead."

Lizzie wasted no time turning on her heel and running inside to the phone.

•••

Finn and Isiah sped to Finn's house, in Isiah's car. The pair caught each other's eyes in the rear view mirror a couple of times, but neither of them spoke. They were too wound up to speak. They didn't know what to say.

Lizzie had told Finn, through tears, to go to his house with Isiah. She started sobbing on the phone. Lizzie rarely ever cried in front of Finn. She was strong, like every other Shelby woman. If she cried, it was something bad.

Isiah gripped the steering wheel tightly as he turned onto Finn's driveway, speeding down it and screeching to a stop outside of the house, turning the car off and jumping out, running up the path to the house after Finn.

"(Y/N)? Saoirse? Oscar?" Finn yelled, slamming the door open.

Finn stepped over the baby gate, nearly falling over it, and headed upstairs, into the nursery. The twins were asleep in one crib, and the girls asleep in another. Jeremy was by himself, too wormy to ever sleep with anyone.

Finn sighed in relief, then headed up towards Saoirse’s room, and was met with a surprise. Books and toys scattered everywhere, her vanity upturned, and the brown haired girl asleep on the floor, tear tracks on her face. Finn stepped carefully over every upturned thing, and crouched down, shaking Saoirse’s shoulder gently.

“Saoirse. Saoirse. Come on, little miss, you’ve got to wake up,” Finn coaxed her out of her slumber.

She sat up, and rubbed her eyes.

“You need to go to sleep in a bed. You can go up into me and (Y/N)’s room and sleep there, yeah?” Finn suggested, helping her stand up, and hobble to the door, where she then walked into his room unaided.

Isiah led the pair back downstairs and into the kitchen, where Jeremiah was sat at the head of the table, a bottle of gin in front of him, staring at the table, a vacant expression on his face.

"Where's our wives?" Isiah questioned softly, his tone being one that told you not to mess about.

"And Oscar and Bonnie?" Finn added, feeling dread pool in his stomach.

"(Y/N)'s in the backyard-" Jeremiah began, and that was all it took for Finn to rush outside.

Isiah gave his father one last concerned look, and followed Finn. You were on top of the monkey bars, no shoes or dressing gown on, just your sleep shirt and shorts. It was freezing outside. Finn could see your goosebumps.

You stared at the ground as you swung your legs back and forth, your hair billowing around you, the wind messing it up. Your eyes were vacant, and your face expressionless. Finn could see the light reflecting off of the tear tracks running down your cheeks, though.

"Love? What are you doing out here? It's cold out," Finn said, walking towards you.

Isiah followed behind.

"I don't know," You answered honestly, sounding far away as you stopped swinging your legs.

Finn jumped up, grabbing the side of the bars and heaving himself up, Isiah doing the same. Finn then took his coat off and put it around your shivering figure.

"Baby, where's everyone at? Bonnie, Oscar, Ezzie?" Finn asked, and you looked up at your husband.

"They're dead. They got killed at the hospital today," You said, then started sniffling, "They killed them while I was outside talking to a doctor, because Bonnie had been crucified and put up on a cross and he was injured and so was Ezzie but she bled out onto the way to the hospital, I couldn't get onto you, Isiah, only your dad and when I came back-"

You broke off into sobs, your whole body shaking, then screamed, a heartbreaking, mournful sound that Finn knew must've hurt your vocal chords. Finn pulled you into a hug, then pulled Isiah into his other side, his best friend already crying.

You mumbled incoherent apologies to Isiah and Finn, Isiah shushing you as he wiped his own eyes, his own heart broken, falling out of his chest and onto the ground under the monkey bars, shattering across the dirt.

"We'll get the bastards that did this, and we'll pump them full of lead," Finn promised shakily, squeezing you and Isiah tighter.

§§§

Fun fact: I killed everyone off then rewrote this chapter because I regretted it 💀

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 45

PUBLISHED: 22/07/2022

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Thomas Shelby and his elder brother Arthur strolled into the Garrison, which was empty. It wasn't opening time, yet. The morning sun was shining through the stained glass windows. Glass crunched under their feet as they walked, and surveyed their surroundings. It was like a whirlwind made it's way through there. Or a really bad bar fight. Arthur just hoped his kid brother wasn't involved in it.

Tommy made himself comfortable on a stool, which woke up the girl laying in a booth. Mary Bone looked over at the source of the noise, and gasped.

"Go home," Tommy commanded, making her grab her dress and cover herself with it for decency as she slipped her shoes on.

"Come here, you," Arthur demanded, walking over to a chair and grabbing the coat off of the back of it, "Put this on."

He held the coat out to her, and she grabbed it thankfully, slipping it over her petite frame.

"There you go. Look at that. Looks great on ya! Wrap up warm." Arthur said as she left the pub, hurrying out along the street.

Tommy looked at his peacefully asleep younger brother, clearly not pleased with the company he kept. He wondered if Finn's wife even knew he was friends with the girl in the brown coat. He was sure she only had a baby recently, too. It wouldn't hurt her to stay home with it.

Arthur grabbed a glass of water, putting ice from another glass into it, then hopped up onto the chair of the booth next to the one Finn was laid in, and poured the cold water and ice onto his brother, making Finn yelp and fly up, panting in surprise.

"Wake up," Arthur said by way of greeting, ignoring the way his brother looked at him as he hopped down, "Rise and shine."

Finn sighed and moved himself so he was sitting properly on the edge of the seat, "What are you doing here?"

"Wasting our fucking time on you," Tommy replied, ever the one for no nonsense.

Finn groaned as he rubbed his temples, trying to chase away a headache. Arthur handed his younger brother a glass of water, which he went to take a sip from as he stood up.

"Sit down, Finn," Tommy ordered his younger brother, "Sit down."

Finn sat back down, then Tommy stood up and stepped over to his brother.

"What do I have to do," He began, eyes trained on his curly haired brother, "To make you fucking listen to me?"

Arthur settled into the booth across from Finn.

"You took a bullet. You've been running around the streets with a fucking gun in your hand." Tommy added, one hand on the back of the booth behind Finn and the other on his hip so he didn't strangle his brother for his idiocy.

"Somebody has to." Finn defended himself, looking Tommy square in the eye.

Arthur fought back the urge to chuckle. Finn had definitely toughened up after he met you. He wouldn't have been able to look Tommy in the eye four years ago.

Tommy and Finn looked over at their older brother, who didn't hesitate with his reply.

"Finn, we've got people for that kind of work. Soldiers. Captains and corporals," Arthur explained, waving a hand around, making Finn clench his jaw as he looked at the window.

"Well then, what am I?" Finn questioned, looking back at his older brother, trying not to let the older two catch on to how badly he was craving for an answer to that question.

"'What am I?' Jesus Christ," Tommy said as he stood up straight, clearing his throat.

"Yeah, what am I, Tom? Huh?" Finn pushed his older brother, making Tommy look down at his younger brother, "I'm the brother you never got around to."

Finn put his glass of water onto the table, already done with the conversation and itching to be back home with you and the kids.

"You're a general, Finn." Tommy explained, his patience running out, "You understand? You're a fucking Shelby, so you're a general. When did you last see a general anywhere near the blood and the puke, eh?"

Finn nodded, taking in his brother's words.

"He's fucking right. That's what you are." Arthur added, moving out of the booth and going to stand next to Tommy, "So, on your feet, soldier. Come on, on your feet!"

Finn looked away from the pair in frustration.

"I thought you just said I was a general," Finn stated, looking at the pair, fighting a smirk.

He was right. He was the brother they never got around to. They loved him, he had no doubt about that, but he wasn't sure they liked him. Especially because they never knew what to do with him.

"I did just say you were," Arthur confirmed, then moved and grabbed Finn by the front of his singlet, "So, get on your fucking feet-"

"-Arthur." Tommy interjected, pushing his older brother back, "Finn. Finn. Look at this."

Once Finn looked at what his older brother was holding, Tommy continued.

"This is the bullet that Aberama Gold cut from you. First and last." Tommy declared, then flicked it up, Finn catching it.

"First and last," Tommy repeated, pointing at him, then walked away from his brother, going to the bar to get himself a drink.

Finn sighed as he stood up, hand clasped around the bullet. He brought it up to his chest, showing it to Arthur.

"Don't lose it," He instructed, and Finn nodded, tightening his grip on it.

Arthur clapped his brother on the shoulder, "Go and clean up. Put some clothes on. Nice suit."

Finn started walking off, glad that he kept spare clothes at the pub. You'd never know when you'd spill something on yourself.

"I've got some trouble that'll keep you out of trouble," Arthur called out after his brother, watching him as he swaggered off.

Finn quickly got dressed and walked back out to his brother, still tying his tie. He rarely tied his own tie nowadays, you did it before he left for work.

"Arthur, I'm gonna put that bullet on a necklace and wear it as a reminder." Finn announced as he walked over to him, then clapped his older brother on the shoulder, "Arthur?"

"I hear ya," Arthur confirmed, but he still looked out of it.

"You got trouble for me, then?" Finn asked in reply, leaning down so he was more eye level with his brother.

"Yeah," Arthur replied, sounding far away.

"Yeah?" Finn replied, then swatted his brother on the chest and walked to the door, ready to see what trouble was in store for him.

•••

You sat in your dad's vardo, feeling slightly worried. You had just woken up from a black cat dream. You looked down at the floor. Bonnie and Saoirse were still playing cards. You looked up at the clock. You had napped for a mere thirty minutes. Your father and Ezzie has probably started your dinner now.

Outside, around the fire, Aberama stoked it with a stick, kicking a log to see if it was burnt through yet. He heard his horse whinny, then a twig snap. He looked around, feeling slightly on edge. No one was supposed to know where he was camped, having to lay low after the last job he did.

"What is it, Da?" Ezzie asked softly, watching him as he looked over at the group of shrubs behind him, getting a funny feeling from them.

He ignored her, instead spinning around in his chair and getting up, standing to look at them properly. He took a few slow steps forward, then stopped, waiting to see if something would happen, although he wasn't sure of what he was waiting for.

The area around him went quiet, bar the sound of the fire. A gunshot ripped through the air, the bullet finding a home in Aberama's shoulder with enough force that it knocked him to the ground. The birds surrounding the area flew away, screeching and cawing as they did so.

"Dad!" Ezzie yelled, quickly going and kneeling on the ground next to her groaning father.

Bonnie heard the noise, and grabbed the rifle next to him.

"Stay here, stay hidden, stay quiet," He ordered you and Saoirse quickly, then rushed out of the vardo, leaving the door cracked open behind him.

You grabbed your handgun and crept over to the door, standing behind it and looking out of the window. It was stained a dark brown, so you were confident that whoever was out there wouldn't be able to see you. Saoirse hid under the bed at your orders, the skirt of the blanket hiding her.

You watched as Bonnie aimed the rifle at the group of men with shaky hands, knowing full well that he was outnumbered.

"Drop the pea shooter, son," One of the men commanded, and Bonnie slowly lowered it, then placed it on the ground as two men dragged a cross past him.

"A broken broom stops all Gypsy curses, Mr Gold." The one who seemed to be the leader said, then broke a broom over Aberama's shoulder, making him howl in pain.

Ezzie looked over at the men, her blue eyes wide with fear, then back down at her father, softly reassuring him that he would be fine. Bonnie looked at the pair worriedly, and prayed that the men wouldn't go into his Dad's vardo. One man went and put his foot on his father's neck, keeping him down, and one of the men holding a gun put it down and walked over to Ezzie, pulling her backwards by the hair and making her stand up, holding her. She thrashed in his grip, and one of the men holding a gun placed his on the ground, going and holding her back. Bonnie knew he wouldn't be able to pick his rifle up and shoot them all. He'd get killed first.

"Who the fuck are you?" Bonnie questioned after looking back at the group, his voice wobbling.

"Did you not hear my song?" The man asked, but didn't wait for an answer, "These gentlemen are the Billy Boys."

He then walked up to Bonnie, "And me?"

He then picked up the rifle Bonnie put down, "I'm Jimmy."

He hit Bonnie across the face with the butt of it, making you gasp softly.

"No! Fuck." Your father said, struggling under the man's foot to try and stand up.

"Good. Mouth broke so you can't talk." Jimmy said, watching as Bonnie looked back at him, the lower half of his face covered in blood, "But you don't need to. Your body will be the lesson."

Your eyes widened at that statement, and you gripped your gun tighter, ready to shoot if you needed.

"You work in a particular capacity for Mr Thomas Shelby OBE, am I right?" Jimmy continued, watching as Bonnie spit up blood and sniffled, staying silent.

"I heard you're a fighter," Jimmy stated, stepping closer to Bonnie, who pulled himself up to a kneel, "The best."

"But your fighting days are over." He finished, hitting him square in the face with the butt of the gun, making Ezzie scream for her younger brother and Aberama thrash under the man's shoe.

You grit yourself teeth so you didn't make a sound, and fought the urge to go comfort Saoirse, who you could hear sniffling from under the bed. She soon crawled over to you, standing up on the tips of her toes and looking out of the window.

Bonnie attempted to crawl away, Jimmy stalking behind him. You watched as the last man holding a gun slung it over his shoulder, and walked up behind Jimmy.

"Because I need Mr Shelby to understand," Jimmy stopped momentarily to kick Bonnie, "That his best,"

He pushed Bonnie back into a tree, "Is not ... good enough."

He threw off his cap, and head butted Bonnie fair in the nose, dazing him. He then let your brother go, watching as he stumbled to the ground. The other Billy Boys quickly picked Bonnie up, dragging him over to the cross that they had dragged with them. They strapped him onto it, and he was too dazed to fight back. You watched as they stood the cross up, and waited for the right moment to take a shot. You might get yourself killed while doing it, but at least it would give everyone else a chance.

Jimmy picked up his cap and put it on, then approached Bonnie on the cross. Ezzie thrashed hard enough that she freed herself from the grip of the men holding her, and scrambled over to her brother, only to get a bullet to the stomach from Jimmy's pistol, stopping her in her tracks. She flopped to the ground, holding a hand to her torso.

"Sersh, when I shoot this gun, I want you to run and grab one of the guns over there, but only use it if you have to," You whispered to your younger sister, knowing damn well she knew how to use one.

Your father wouldn't have any of his kids around the lifestyle he lived without them knowing how to wield guns and knives.

Jimmy turned back around, and put his pistol to Bonnie's chin.

"Farewell, fighter boy. You died well." He announced, and a gunshot sounded throughout the camp.

Jimmy screamed in pain, his pistol hitting the forest floor, blood spurting from his shoulder, and Saoirse ran, grabbing one of the guns. You one man fair in the forehead, and Saoirse plowed down two of them as you made your way over to her, grabbing the gun next to her. You shot both of the men next to Jimmy, but Jimmy wasted no time running off. You didn't care. He didn't have his gun with him.

"Saoirse, grab Flicker and ride him to the phone box, call someone!" You commanded your younger sister, making your way over to Ezzie, "Isiah, Finn, Tommy, fuck, even Curly, but call someone!"

Saoirse nodded, eyes wide and hands shaky, putting down the gun and stumbling over to your Father's horse, mounting him and speeding off. The phone box was only a short ride away, but you had a feeling it would take forever.

You put pressure on your sister's wound, listening to her breathe heavily. She was bleeding more than you thought she was. She'd be fine, though. Saoirse would call for help and help would come and Ezzie would be safe.

"It's just a little bit of blood, only more than a scratch," You reassured your older sister, your eyes filling with tears as you took in the scene around you, your brother hanging limply on the cross and your father sobbing on the ground, wondering where he went wrong, "Saoirse's probably calling for help and we'll get you to a hospital, and you and Bonnie and Dad will be fine, we can have tea at my house-"

"-Don't give me false hope," Your sister murmured, her eyes halfway closed as she made the effort to reach up and put a hand on your face.

You leaned into her touch, tears now rolling down your face.

"Oh, Ezzie — It's not meant for you," You whimpered, a sob wracking your body as you took off your coat with one hand, then pressed the fabric to her midriff, "I want my big sister to be okay. Bee needs her Turtle."

The world around you was blurry as you focused on talking to your sister as you helped an unconscious Bonnie down from the cross, rambling about how you'd make pancakes and make your own jam to put on it from wild berries, just like you did when you were younger, your father sobbing in the background. You just prayed Saoirse made it to the phone box okay.

§§§

A bit of an open ending because I'm still not sure if I want to kill anyone lol — I'm gonna be real with you all, in the early plots of this chapter, all of the Gold children bar (Y/N) died, then only Saoirse and Bonnie, then Esmeralda and Bonnie, then none of them, and now I'm still not sure lol.

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

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@jamieolivia27

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 44

PUBLISHED: 21/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

FINN'S POV

I answered the phone and Tommy immediately started speaking.

"They say they haven't even heard of us. So tell Aberama and Isiah to introduce themselves. And Finn, you stay out of it." He instructed, then hung the phone up.

I turned around in the booth and nodded to Isiah and Aberama, who immediately got into the car and got ready to go.

I thought about Tommy's orders, and quickly dismissed them, running out and jumping into the car with them. If he could go around wielding a gun, then so could I.

"Decided to step up in the family business, aye boy?" Aberama asked, smirking, making Isiah scoff and roll his eyes.

"Step down more like it," He muttered, making me frown.

He had his turn in the streets. He's still having his turn in the streets. Now it was time for me to have mine. We drive through the streets of London until we got to where we needed to be, somewhere in Limehouse. As soon as the car screeched to a stop, I opened the door and got out, my heart pumping.

I followed Isiah through the alleyways, pulling out my pistol as he approached a door and tried it. It didn't open, so he shoulder barged it, hitting the door with a grunt, but effectively opening it. I followed him through the building, turning to look over my shoulder at Aberama but finding him gone.

We turned a corner in a corridor, and I ended up in front of Isiah. I made my way down the corridor, pistol at the ready, looking in every doorway for a threat.

"Psst, Finn! This door," Isiah whispered, nodding to the white one with worn down paint in front of us.

I stood in front of it, opening it slightly, only to get stopped by a bullet coming through the door a bit above my head. I swiftly moved to the side of the door, jerking my head. Isiah followed my silent instruction and went and stood on the other side of the door frame, in the corner.

We waited for a few second, then I moved to open the door and enter the room. Another gunshot sounded, and I felt the bullet hit me in the arm, making me shout in surprise and slide down to the ground. I looked down, and my coat arm was already soaked through with blood. If I wasn't in so much pain I would've laughed. It was in the same spot that you put the temporary tattoo of a gun on when we first went to the fair together.

"Oh, fuck," I sighed breathily, looking up then over at Isiah.

(Y/N)'s going to kill me.

•••

Aberama helped me hobble through Ada's house, to the sitting room. I had lost a lot of blood, lots more than I thought I would. I huffed as I stumbled a long.

"Come on," Aberama muttered as we entered the sitting room.

"Couch. Couch!" Aberama told Isiah, who started clearing the cushions from it.

"Put something down for the blood. My sister will fucking kill me," I instructed Isiah, and he carelessly grabbed a throw blanket from an armchair next to the couch.

The blanket knocked a statue off of a table, making me wince.

"Be fucking careful! She spends thousands of pounds on this shit," I exclaimed, then Aberama helped me flop onto the blanket covered couch.

"Get me some booze," He commanded Isiah, peeling off my coat, making me yelp.

I started huffing, readying myself for what was to come as he ripped open my shirt sleeve. He squeezed my arm, making me scream.

"Just fucking get the thing out of me and sew me up. Just do it," I begged, and Isiah handed me a bottle of whatever.

I had a swig of it, wanting to be drunk enough that I wouldn't be able to properly feel what Aberama was about to do to me.

"Peaky boy, give me your blade," Aberama demanded, and Isiah removed his hat and grabbed the blade from the brim, giving it to Aberama who poured the booze on it, then handed the bottle back to me.

I took another swig and he grabbed it off of me.

"That's enough. Don't want you throwing up on your sister's furniture," He said, putting it on the coffee table behind him.

Isiah came and put his arm around me, holding me down. I chuckled nervously, bouncing on the spot in anticipation and patted his arm, silently reassuring him that I was fine.

"You know what you're doing?" Isiah asked Aberama, sounding a bit nervous.

"I've done this a dozen times. I once took a bullet from between two ribs, one inch from the heart. Mind you, it was a horse," He replied, chuckling, "And the horse did die."

I started chuckling, and so did Isiah. I reckon we wouldn't even have known what we were laughing for.

"Hold him. Hold him," Aberama commanded, and I clapped Isiah's arm twice, heaving as I waited for Aberama to make a move.

He sliced into my arm, making me scream. It was a white hot pain, which only got worse as he dug his fingers into the hole, then plucked the bullet out.

"Here you go," He said, showing us the bullet, "Just a little one."

Isiah patted my chest, hugging me a bit tighter, but not so tight as to hurt me. Aberama turned and dropped the bullet into a glass ashtray sat on the coffee table.

"What the fuck is going on?" A voice questioned angrily.

"Oh, fuck," I murmured, then turned my head to look at my sister, "Hello Ada."

"Get out. Both of you," She ordered, making me mumble another 'oh, fuck'.

"Ada? What's up?" I heard you question, then enter the room, our daughter on your hip and our sons trailing behind you.

"Daddy!" Finley cheered, toddling over to me, Isaac following close behind.

"Finn Theo Shelby!" You exclaimed, looking at my arm.

Isiah scooped up Finley before he had a chance to run over to me, then picked up Isaac, both of them waving bye to me.

"You're in for it now," Isiah snickered, making you snap your head in his direction.

"Don't for one second think that I'm not going to tell Polly and Ezzie how you've let Finn traipse around in the streets with a gun," You warned, making Isiah stop snickering, then gave me one last look and left the room, trailing after your father.

Your father gathered his coat and a towel before leaving the room, "Push this on the wound. Keep up the pressure."

"Get out," Ada snapped at him, snatching the towel out of his grip and skittering over to me.

"I'm so sorry, Ada. They broke a statue of some thin woman," I explained, hoping that she wouldn't growl at me.

"Fucking statues," She growled as she walked over and picked the ashtray up, looking at the bullet inside of it.

"What has Tommy told you?" She asked as she sat down next to me, looking me dead in the eye, "Shelbys stay out of the sporting stuff."

"What? To maintain your fucking reputation?" I threw back, earning a soft slap on the cheek.

"Oi!" She started, "You listen to me. We've got a chance. Tommy has given us that chance. He's got power, we've got money, and our past is left behind us."

"And you've got a precious young life, Finn you fucking idiot! What would (Y/N) do if Isiah and Aberama came home and told her that her husband was dead? That Finley, Isaac, and Rosalie wouldn't have a dad anymore?" She questioned, making me feel terribly guilty.

"Three inches to the left and that would've been gone," She informed me, pressing the towel down, making me groan in pain.

"You've got nothing to prove, Finn. You have got nothing to prove." She declared, and all I could do was nod, even if I didn't agree with her.

I had everything to prove, to everyone.

•••

I walked in the door, and immediately heard a call of 'Dadda!' I looked down, and the boys were toddling over, followed by Rosalie speedily crawling, squealing behind her dummy as she did so.

"Hey, Finn," Saoirse greeted from her spot on the couch, Daisy painting her nails a shimmery blue, and repeating the greeting.

I leaned down and picked up Rosalie with my good arm, going and sitting on the couch across from the girls, greeting them.

"Is it true you got shot?" Saoirse inquired, making Daisy perk up.

I helped the boys up onto the couch, then looked back over at them.

"Maybe," I replied, then winked, confirming that I had, making them giggle.

I helped Rosalie up into a stand as the boys made themselves comfortable, Finley babbling as he did so, Isaac quite content driving his toy car all over the couch.

"Don't make them think getting shot is alright," You snapped, and I turned my head to look at you as you came into the room, coming and sitting down next to me, pulling Isaac into your lap and giving him a kiss on the cheek, then leaning over and giving Finley a kiss, making him squeal.

"I'm not, am I, girls?" I questioned, then grunted as Rosalie's chubby hand found it's way up to my curls and pulled.

"No," The girls chorused as I reached up and tickled my daughter, making her squeal in delight, her dummy falling out of her mouth to reveal her two little teeth down the bottom.

"Girls, can you take the babies for a walk?" You asked abruptly, making the two eleven year olds look at each other, then at you.

"Come on, Finley, let's go get your gum boots!" Daisy cheered, leaning over and picking up my son.

He placed an open mouth kiss on her cheek, making her giggle. Isaac slipped down from your lap and followed them. Saoirse came and grabbed Rosalie off of me. I chuckled as Rosalie did her little open and close of the hand goodbye. Like how you never got a look in with the boys, I didn't even get a look in with Rosalie. The only thing of mine she had was my freckles.

You watched through the window as the girls headed down the garden path, and around the side of the house, heading for the orchard, the dogs and cat following them.

Once they were out of sight, you looked at me.

"Why the fuck did you follow Dad and Isiah to London? Finn, you've got direct fucking orders to stay in the legal stuff, we both do. That's why you run racecourses and I fuck around with jewellery, and we both do our bit in the company when needed," You stated, bringing your hands to rest in your lap and clasping them together tightly.

"I just wanted to see what it was like," I admitted, making you purse your lips but nod.

You knew how everyone treated me. How I felt about it.

You took a deep breath in, "Finn, fuck what they all think. You're doing fine. You don't need to prove yourself-"

"-But if I don't then I'll never step up in the company," I interjected, making your eyebrow twitch.

I had you proper cross with me now. You'd probably make me sleep on the couch. I hope the cat would sleep on my feet to keep me warm.

"Finn, you don't need to step up. We're fine where we are. We can take care of us, the kids, and the animals." You stated calmly, "They all take us seriously, they don't think we're stupid."

"They don't think you're stupid," I threw back in reply, then set my jaw.

Tommy and Arthur never took me seriously. The only one who ever did was John. They went to France, I stayed home. They built the company up, I didn't help. They moved away, I stayed in Small Heath. I was always getting left behind. The youngest. The weakest.

You reached over and grabbed my knee, stopping me from bouncing it. I didn't even realise I was doing it. Your eyes were full of worry.

"Finn, I love you, the kids love you, the animals love you. My family love you, and your family loves you. And that's why I worry about you. The only thing you need to prove right now is that you're sensible, and you won't do that running around the streets with a gun in hand," You advised, "If you keep on disobeying Tommy you won't get anywhere. You need to prove you're sensible so they know they can trust you. You need to prove you're sensible so you can stay safe."

I didn't miss the way your voice wobbled at the end. You looked to the side, blinking rapidly, withdrawing your hand from my knee. I grabbed it, and brought it up to my mouth, kissing it softly.

"Does it hurt?" You asked, looked back at me, then turning your gaze down to my bandage wrapped arm.

"Yeah, but it's fine. I didn't die," I joked, making you scoff and roll your eyes.

"Well you could've!" You snapped, and I squeezed your hand thrice, a silent reassurance that I was fine.

"I'll do better," I promised, making you nod and take a shaky breath.

I would. I'd try my best to. I wouldn't run around with a gun for a while now, having my first proper bullet hit me. The adrenaline rush when we were chasing the pimp was like no other, but I felt better when I was home with you and our family.

§§§

Hey you guys! Im back lol

Did you guys like this chapter? It was so hard to write from Finn's point of view, especially cause I haven't for SO LONG lmao

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

@jamieolivia27

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 43

PUBLISHED: 18/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

A cry filled the bedroom, and Finn started laughing victoriously. Both of your babies were here, safe and sound.

•••

Finn sat on one of the couches adjacent to the fireplace in the living room. You were resting on the mattress from the bed in the downstairs guest room, just at his feet. Finn moved it into the living room for you. The babies were swaddled and laying in the small, shallow white plastic tubs that you used when washing, between the mattress and fireplace, but not so close that they'd overheat.

Finn felt iffy about putting their Moses baskets so close to the fire, so he went and got the tubs. He looked down at his sons, Medium Bee and Small Bee, sound asleep with their matching yellow and black beanies covering their ginger hair (after Saoirse came up with the nicknames, you couldn't resist knitting bee-themed clothes for your babies).

They were gorgeous. He couldn't have asked for more perfect little boys. But they were small. Medium Bee was small, and Small Bee was tiny. He was worried about his sons making it through the night, but you told him that he was just stressing. You were probably right.

The living room door was suddenly thrown open, and Finn quickly turned around to see who it was.

Polly strolled into the room, followed by Esmeralda, Aberama, Bonnie (who was dragging a nervous Oscar by the elbow), Lizzie (who was carrying Ruby), Tommy (who was carrying Charlie), Arthur (who had Billy on his shoulders), Linda, Isiah, Jeremiah, Uncle Charlie, Johnny Doggs and one of his wives, and Curly. All of whom were soaked and, with the exception of the children, muddy from the knees down. At least they all had mud boots on.

Finn grimaced. He had just cleaned the floor earlier on that day while you were baking. They grabbed the towels he had set out on the couch and started drying themselves, kicking off their boots stripping off coats and throwing them into the mudroom. Those who were carrying children put them down. Ruby crawled over to the bay window, hoisting herself up to a stand and looking out of it at the overcast day. The storm had now stopped. Billy and Charlie followed her.

He eyed them all nervously. There was a lot of people here. Too much, in his opinion.

"Where the fuck is my little sister, Shelby?" Ezzie yelled, making Finn wince, and before he could tell her to stop shouting around, a shrill cry filled the room.

"She's resting," Finn informed her, but Ezzie was already storming over to him, followed by everyone else.

She looked over the back of the couch, and pushing Finn out of the way so she could see her nephews properly. You had woken up, now drowsy.

"Oh-h-h, they're lovely," She sighed, and Polly and one of Johnny Doggs wives, the one named Edie, wasted no time heading around the couch and picking up Small Bee and a still whining Medium Bee.

"Be careful!" Finn begged, even though his aunt and Edie were treating his baby boys as gently as could be.

"How did they even get here?" Linda asked, and Finn pointed to himself, making everyone's eyes widen in surprise, some of them even gasping.

He felt slightly disappointed. Didn't they have any faith in him?

"Don't act so surprised," He snapped defensively, "Dottie, (Y/N)'s friend that's a nurse, she instructed me over the phone."

This seemed to relax your family. Ezzie knew Dottie was a great nurse. She had patched up Bonnie, Aberama, and Oscar after hours without questions asked, too, which only reinforced their confidence in her.

"They been fed yet?" Polly interrogated her nephew, and Finn nodded as the two women sat on the edge of the bed.

"How would you even feed them? They're so small," Edie commented, making Finn frown and you glare at her.

"Just want to make sure they've had enough, is all," She added, not wanting to be hostile.

"They couldn't latch, we had to use a syringe — Arthur, don't light up a fucking cigarette with my boys just there! If you want to do anything, go get the mop and bucket and clean up the cunt of a mess you've made," Finn commanded his eldest brother, who pulled the lighter away from his unlit cigarette, grumbling as he headed over to the door of the basement.

Your husband slipped down onto the mattress next to you, and the kids came around the couch, clambering onto the mattress. Polly and Edie started checking the babies over.

"Be careful of Aunty Bee," Lizzie instructed the children as she came over to see you for herself.

"How the tables have turned," She mused, and you grinned up at her.

Finn noticed that some colour had come back to you, which was good.

Linda came over and looked at her new nephews.

"Congratulations," She said simply, and you thanked her.

You and her had become much more civil with each other as you got to know each other more, something Finn was thankful for. It was annoying, seeing you fight every time you saw each other.

"Who else is here?" You asked your husband, who rolled his eyes.

"The entire fucking cavalry and their neighbours," Finn said dryly, making you snort as he looked over the back of the couch, "There's Tommy, Aberama, Bonnie, Oscar — Oscar, stop looking so awkward, you wouldn't be here if we didn't want you here — Isiah, Jeremiah, Uncle Charlie, Johnny Doggs, and Curly. And the others, of course."

You hummed and shifted so you were sitting up, watching the women as they inspected your babies.

"This one is healthy," Polly announced, holding up Small Bee.

Finn let out a sigh of relief.

"So's this one," Edie added, looking down at Medium Bee.

"So can we hold them?" Ezzie asked, itching to hold one of her nephews.

Edie and Polly looked at you and Finn. You looked up at your husband, who raised an eyebrow. Your call, he was saying.

"Yes," You answered, and Ezzie immediately moved around the couch and made grabby hands for Small Bee.

"Granddad, want to come and hold the other?" Edie called out, and Aberama wasted no time going and getting Medium Bee.

"Here — Help me move this couch," Bonnie told Oscar and Isiah.

They moved both of the couches either side of the green rug back, making more room, then pulled the armchairs and couches in front of the fire so they all sat around the green rug. Finn helped you over to an armchair, the one next to the couch your brother. Finn sat on the floor in front of your chair, leaning back onto it, being mindful of you. Everyone was now settled onto the couches, fawning over the babies and telling you and Finn congratulations. Ada, Karl and Saoirse would be here soon. Finn called them right after the birth.

Jeremiah was now holding Small Bee, chuckling at how much he looked like Finn. Both of the boys did, from their ginger hair to their little toes.

"Poor (Y/N) never even got a look in," Jeremiah commented, making everyone chuckle.

"Medium Bee's got her nose," Finn pointed out in reply, nodding towards the baby that Uncle Charlie was holding, Curly peering over his shoulder at the child.

"Yeah, Small Bee here has (Y/N)'s eyes," Isiah commented, looking over his Father's shoulder.

Small Bee was looking right back at him, and if Isiah's didn't know any better, he'd say that the tiny boy was unafraid.

"Can't you call them by their names instead of their nicknames?" Polly sighed, making you and Finn look at each other.

You hadn't named the babies yet.

"Do you have names in mind?" Oscar asked, and you nodded.

You just didn't know which baby would be named which. Finn got up and sat on the arm of your chair, leaning down to put his lips near your ear.

"Well, Small Bee looks like a Finley," Finn murmured in your ear, making you turn and look at your husband funny.

"Finn, if one looks like a name then the other will because they both. Look. The. Damn. Same." You whispered in reply, but you agreed with him.

Finley was a strong name and your littlest boy was a fighter. You were scared he wouldn't make it through the birth but he did.

"Medium Bee's our Isaac then?" You asked softly, and Finn nodded.

Finn sat up straight, and cleared his throat.

"Small Bee's name is Finley John Shelby-Gold, and Medium Bee's name is Isaac Elijah Shelby-Gold," Finn announced simply, and everyone nodded, voicing their approval of the names.

"Named after me, is he?" Isiah joked, and Finn grinned at his best mate, but nodded.

"Of course," Finn confirmed, and Isiah's smile dropped to a smaller, more grateful smile as he looked at his childhood partner in crime.

"Well, since I'm your brother and you didn't name one after me, you have to bake me a cake," Bonnie said, making you roll your eyes.

"There's one in the kitchen," You replied, and he whooped, getting up and going to the kitchen, wanting to put some food in his hungry stomach.

"Anyone else hungry?" He asked, and Charlie's arm immediately shot up.

"Why don't we all cook dinner to celebrate the new babies, yeah?" Tommy suggested, and everyone headed to the kitchen.

Finn helped you to the kitchen, and sat you down at the regular table, then headed upstairs and got the boys' Moses baskets, bringing them downstairs in case anyone wanted to put the babies down. He doubted it, but they were there just in case. Some of you settled at the regular dining table, and some of you settled at the outside dining table, which had been brought inside during the storm so it wouldn't get weather damage.

Tommy lead everyone around, chopping up stuff and letting the kids mix items in bowls. Bonnie came over and placed Isaac in your arms, giving your hair a ruffle, making you attempt to scowl, but you couldn't, not with how joyful you were feeling.

Isiah gave Finley to Finn, who was sat in front of you. You looked down at your sons.

"You're a fucking trooper, love," Finn murmured, making you look up at him.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without you," You replied shyly, making him smile softly.

You and your husband held your babies, almost oblivious to the ruckus around you that was your family, too enthralled with the newest members of it.

§§§

The babies are here and they've got names!!

Also I was originally going to have *just* Polly rock up to the house but then I thought about it and there would be NO way that would happen lol everyone's always together

Tomorrow I go back to school so I probably won't update as frequently, but the next chapter should be out within the week — are you all excited for me to start writing about s5 or nah?

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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NEXT PART

Part 44

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 42

PUBLISHED: 17/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You sat at the bay window, knitting as you watched the storm outside rage on, still drowsy from your painkiller filled nap. As you did so, you felt your backache start up again, the painkillers you took before wearing off. Your backache had started in the night, along with fake contractions. You had just went back to sleep, not bothering to tell Finn about it until the morning.

You jolted in your seat, and Finn looked up from his book, raising an eyebrow.

"False contraction, Finn," You reassured your husband, although you weren't too sure yourself.

"I'm gonna call Aunt Poll, just in case," Finn mumbled, going and grabbing the phone in the corner, getting the operator to put him through to Polly.

"Hello?" Aberama answered, making Finn suppress the urge to roll his eyes.

Of course he'd be at Polly's.

"Aberama, is Polly there? I need to talk to her,"  Finn said urgently.

You snickered in the corner, "Is your favourite uncle there, Finn?"

Finn flipped you off, then waited for Polly. He was fine with your father being with his aunt, but the way you teased him about your father being is favourite uncle was not something your husband was fine with.

"Boy," She greeted roughly, but Finn knew that it was always a term of affection, no matter the tone used with it, "What's wrong?"

"Erm, (Y/N)'s getting contractions and she's not sure whether they're real or not so can you make your way out here pretty please?" Finn asked nervously, curling his finger up in the cord of the phone.

You giggled from your spot as you watched your poor husband shift from foot to foot.

"Finn!" She shouted through the phone, "You was meant to bring her in to town before the storm started up!"

Finn winced. The storm only started getting bad recently. It wasn't so bad that he couldn't drive in it, but he'd rather not risk you in the car on the road.

The road. In his panicking about you giving birth, Finn had fucking forgotten that you had a dirt driveway. He wouldn't be able to get out if he tried. Both of your cars would be bogged by now.

"Well (Y/N) said she was fine!" Finn defended himself, turning paler than usual and running a hand through his curls, "She said they were fake contractions and the book I read and the stuff you and the other girls told me made me think she was fine!"

You bit back a chuckle at your husband. It seemed he was more stressed than you. You had been around women giving birth before, but Finn hadn't. When Ada had given birth, he wasn't in the room. Polly had sent him out into the street, then down the street to the Garrison so he could tell his older brothers that the baby was there.

You, on the other hand, grew up around birth. Your family were constantly having babies. One of your aunts had twenty kids. You were there for fifteen of those births, and not only those births. You were always amongst the mix, getting towels when needed, holdings hands when needed, giving the mother food and drink when needed. Assisting in the birthing process, you were familiar with.

"Can't you just drive out here and walk up to the house? Poll, the driveway will be turned to mud now and I won't be able to get the car out," Finn explained, then pulled the earpiece away from his ear, knowing what would happen next.

"FINN THEO SHELBY," Polly raged through the phone, "YOU IRRESPONSIBLE LITTLE FUCK!"

Finn flinched as if she were right there in the room yelling at him. You watched your husband in amusement, as if you weren't in a very sticky situation right now.

"If I were near you I'd box your ears. I'm going and getting in this car and the next time I get out I'll be heading down that fucking muddy driveway," Polly said, and Finn nodded, momentarily forgetting that she couldn't see him.

"Uh, yeah, yeah, we'll wait," Finn said, making you snort.

"We've got no choice," You remarked dryly as you picked your yarn and needles back up.

Finn hung up, and made his way across the room to you.

"Need tea? A blanket? Food? Water?" Finn interrogated, and you raised a needle in his direction.

"If you keep on going I'll do your seconds with these," You threatened, and Finn's hands immediately went up to his ears.

Finn sat next to you in silence, fiddling with his rings and bouncing his leg. You continued knitting, as if this was an everyday activity.

"Let's go bake a cake," You decided, sick of your husband's antics already.

You were the one about to push out two babies, not him, and you had a couple of hours until Polly came since she would have to drive the long way round, and driving in the rain didn't help. What was a better way to pass time than bake? You couldn't think of any.

•••

You were now doing laps of the house with your husband following you confusedly. You exited the side door, going around the porch to the back of the house, then down the side, and along the front of the house, entering though the front door and wiping your feet on the mat in the mudroom. You walked into the living room, behind the couch at the start of the white rug, continuing across the room then looping around the front of the couches in front of the fireplace, going behind the couches surrounding the green rug and out into the hallway.

You walked down it, and into the kitchen, heading around the dining table first, then the kitchen island, grabbing a chocolate cupcake then continuing your journey, exiting the kitchen.

You walked down the hallway and out of the side door. As soon as you got outside, you froze and doubled over, grabbing the railing for support.

"(Y/N)?" Finn asked worriedly, coming to stand next to you, placing a gentle hand on your back.

"I'm fine, Finn. They're just getting stronger, is all," You told him, breathing heavily.

You stayed like that for a few moments longer, then straightened up, and took a bite of your cupcake.

"Now, let's continue walking these babies out of me," You instructed your husband, making him roll his eyes then check his watch.

You had been walking for just over an hour. Finn was happy that Saoirse was with Ada for the weekend. If she were here, she'd definitely whine about walking again and again and again.

•••

Finn helped you strip off, and helped you into the shower, the hot water immediately relaxing your body as you sat down on the floor of the stall. Your husband sat on the edge of the bathtub, not wanting to be too far in case something happened. He would've been in the shower with you, but you didn't want to share the water, which was fair enough.

"We're going to have babies soon," You mumbled, and Finn hummed in agreement.

"Medium Bee and Little Bee will finally have faces to put the names to," He replied thoughtfully, and wondered who they would resemble more, or if they would even resemble the pair of you at all.

You gasped, and your husband moved down to sit on the mat just outside of the shower stall, wanting to put less distance between the two of you.

"Hurts," You said simply, and he nodded, extending an arm out.

You grabbed his hand and squeezed three times, making him grin.

He suddenly felt somewhat happy that Polly wasn't here. If Polly was here, he wouldn't be having these little moments with you. Birthing was women's business, not his. No, his business as a husband was getting piss drunk while waiting for someone to tell him when the babies were here.

He liked this version of events best; the version where he was with you.

•••

You puffed away, squatting between your husband's knees, leaning against his thighs and upper body for support, laying your head against his torso.

"You've got this, my love," Finn murmured as he finished plaiting your hair, ensuring it was out of your face.

You nodded as he moved his hands to hold onto your arms to help you balance.

"Is it time?" He asked, looking at you concernedly.

"Not yet," You replied breathlessly, rocking back and forth to alleviate the pain, "The babies can't come yet, anyway. Polly isn't here."

"I didn't know babies could read clocks," Finn joked, making you pinch him.

About two hours had passed since he called Polly. It turns out that you were further into your labour than you thought. A scary thought.

Your train of thought was interrupted by a trickling sound. You looked up at your husband, who was nearly as white as his singlet.

"Please tell me you pissed yourself," He whispered, and you shook your head.

"Getting close to time, Finn," You murmured as he helped you stand up, and took you to your bed, which had been stripped of the blankets, instead having more sheets put on it so you didn't ruin the mattress.

"I'll be right here," Finn reassured you, placing a kiss on your forehead.

"You put these into me, Finn, if you tried to get out of it I'd stab you with a spoon," You said through gritted teeth, a particularly rough contraction hitting you.

"Fuck — Call Dottie," You commanded, and Finn nodded, grabbing the phone and getting the operator to put him on to your netball teammate.

Finn knew she was a nurse. Once she answered, Finn explained the situation and she, in a tone that was too calm for Finn, explained that Finn would have to help you give birth, news that made him rush to your bathroom and kneel in front of the toilet and introduce everything he ate that morning to the porcelain bowl.

He should've just bought you a fucking house in town.

§§§

Eeeeee are y'all excited??

The next chapter is the final chapter until I start e writing about s5

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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@toothlessmcleod

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NEXT PART

Part 43

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 41

PUBLISHED: 16/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You spritzed the vinegar in the spray bottle over your mirror, Saoirse wiping it up with newspaper. You and Saoirse giggled and giggled as you got the bottle of rubbing alcohol and dipped the cotton swab in it, writing your message for Finn onto the mirror, Saoirse grabbing her own cotton bud and dipping it into the liquid, drawing pictures to decorate around the message.

You worked quickly, then headed downstairs, shushing each other as you snuck back through your bedroom, trying your best not to wake Finn up as you headed downstairs and into the kitchen, starting up on breakfast.

Finn woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, which made his stomach rumble. He headed into the bathroom, turning the hot water on at the sink, washing his face and hands. He didn't like cold water, even in summer. It always had to be hot.

He went to look at himself in the mirror, but noticed the words in the fog on the glass.

'Happy Father's Day!

Thank you for everything you do for this family.

We wouldn't be here without you.

With love from,

(Y/N), Saoirse, Finn Junior,

Daisy, Duke, Charlotte,

Tuck, the chickens, and the twins'

Finn grinned widely as he read the last bit. You were having twins. Polly and Esmeralda saw it in a dream. You, surprisingly, had no dreams about your babies. It was everyone else.

Finn headed downstairs, already in a good mood. His good mood became lifted when he saw you and Saoirse arranging pancakes on a plate, everything already set out on the dining table. You looked over at your husband, and your eyes lit up at the sight of him.

"Good morning, my darling," You greeted, coming around the table and walking to him, hugging him the best you could with your stomach in the way.

"Good morning, my love," Finn replied, then placed a chaste kiss on your lips.

Saoirse gagged at the pair of you, making you chuckle as Finn pulled away.

"Good morning to you, little miss," Finn said, and Saoirse hummed in reply, mouth full with some of the strawberries that were meant to go on top of the pancakes.

Finn knelt down, placing a kiss on your very prominent bump and saying good morning to his 'daughters'. You were now at the beginning of your third trimester. Only a couple more months and they would be here, in your arms. Finn was excited — nervous, but mainly excited.

"We don't know if they're girls, Finn," You sighed exasperatedly, slightly annoyed with the way he insisted that they were girls.

"I feel it in my gut," He replied as he guided you over to the table, pulling out chairs for you and Saoirse before sitting down himself.

"I want girls too," Saoirse agreed, and Finn high-fived the girl, making you roll your eyes at the pair as you started filling a plate with food.

"I want healthy babies," You said simply, but you were hoping for boys.

Boys that could look out for their younger siblings. Boys that could be a good big brother, like Bonnie is to you.

“Well we already have two sons, let’s hope these two are girls to even it up, aye bubbas?” Finn said, rubbing your bump at the end of his sentence.

Finn felt a jolt under his hand, and beamed a million dollar smile.

“Are the babies kicking?” Saoirse asked hurriedly, leaving her French toast in favour of putting one hand on your stomach too.

“Medium Bee just kicked me,” Finn confirmed, making you snort and roll your eyes.

Since you were the original Bee, your babies were ‘Medium Bee’ (the more active twin, they kicked and moved more) and ‘Small Bee’ (the less active twin, they just relaxed — they moved, but not as much as medium bee, and their kicks and hits seemed to be less stronger). Saoirse, with the wonderful way her mind worked, came up with the nicknames first, and you and your husband followed suit.

Saoirse squealed in delight as she felt your stomach move under her hand, making you smile. Your husband retracted his hand and started eating his breakfast, your sister doing the same.

•••

You mixed the pasta salad around, getting ready to take it outside. Everyone was at your house for lunch once more. You had bought a dining set to have outside, so you didn’t have to drag your dining table outside all of the time. The outside one was much larger than your inside one, and sat on the porch, getting carried down the stairs and sat on the grass when needed.

“Everything ready, ladies?” Polly asked, and you all gave her words of confirmation.

“Well, let’s go then!” She said, clapping her hands then picking up the tray of cooked meat.

You grabbed the pasta salad, putting the bowl on your stomach, and giggling at how it balanced there, taking a few careful steps before Ezzie scolded you for playing with the food. You rolled your eyes, but grabbed it properly anyway, taking it outside and placing it on the table.

“Here she is! Woman of the hour!” Arthur said, raising his bottle of whiskey when he saw you, making you chuckle at the tipsy man.

“How’s Artie and Will?” He asked, referring to your twins.

“They’re fine and they’re not being named after you,” You replied, making him roll his eyes jokingly.

You didn’t know what the twins would be named yet.

“I just thought, being Finn’s favourite brother and all, that I’d get them named after myself,” Arthur said, moving his hands around in his drunken rambles.

Linda elbowed her husband and hissed a ‘shut up!’ to him.

Finn frowned, and took a sip of his glass of water. Arthur wasn’t his favourite brother. John was. Arthur knew that, and even though his eldest brother was joking, the words didn’t sting any less.

“Here’s an idea; you have yourself another baby with your wife and name him Arthur,” You snarked, sitting down next to your husband.

Finn placed a hand on your knee and squeezed it, a silent thank you, then started putting food on a plate for himself, then for you, making sure to stay away from anything that set off your ‘anytime sickness’. Saoirse was doing her own, now closer to nine than eight and wanting to do everything for herself.

You tried to focus on lunch and the conversation, but you knew that after everything was cleaned you’d be seeing the nursery for the first time, Finn promising to let you see it. Finn had started doing up the upstairs guest bedroom for the nursery, moving everything from that bedroom up to the attic. Finn wouldn’t let you see the nursery, even going so far as to lock the door so you couldn’t go in. You were annoyed, but excited.

After the other women cleaned everything up (you got out of clean up duties do to your baby bump), and everyone either went home or started relaxing either in the living room, garden, or guest bedrooms, Finn took you upstairs, covering your eyes as he lead you to the nursery door. He guided you to find the doorknob, and you twisted it, pushing the door open.

“And — open,” He commanded as he took your hands off of your eyes.

The wall in front of you had been repainted — a light blue. The rest were still a faint, barely there yellow. A rainbow with clouds on each sides had been painted on the wall, the window in the middle of the rainbow. In front of the two clouds were two cribs, each of them with a mobile. There was a chest of drawers in between the cribs.

Down to your right, there was a big, red armchair with a footstool, a bookshelf with baby books and stuffed toys on it between that and the crib on the wall adjacent. There was a change table closer to you, a bin next to it. On the floor, in the middle of the room, was a light grey rug. In front of you, next to the crib, was a rocking chair. Finn put his hand under your chin, and gently tilted your head so you were looking up at the roof. Your jaw dropped.

The roof was painted black, with yellow stars. A crescent moon sat near the light.

“Do you like it?” Finn asked softly, scared that you wouldn’t and all of his effort would be for naught.

“Oh, Finn — it’s perfect,” You gasped, tears filling your eyes and threatening to fall.

Your husband grinned, leaning down and kissing you on the temple.

“Finn,” You began, going and sitting in the red armchair — which was quite comfy, if you were being honest.

“Yes, my love?” He replied, coming to sit in front of you on the footstool.

You placed your hands on your stomach, a habit you gained in the past six months.

“What did you want to name our babies? And don’t just say girl names,” You warned as you took off your necklace, making the corner of his lips turn up.

“I like Elizabeth or Polly for a girl,” Finn answered, then added, “John or Isaac for a boy. Something biblical. And sort of like Isiah’s name.”

You ‘awwed’ at your husband. You could definitely see your baby with those names.

“I like Isaac for a first name, but remember, Esme’s already got John Junior. What if we use John as a middle name?” You pondered as you slipped your wedding band onto your necklace, and Finn hummed.

“I want to name them Rosie or Ezra, if they’re a girl, and Finley or Elijah if they’re a boy. Not your name, but a variant of it,” You explained, and your husband nodded, racking his brain for where he heard that phrase before.

He chuckle once he figured it out. Your wedding day, when you were naming Finn Junior, his big baby boy.

“Finley,” Finn repeated, testing the name on his tongue.

He grunted in approval. It sounded nice. Finley John. Even better.

You gave the necklace to Finn, who held it above one side of your stomach, the side that Medium Bee sat in. He knew what you were doing. He’d seen it done in Johnny Dogg’s camp when he was younger.

He held his arm absolutely still, and the ring started swinging back and forth in a straight line. You and him watched it as it did so, mesmerised. He stopped the ring, then moved it to the other side of your stomach, over Little Bee, letting it swing again. Another straight line, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

“Isaac Elijah doesn’t sound too bad, does it?” You asked, crinkling your nose up as your thought.

“No, it doesn’t,” Finn answered, feeling slightly dejected, but tried not to let it show.

“And Finley John. That’s a good name. A strong one,” You continued, tilting your head as your thought.

Finn chuckled as he undid the clasp on your necklace, placing your ring back on your finger gently, giving your hand a kiss, then putting your necklace back on you.

He stood up, then helped you out of the armchair. Instead of going and telling everyone the news of your discovery, you decided to go and have a nap, after a bathroom break of course.

Finn ended up with one less pillow than he would’ve liked, the pillow ending up supporting your stomach, but he didn’t mind. He dreamt good during his nap, dreaming of two little boys toddling after you in the garden, giggling and squealing as their feet got muddy.

§§§

The next chapter will be a doozy oof

I hope you all enjoyed this one :))

Love y’all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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NEXT PART

Part 42

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 40

PUBLISHED: 16/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You headed into the changing rooms, chattering to your teammates about how you won the game. Your netball shoes were perfect, having gel insoles. Finn knew what he was doing when he got them for you as a gift. You'd have to tell him when you meet up with him and Saoirse after you were done changing.

You were about to head into a stall, when someone tapped your shoulder. You turned around to see Dinah standing there, her braids up in a ponytail today.

"You grab the right sized dress today?" She  asked quietly, and you scrunched your eyebrows together in confusion.

"Yeah, of course," You replied equally as low.

"It's getting a bit tight, especially around the midriff," She advised you, making you scowl as you stepped into the stall and slammed the door shut behind you.

You looked at yourself in the mirror that hung up behind the door. Your stomach was bigger. But, you ate a lot, and you didn't do nearly as much walking as you did when you were a traveller. That would be why.

You'd tell Dinah that and make her apologise, you decided as you quickly changed.

•••

You and Polly sat at a table in a small café, heading there for your lunch break. Finn was outside, finishing off his smoke.

You tapped your fingers against your teacup, feeling content. Polly eyed you as you looked out of the window, lost in thought.

"Polly," You began, sounding far away.

Polly gave a hum of acknowledgment before finishing off her tea.

"You and my father — What's going on there?" You questioned softly, looking at Polly.

Polly shifted in her seat, not uncomfortable with the question, just caught off guard.

"We've got a thing," She admitted confidently, and you grinned at the woman.

"In your forties and still breaking hearts," You teased, making her smile, a faint pink tinting her cheeks.

Finn came back in, and slid into the booth next to you. You looked down at your cup, then took a sip and slid it over to Polly, who looked surprised.

"I've been eating more and someone even said that my stomach looked bigger. I don't want to go to the doctor if I'm not actually there yet. I don't think I am. I don't know if I'll ever be there. My parents, both of them, they don't have babies easily," You explained, dropping your voice low on that last piece of information, and Polly nodded understandingly as she grasped your cup.

Aberama had told her that. Finn had no idea that Aberama struggled, but seeing how Ezzie, Bonnie, and Saoirse were all spaced out it made sense. Traveller couples usually popped out a baby every year or so.

Finn slipped his hand into yours, and squeezed it three times, watching as his aunt looked at your tea leaves. He felt somewhat nervous. He thought that maybe you were pregnant; he noticed small changes, like the way you always got sick, and the way that everything made you feel sick. He noticed that you ate more and that you gained weight.

"You didn't tell me that," Finn murmured to you, feeling a bit disappointed that you failed to mention it.

"We'll talk about it later," You brushed him off, wanting to focus on what was happening now.

He nodded. He wanted kids, and he thought you did too, but that little tidbit that you (and anyone else who knew your family history) failed to mention threw him off, just a bit.

"What do you think, Finn?" Polly asked her nephew as she sat down your teacup.

"I think she's expecting," Finn answered honestly, making you look at him funny.

"I noticed that your," Finn trailed off and cupped his hands over his chest, as if he were holding two things up, making you snort and Polly roll her eyes at her nephew, "They got bigger."

"Boy. You could've just said her tits got bigger. And of course that's the first fucking thing you noticed. Boys," Polly commented, and you chuckled, bouncing your leg.

Polly's crimson lips curled into a smile.

"Congratulations. You're in the family way," Polly announced, and you felt your mouth go dry.

Finn felt breathless, as if he ran a marathon. He brought your now shaky hand up to his mouth, brushing it against his lips gently.

Ada and Ezzie were definitely going to kill the pair of you, and throw your bodies into the cut.

•••

You and Finn sat in your kitchen on the floor between the bench and the island, cups of tea and a plate of biscuits between the pair of you.

It was closer to sunrise than sunset, and the pair of you should've well and truly been asleep by now, but a visit to your family healers had you feeling fretful. And hopeful. You absentmindedly put a hand on your stomach, patting it. You hand told anyone that you were expecting, yet.

"Did you really think you wouldn't have a baby until later?" Finn asked softly, grabbing a biscuit off of the plate.

"Yes," You admitted, looking away from him, finding the cupboard handle very interesting, "I was ten years coming, Finn. Ezzie came easily but Bonnie didn't. After Bonnie, they kept trying. Another big gap there. Twelve years. And it certainly wasn't Rose who was the problem. The healers even said so."

Finn nodded, and considered reaching out to touch you, to reassure you some way, but decided against it. If he started reassuring you he wouldn't get out what he needed to ask.

"Did you ever think of telling me that you didn't think you'd have babies easily?" Finn questioned, leaning back on his palms.

You snapped your head in your husband's direction, narrowing your eyes.

"Fucking — Tommy knew. And he still forced us to marry. I don't even know why you're still on about the bastard, the healers said I'd be fine to get pregnant after this one. That I won't have any problems. That is that." You spat, and Finn's jaw clenched.

Fucking Tommy. He could have the big, happy family he wanted but would leave his brother to struggle if it came down to it. Unfair. It always was, Finn always got the short end of the stick. It didn't matter if you couldn't have kids. You could always adopt. What mattered is that Tommy didn't tell him something, yet again.

"Are you mad at me?" You asked your husband as you dipped a biscuit into your tea.

Finn didn't miss the vulnerable tone hanging off your words.

"Darling, of course not," Finn replied hurriedly, truthfully, his words like a bandage that stopped the guilt flowing from your wound.

He shuffled over and knelt in front of you, pulling you into a tight hug. You returned it, grasping his night shirt so tightly that you were slightly scared you might rip it.

"I love you," He mumbled against the crook of your neck, his breath hot and the words heavy.

"I love you too," You murmured in reply, and tried not to let your eyes fill up with tears.

You stayed like that until your knuckles couldn't take being curled up anymore, and released your husband, who shifted back so he was sitting on his heels.

It didn't last long, because he moved forward and tenderly placed his lips on yours, hands cupping the sides of your face as he did so. He wanted contact. To reassure you that he loved you, like he should've done earlier on.

You continued your tender touches and soft words well into the night, even after you moved up into your bedroom, your tea gone cold and poured down the sink and biscuits put back into the container, to be worried about another day.

§§§

we've got a proper pregnancy confirmation from none other than THE Polly Gray

Although you guys probably knew from last chapter lmao

I know my chapters are shorter than usual but you guys will get the long chapters again once I start writing about s5

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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@toothlessmcleod

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@cucumberfingefsandwiches

NEXT PART

Part 41

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 39

PUBLISHED: 15/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You sat at your dining table, listening to the noise coming from inside as Finn, Saoirse, Daisy, Karl, Aberama, Bonnie, Isiah, and Oscar all worked together to cook breakfast — brunch, now, you mused as you looked at your watch.

It was Mother's Day today, and Finn and Saoirse were originally going to cook just you breakfast, but then Saoirse wanted to cook something for Ezzie, and Polly, and Ada, and Hilda. Jeremiah, who Isiah always celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day with, was also invited. That was how that lot, as well as Isiah, Aberama, Karl, and Daisy ended up here. Saoirse then called Bonnie and demanded that he come and help cook or he wouldn't be a part of the family anymore (an empty threat, of course, but the cooking would feel incomplete without him). He ended up bringing Oscar, who was a welcomed addition.

You ended up taking the table outside so you could enjoy the weather, which wasn't all that bad at the moment.

You could hear your father instructing Saoirse on how to scramble the eggs properly. The smell drifted down to you and made you feel queasy, so you drank some of your ginger beer to fight it. This didn't go unnoticed by Polly, who poured you a cup of tea.

"Try some tea, love. Maybe it'll settle your stomach," She suggested, pushing the cup towards you.

You took it gratefully, sipping away.

"You're not reading my leaves, though," You warned the woman, seeing right through her antics.

She sighed, then looked at Esmeralda, who cocked an eyebrow as if to say 'I told you so'.

"What are you two on about?" You demanded, feeling terribly left out.

"Nothing," The two replied quickly, making it know that they were very much on about something.

"Oh, god, what's wrong with (Y/N)?" Ada questioned, knowing that the only time Polly read leaves was when someone had something big happening to them.

"Something's wrong with (Y/N)?" Hilda asked hurriedly, eyeing you worriedly.

"She looks fine," Jeremiah commented, sipping on his coffee as he read the newspaper, not even bothering to look at you or entertain the women's antics.

"Nothing's wrong with me!" You snapped, a bit louder than you should've, waking Finn Junior from his nap at your feet.

He yowled in protest, swiping at your ankles, making you yelp.

"Tell me what you two are going on about before I take your eyes out with a spoon," You threatened, narrowing your eyes at the pair sitting across from you.

Ezzie and Polly looked at each other, then back at you.

"I had a dream that you gave birth," Ezzie admitted, making you scoff.

"Your dreams are always hit-and-miss," You pointed out, she didn't always have dreams that came to be like you did.

You conveniently left out the fact that you also had a dream that you went into labour. It didn't feel like a prophetic dream. Just a normal dream. Wishful thinking. You knew the difference.

"And that is why I want to read your leaves," Polly added, making you huff as you tipped the remains of the cup out onto the ground, leaves and all, then slammed the cup back down onto the table, hard.

You were surprised that the cup didn't break.

The pair took that as a sign to take a step back. Hilda placed a hand on yours, and squeezed it comfortingly.

"If she was having a baby she would've told you all," Jeremiah pointed out, placing his newspaper down, not seeing any point to the women's nonsense.

You all sat tensely, waiting for brunch to be cooked and brought out.

"Is something burning?" Ada broke the thick silence, and you went to snap at her for saying something so ridiculous, but you soon smelled the scent yourself.

You all quickly looked back over at the house, and through the window you could see Finn, now rushing around with a smoking frying pan, everyone else in the kitchen laughing at him.

He left through the kitchen door, and after a few beats he appeared through the side door, rushing to the railing and throwing the burnt stuff onto the ground.

"What did you manage to burn, Finny boy?" Jeremiah called out to the boy, and Finn rolled his eyes.

"He burnt the onion!" Saoirse yelled out of the window, giggling.

"You shush, little miss," Finn commanded, pointing the frying pan at her, but grinned as she still giggled away.

"Finn, I was looking forward to having onion on my hamburger. Bee, divorce your husband," Ezzie joked, and you chuckled.

"I shall have to, the smell of burnt stuff stinks," You complained, screwing up your nose as you took a sip of your ginger beer.

"You know, they sort of look like you, (Y/N)," Finn said as he looked down at the burnt mess, then up at you.

"Finn Theo Shelby, stop comparing me to fucking onions! Push my buttons again and you're sleeping on the couch tonight," You said to your husband, narrowing your eyes at him, and the people around you started cackling.

"Love you," Finn threw over his shoulder before walking back inside.

•••

You all had a good brunch. Oscar and the kids had washed up and put away, and now you were all scattered around the house, either napping or relaxing. The kids were out on the play equipment with the cat and dogs.

You were stood in the kitchen with Ada, eating some leftover muffins, pencilling in Saoirse's next dentist appointment on the calendar. Ada came over and bumped you to the side, then started flipping around the calendar herself.

"What in the fuck are you looking for?" You asked her as she counted days, flipping back and forth between the pages.

"Couldn't find it, doesn't matter," She replied, and you rolled your eyes, downing the last of your drink.

"You right watching the kids? I feel tired," You said, and she nodded telling you to go and sleep and that she'd get the kids inside to colour so she could nap too.

You walked out to the hallway, and stuck your head through the doorway of the living room, where all of the couches were taken. Oscar and Bonnie were asleep on the couches in front of the fire. Hilda and Jeremiah were asleep on the couches surrounding the green rug.

You headed down the hallway to the smaller guest room, and stuck your head in the doorway there. Isiah and your sister were sound asleep, your sister snoring softly. You looked across the hall. Polly and Aberama.

You walked back down the hallway, into the living room and up the stairs, going down to your own room.

Finn was making himself comfortable in the bed, eyes half closed as he did so. You wasted no time kicking off your shoes and crawling into bed with him.

Finn quickly moved so he was flush against you, humming contentedly as you drifted off to dreamland, your husband not far behind you.

§§§

Chapter forty is next — it feels surreal to have a fanfic with such a high chapter count lmao

Also, honest question to you readers; Would you prefer me to follow the plot of the show and kill off Bonnie, or leave him alive?

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

NEXT PART

Part 40

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 38

PUBLISHED: 15/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You watched as Saoirse flitter around the park in her pretty pink dress, giving Valentines Day cards to her classmates, chattering away as she did so. Today her class had their Valentines Day party and picnic, and parents and guardians were invited along to attend.

You and Finn had gotten permission off of Tommy (who may have gotten a telling off from Lizzie) to go. The pair of you were slightly nervous. Finn Junior, who was lazing at your feet, made you slightly more nervous. No other parents had a pet that followed them around like yours did.

You, stood in your red dress and brown coat, was the youngest guardian there, barely seventeen. That, along with the fact that you were Saoirse's older sister, a traveller, and married to Finn Shelby, were the only concrete facts that everyone knew about you. You knew that the rumour mill was probably in overdrive right now. You fiddled with the charms on your bracelet, and tried not to think about it.

Everyone knew of the reputation of the Shelbys, Finn was the youngest of them, and there was rumours that he had followed in their footsteps, even though he was a part of their legitimate business. Even with people saying that the two of you were fine, the parents were all still a bit on edge.

Hilda noticed the disapproving, and curious, looks the other parents were giving you and your husband, and sniffed. Ever the motherly person, she gathered some of her brownies on a pink paper plate and put her million dollar smile on, then walked briskly over to the pair of you.

"Finn, (Y/N)!" She said, catching your attention, "I baked brownies for today, here, try some!"

She held the plate out to you both. You took it and gave her a grateful smile, Finn verbally thanking her. You balanced the plate in the same hand as your cup skilfully, a talent you had learned after beginning your work in the office and using smaller purses to fit in.

You could barely fit anything in your purse, having to carry everything in your hands. You were glad that you had been to a seamstress to make you skirts and dresses with pockets, as well as make pants that looked like skirts with pockets deep enough to hold whatever you liked. You even got new coats with pockets galore. Those coats were useful for pickpocketing, although you didn't need to do it much these days.

With your free hand, you lifted a brownie up and went to bite into it, but Finn grabbed your wrist and guided the brownie up to his own mouth, making you tsk but you let him bite the brownie, giving it to him to hold. You picked another up, this time your husband left you alone, content with his own brownie.

"How's Daisy's leg?" You questioned before nibbling on your own brownie.

She had fallen over in the last netball game she played, her leg was still badly bruised. Hilda looked over at her daughter, the bruise still very prominent on her shin. Finn winced at the sight of it.

"It's fine, the doctor said it's only a really bad bruise," Hilda replied, giving her daughter a wave and blowing her a kiss.

Daisy pretended to catch the kiss and put it in her pocket. For a split second, Finn imagined you doing that with your daughter. His daughter. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought.

"That's good to hear," Finn said, taking a sip of his cordial then grimacing.

It was too sweet. Way too sweet. No wonder Saoirse was running around the way she was. Finn pitied their poor teacher, who had to take them back into class after this. Twenty kids, all hopped up on cordial and sweets. They had sandwiches laid out, too, but they were untouched by the kids, only the adults grabbed some. Finn wished he was still eight so he could've grabbed all sweets. It just wasn't acceptable as an adult.

You brought a hand up to your mouth after a sip of cordial, the sweetness a bit too much for you. Hilda noticed this and quickly offered you her cup of water. You took it and drank the whole thing.

"Sorry. Everything seems to make me feel sick these days," You complained halfheartedly, and Hilda gave you a knowing look.

"You should go and see a doctor about it soon then," She advised as Saoirse and Daisy came prancing over, arms interlocked.

You nodded, but knew it was probably nothing. If you were anything like your mother and her mother before her, any children would be a long time coming.

"Bee, Bee, I've given out all of my cards!" Saoirse announced, "And Daisy helped!"

"She gave one to every single person in our class, it was annoying walking all around to them," Daisy groaned, making you all chuckle.

Daisy had also given one to each of their classmates, but she was smart enough to put their cards into their cubbies, which is what you told Saoirse to do too. You supposed that she got carried away with the excitement of the picnic, which was fair enough.

"Here comes Dick!" Daisy said, pointing to their classmate as he approached your little huddle, parents in tow.

You had heard a lot about him from Saoirse and Daisy. He was Saoirse's desk mate. He had a stutter, and he could draw the best, and did the best knots with shoelaces. He wasn't very good at maths, but he really tried, and he was getting a little better, but not a lot. He was happy to swing the rope at skipping if the teacher couldn't, even if it meant that he didn't get a turn, but Saoirse or Daisy always volunteered to swing it for a bit so he could have a go.

"His name is Richard! Richard!" A blushing Hilda hissed lowly at her daughter, making you and Finn cover your mouth with your hands as you snickered, "Do not call him that blasted name that all of the others call him!"

"Hi, Richie!" Saoirse greeted cheerfully, and you were internally relieved that she picked a decent nickname to call the poor boy.

"H-Hi Sh-Sha-Sha." Richard greeted in reply, shifting from foot to foot as he adjusted his glasses.

He looked up at his mother, then his father, who gave his blond hair a ruffle.

"Richard has something to tell you, Saoirse, and you too Daisy," His father prompted him, and he looked back at Saoirse and Daisy.

"Th-Th-Thank you both for-for the c-card," Richard said shyly, his face turning pink.

You laid your head on Finn's upper arm, watching the scene unfold in front of you.

"You're our friend, you deserved a card," Saoirse said firmly, and looked at Daisy, who nodded.

Richard flushed once more, and looked down at Finn Junior, who was now rubbing against Saoirse's legs. You were happy that you had made her wear stockings the colour of his fur.

"Do you want to play with him? He's friendly. He goes on the big circle swing, do you want to go on there with him?" Saoirse offered, and Richard nodded hesitantly, and that was all it took for Saoirse to reach over and grab his hand, then lead him towards the swings.

Daisy caught up to the pair and grabbed Richard's other hand, Finn Junior trailing behind.

"She's such a nice little girl. They both are," Richard's mother sighed, watching the group as they put the cat into the swing, then Richard.

You and Finn felt a bit of pride well up in your chests.

"They were the only two to give my Richie a card, thank you," Richard's mother said, turning to face you.

"It's no problem, honest. Saoirse knows that with things like this it's either everyone or no one," You reassured, giving her your soft, friendly smile, then extending a hand for her to shake, "I'm (Y/N)."

"Penelope," She supplied as she shook your hand, giving you a small grin back.

"Gary," His father greeted as you shook his hand.

He had a businessman's handshake, you noticed. You and Finn got to talking with the pair, talking about everything from the weather today to a potential play date for Saoirse and Dylan (and Daisy, of course).

After seeing Penelope and Gary go over to the pair of you, more parents came over to introduce themselves.

Hilda hummed to herself as she walked away from the group to get more water, feeling victorious as you and Finn chuckled along with the rest of the parents, finally 'in' with them.

•••

The crowd was wild, everyone screaming for Bonnie. If you were out there you'd probably be screaming with them. But no, you had to go and grab Oscar, and take him to where you were all sitting.

You headed down the hallway to the room where Bonnie was getting ready. You walked through the open door, and the first thing you noticed was an unfamiliar, handsome, brown haired boy sitting back to front on a chair, watching Bonnie shadow box. Your father was leaned against the wall, a cigar hanging out of the corner of his mouth as he watched his son, and how his son's newfound 'friend' looked at his son.

Aberama was very sure that his son's friend wasn't even a friend at all, that the boy was something more. It surely seemed so, especially with the way the pair went on when Oscar was wrapping Bonnie's knuckles. The pair spoke softly to each other, giggled, turned red, and Oscar was ever so gentle when he was wrapping Bonnie's knuckles, asking if the fabric was too tight or too loose. Aberama felt like he was intruding on something whilst he was watching the pair. And, as well as all of their other actions, they were doing a lot of 'not looking'.

'Not looking' (verb): The act of staring at the person you are infatuated with until they look at you, at which point you tear your gaze away and pretend to focus on something else. A sign of certain romantic attraction.

Aberama was tempted to ask you about the pair, but he knew that if you knew you wouldn't say anything, forever loyal to your brother.

But Aberama knew 'not looking' all too well, having done it when he had little schoolboy crushes. You didn't do it to just a friend.

"Save something for the fight, Bon," You teased your brother, and he immediately stopped, looking towards you, then running over and pulling you into a hug.

He hadn't seen you in two weeks. That was the longest you had ever been apart ever since you moved in with your father. It was wearing down the both of you.

You chuckled and hugged your brother back tightly. After a few moments, you let each other go. You waved at your father, having seen him only that morning when you went to Polly's for tea.

"And you must be Oscar," You greeted the man sitting backwards on the chair.

He stood up and swung his leg over, walked over to you, and shook your hand, saying his greetings.

"We'll go and head off to our seats, aye? Fight's about to start soon," You said, and Oscar nodded.

"We'll see you later," You said over your shoulder to your father and brother, Oscar waving goodbye to Bonnie, who looked slightly disappointed to see him go.

You walked down the hallway, heels clacking with every step. Oscar followed you somewhat awkwardly. You stopped suddenly, and spun to face the boy, checking your surroundings to make sure no one else was near.

"Listen closely, Oscar," You began, looking the boy in the eyes, "If you hurt our Bonnie in any way, shape, or form, whether it be physically or emotionally; I will kill you. I know where you live, I know where your family members live, I know where your friends live, I know where you go for drinks of a Friday night — Fuck, I even know where your employer lives. So, again, if you hurt Bonnie, I will hunt you down, and paint your surrounds red with your blood. Are we clear, Oscar Boswell?"

Oscar, who was now considerably paper than before, gulped and nodded. Bonnie had told him that you would probably threaten him, but fuck, he didn't think you'd be that scary.

"Good. Now, let's go, I've got you caramel popcorn because Bonnie said you like it," You told him, spinning on your heel and strutting off again.

Oscar sighed heavily before following you to your front row seats. You gave him his popcorn and his drink, chattering away. Oscar was somewhat more comfortable with you now that you were surrounded by people.

Finn was across the ring, watching you as you sat with Oscar. You caught your husband's eye and winked at him, blowing a kiss. Finn chuckled and took a swing from his flask, admiring how the dress you were wearing fit you in all the right places.

•••

Bonnie had won the fight, of course, and you all went out to drink to celebrate. Your brother was pleased to hear that, other than threatening Oscar like he knew you would, the night went smoothly and the pair of you got on with each other quite well.

Your father approached you as you sipped on your gin.

"Bee, my girl," He began, making you jerk your chin up as if to say 'what?'

"Bonnie and Oscar, are they ..." He trailed off, but vaguely gestured with his hands so you knew what he meant.

You shrugged one shoulder lazily, "Dunno. Should ask Bon instead of me."

Aberama nodded and you handed him your bottle of gin. He took a swig and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, giving the bottle back to you.

He looked over at his son and Oscar, the pair standing so close you'd think they'd be joined at the hip.

He chuckled to himself as he settled down in the booth next to you.

Forever loyal to your brother. He couldn't even be annoyed at you for that. You were a good person, better than he ever would be at seventeen.

§§§

Okay so this chapter came much easier than the last one lol

I'm getting closer and closer to when I start writing abt season 5 Finn and i am DREADING it

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

NEXT PART

Part 39

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 37

PUBLISHED: 14/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

READER'S POV

"(Y/N), which frame do you want for this photo, this oval one or this rectangle one?" Finn asked, holding the two frames up, along with the photo he was talking about.

The photo was the one of Saoirse leaning on the couch.

"Mm, oval one," I decided, and he nodded.

I took the backing off of the heart shaped one in front of me and placed a photo of Finn, Saoirse, and I (and the animals) in it.

We were just finishing up putting photos in the frames now. These two would be the last two to go in the living room, one going to sit on the piano (the one of Saoirse) and the one I had was going to sit on the bookshelf.

I didn't like photos in bedrooms. I was funny like that. I got it off of an elderly woman that used to live next to me when I lived with Marian. She said that photos in bedrooms would see every sinful action happening, and as a child I completely believed it.

I secured the back onto the frame once more and picked it up, then stood up and walked over to the bookshelf, deciding the put it on the shelf that was eye level with me.

It sat between a deck of cards and a small clay statue Saoirse had made in an art lesson at school. It was meant to be an artistic rendering of a heart, but it was shaped more like a lopsided triangle.

My eyes drifted back to the cards again, and my heart stopped. Oh fuck, Finn and I forgot to give each other anniversary gifts. I had gotten Finn one on very short notice, but I didn't want to bring it up in case he forgot. It'd be shit to make him feel bad about it.

"Erm, Finn?" I started as I turned back around, facing my husband who was now gathering all of the empty photo frames.

"Yeah?" He replied, stacking the frames into a pile.

"I just realised that we forgot to give each other gifts for our anniversary," I snorted, shifting from foot to foot.

"Oh, fuck," He muttered, standing up, photo frames forgotten, "I got you one but I got distracted with the breakfast and the photos."

He then headed upstairs. I headed into the mudroom, and fished around in my coat pocket, producing a deck of cards. The back of them were blank, and that's where I put my gift for him.

I went and sat on the landing of the stairs, waiting for my husband, bouncing my leg as I did so. I heard Finn coming back down the hallway, and looked up when I heard his feet hit the stairs to see him carrying an engraved wooden box.

He came and sat next to me, and handed me the box. I ran my fingers along the top of it, loving the feeling of the wood dipping and curving. It was an intricate design of a sunflower with vines and other things surrounding it. There were small divots in either side of the box, and it had three drawers in the front. I opened the top, and found that it was a jewellery box. Inside the lid were hooks to hang necklaces on, with pouches at the bottom so they could sit in there, and adjacent to it were boxes for rings and pairs of earrings. There were two small figurines holding hands on a little platform along the back of the box.

"You can lift the top bit out," Finn informed me, and I did so, revealing more compartments, these ones slightly bigger, probably for bracelets and bangles.

I put the top part back in then shut the lid, opening up the sides to find more hooks to hand stuff on. I opened the first drawer in the front, and it was another compartment drawer. The next one down had padding in it, to put rings in. The last one was just a drawer with no compartments.

"Oh, it's gorgeous Finn, thank you," I murmured, looking up at my husband.

I needed a jewellery box, having to use the drawer of my vanity to put everything in and just being too lazy to go to the shops and buy anything.

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "It's alright."

He then reached out and touched the back of the box, and I heard something cranking. Once he stopped cranking and removed his hand, the figurines started rotating and the box played music. After a bit, I realised what song was playing.

"Is that one of the songs from the ballet we went and seen?" I questioned my husband, who nodded.

"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," He confirmed, and I grinned.

"You're so romantic," I teased, and looked back at the figurines.

The girl was wearing a yellow dress, and the boy was wearing a peaky cap. I snorted.

"Are these meant to be us?" I asked jokingly, and watched as Finn blushed.

"Oh, it is!" I crowed, throwing my head back and clapping my hands, "Finn, you're such a romantic, it's adorable."

"Shut up," Finn mumbled, red in the face as he noticed the cards on the stairs above us.

"This mine?" He asked, reaching for them.

"Yeah," I replied, watching him as he grabbed the pack of cards and flipped them over in his hands, inspecting them.

"52 things I love about you," He read the packet, then opened it.

They were normal playing cards, but had blank backs. I wrote the '52 Things' on the backs. I watched as he looked through all of them, chuckling at some.

1. Your looks (I didn't marry you for anything else, Shelby)

2. You help me reach things on the top shelf

3. You're always there for Saoirse (as well as your own nieces and nephews)

4. You brush the cat when I don't feel like doing it

5. You help me think positive when I feel negative

6. You helped me build up my self confidence

7. Your laugh

8. Your cuddles

9. Your kisses

10. You're not afraid to be silly

11. You help make our house a home

12. You make a good pillow

13. You clean the hair clogs from drains so Saoirse and I don't have to

14. You treat our animals like human babies

15. You try to maintain good relationships with my family and friends

16. You use sound effects when telling a story

17. You always touch door jambs when you walk through doors

18. You run through the alphabet when alphabetising anything

19. You keep a photo of Saoirse and I tucked into your cap (yes, I've seen it, sentimental bastard)

20. You always flip things around in your hands

21. You're an early morning person like me

22. You like climbing things (like me)

23. You put up with Finn Junior when the pair of you didn't like each other

24. You got me Christmas and birthday presents from our pets and signed the cards 'To Mum, from your loving sons'

25. You put your family first

26. You attend Saoirse and I's many activities without any complaints

27. You spoil us

28. Your voice

29. Your sense of humour

30. Your ability to keep our inside jokes running

31. You are considerate

32. Your personality

33. You learned how to do hair just so you could do mine when I don't feel like it

34. You always catch my attention just as I'm about to walk out the door so you can get one last look at me

35. You're a good cook

36. You accept me for who I am

37. You offer to wash up because you know I don't like floaties in dishwater

38. You know how I take my tea

39. You always make sure there's biscuits in the cupboard

40. You always give Saoirse another sweet whenever you think I'm not looking

41. You trust me, and I know I can trust you

42. You got your ears pierced with me and Saoirse on New Years Eve (the gold cuffs look nice, by the way)

43. Your freckles (and the way you let me play connect the dots with them sometimes)

44. Your hand fits perfectly around mine

45. You laugh at your own jokes

46. You taught me how to skip stones

47. You won me Pip (I am still disappointed that you did not take the opportunity to name your bear Squeak so we matched names)

48. The first thing you do when you walk in the door is seek out Saoirse and I

49. You learned the languages of our people

50. You buy me yellow things and Saoirse blue things whenever you see fit

51. The way that you are unapologetically you

52. You said 'I do' on the 10th of January, 1926.

"It's not much because I forgot it was our anniversary until you reminded me the other day," I admitted, and watched as he gently ran his fingertips over the writing on the cards.

"They're amazing, (Y/N), honest. I love them, they're thoughtful as," Finn replied, his voice soft and eyes glistening.

I was happy to sit there in silence with him until he felt better, but Tuck decided to come in through the dog door and track mud behind him. He shook himself, sending mud flying everywhere, some even going as far to hit the couches around the rug.

"Oh — You could've used the mat, now I've got to bath you! You naughty, naughty boy!" I complained as I used the banister to help myself stand up, Finn sniggering behind me.

Tuck just flipped over, ready for belly rubs as I approached him.

"No," I told the dog, wagging my finger at him, making him whine as I walked past him and into the hallway.

I walked down to the bathroom and grabbed Tuck's tub from in the cupboard under the sink. It held his brushes, nail clippers, and shampoo in it. I sat it on the sink, ready for when the mud dried and I could brush it out, then give him a shower.

I headed back out to the living room, where Finn was towelling the wet mud off of Tuck with one of the towels from the mud room. Tuck was gnawing on a bone, looking quite content. Finn threw me another towel, and I wiped the mud off of the floor and couch with it, not wanting to grab the cleaning supplies from the basement. I'd wipe it down when I vacuumed and mopped next.

Finn threw his towel back into the mudroom, and I followed suit, Tuck running over and laying on the floor in front of the window as soon as he was free.

I 'awwed' at the sight. I knew he'd probably fall asleep in the sun. My big boy.

"I love you," Finn said as I moved and grabbed our gifts, wanting to put them up so the dogs didn't chew them.

"I love you too," I replied, then hummed as I headed over and put them on the bookshelf, not wanting to walk up the stairs just yet.

Finn pulled a smoke and his lighter out of his pocket, placing the smoke between his lips then lighting it. I screwed my nose up and opened the window.

"You never used to hate the smell that much," Finn complained, lit cigarette still dangling between his lips as he came and sat on the window seat.

It was true. The smell of cigarette smoke always stunk to me, but it had become proper rank to me as of late.

"Well it turns my stomach now, you remember this morning," I huffed, going and grabbing a book off of the bookshelf.

Finn nodded in agreement as he leaned out of the window and exhaled.

Finn lit up a smoke in the bedroom this morning while we were laid in bed, and it smelled so bad that I threw up.

"You know, Saoirse won't arrive for a bit, we've got the house to ourselves for a while," Finn said suggestively, making me snort.

"You should've thought about that before you lit up that smoke, you'll stink of it," I pointed out, making Finn quickly put the smoke out on the window frame.

"I can go have a shower so I don't stink, wanna join?" Finn asked, a smug grin on his face.

"You can go shower, I'll be here when you get out," I answered as I settled down across from him, opening up the book.

Finn groaned, leaning against the window dramatically.

"We can christen the couch in front of the fire," I said, not looking up from my book, knowing that if I looked at Finn I'd probably drag him over to the couch myself.

Finn whooped and headed upstairs, nearly tripping up them, making me snort and grin.

"I'm okay!" He called out back down the stairs.

I sighed and put my book down, knowing damn well I wouldn't get any reading done as I waited for my husband.

•••

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You packed the last of the dishes away, and wiped down the sinks. You had a picnic dinner in the garden, you and your little family (plus the animals). You found out that the smell of coffee turned your stomach as well.

The phone rang, and you hurried over it, picking it up with a "Hello?"

"Bee! It's Bonnie," Bonnie greeted, giggling as he sat on the floor next to the kitchen bench in his own apartment.

"Hello, Bonnie," You replied, rolling your eyes and feeling yourself smile at how happy your brother sounded, "What's got you so happy?"

"I met a boy and went on a date today," Bonnie replied lowly even though it was only you two in the phone.

"Oh, that's great! What's his name? And how was the date?" You asked as you jumped up onto your kitchen bench, knowing you might be on the phone for a while.

"His name is Oscar, and the date went grand. He bought me beer when we met up because he thought that I wouldn't like flowers, y'know, because flowers are too girl-like," Bonnie said, twirling the cord around his pointer finger. "He's really nice, I like him. I could've cried when he dropped me home."

"That's cute," You said, swinging your legs as you drummed your fingers against the countertop, your nails clicking as you did so.

"Shut up," Bonnie spoke, and you just knew that his entire face would be red, right to the tips of his ears.

"He's coming to my next fight, do you think he can sit next to you in the front row? I would've asked Ez but she's scary sometimes," Bonnie stated, and you 'awwed', resulting in him telling you to shut up again.

"He can sit next to me," You confirmed, wanting to meet the boy who managed to make your Bonnie so giggly.

"And don't be mean or tell him anything about me from when I was little, or I'll smother you with your pillow as you sleep," Bonnie threatened, and you agreed that you wouldn't, even though you knew that he wouldn't smother you.

Bonnie loved you too much to hurt you on purpose.

As you continued talking to your brother, watching the hand on the clock go round and round, you felt closer than ever to your brother, and you were glad. You felt yourself growing apart from your siblings after you moved in with Finn, but now, as you giggled with Bonnie over the way he and Oscar managed to get lost on their way to the place they were having dinner, you knew that you were overthinking.

You were fine, your siblings were fine, and you all couldn't grow apart if you tried.

§§§

Another filler chapter, I apologise if it doesn't flow as well as my chapters usually do

This chapter was surprisingly hard to write and I have no idea why lol I was stuck for agesss but I managed to finish it for you guys

Also: voting for the names has closed!

The baby names that got the most votes were 🥁🥁🥁

Finley & Isaac!!!

For those of you who wanted Elijah, I was always planning on making Elijah a middle name if it didn't get picked as a first name anyway lol

Hope you all are well :)))

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

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@cucumberfingefsandwiches

NEXT PART

Part 38

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 36

PUBLISHED: 09/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

As soon as your eyes opened you grinned. You dreamt of babies, mini versions of Finn and mini versions of you running amuck in your house.

Eyes still closed, you reached out, fully expecting to feel your husband next to you, but instead felt the cold sheets of the bed. You looked over, and he wasn't there. Odd. The curtains of the bed were also pinned back, signalling that he had been gone for a bit. You strained your ears for a sign of your husband moving around the bathroom or the closet. You could hear Saoirse's giggles coming closer to your room, and Finn shushing her, telling her that they needed to be quiet.

After a few beats, the door swung open, and the pair came through the open door carrying trays. Finn's tray was filled with food, and Saoirse's had drinks and biscuits on it. The animals trotted in straight after them, single file. You snorted at that sight.

You noticed a paper flower, which had been painted yellow with what looked like watercolour paint, in one of the glasses, making the corners of you lips turn upwards. That would have been Finn's folding skills and Saoirse's painting, for sure. You had given her watercolour paints for her birthday. It was good to know she was using them.

"Surprise! We made you breakfast in bed!" Saoirse announced, grinning.

You bit back a giggle at the sight of her missing tooth. She had a mishap on her play equipment yesterday, tripping and hitting her mouth on a bench, which knocked out a tooth on the bottom, right next to her front ones. You were just glad that it was a baby tooth, and that she didn't bust her lip.

She'd probably have to smile with her mouth closed for the photos today, but you didn't mind.

You shuffled over and helped the pair arrange the trays on the bed.

"Thank you, my darlings," You said to the pair as you settled back down.

"Do I still get money even though the tooth fairy isn't real?" Saoirse asked the pair of you as she poured herself some juice.

Finn looked at you as you piled your plate up with scrambled eggs and bacon, and you nodded.

"Yeah, why not," Finn chuckled, then pointed to the bedside table on the left, "Top drawer. In there's my wallet, you can grab yourself some money."

Saoirse whooped and rolled backwards off of the bed, then jogged around to the other side, opening the top drawer enthusiastically and shifted things around in her search for Finn's wallet. Once she found it, she held it up victoriously, beaming a smile. She moved to open it, but looked at Finn for permission. He nodded, and she opened it, getting herself five pounds, then placing it back in the drawer where she found it. She crawled over the bed to curl up next to you. You hissed as her cold feet hit your arm, immediately causing goosebumps.

"Sorry," She mumbled, wiggling around so her feet were now under the blanket.

"S'Okay," You replied as you passed your sister her plate, which was filled with pancakes.

She immediately started to scarf them down. You rolled your eyes at her behaviour. Anyone would think that you and Finn starve her with the way she was eating.

Finn repositioned himself so he was sitting up straighter, and so his side was tucked into yours. He had a plate full of French Toast, topped off with bananas, ice cream, and honey. He had cut everything up before he brought it up here, saving everyone the task of awkwardly attempting to cut stuff whilst sitting on the bed.

You all ate in a comfortable silence, bar the purring of the cat on the end of the bed. The dogs were all curled up on the floor together, in front of the fireplace.

Once you finished all of your drinks you stacked everything up on one tray and put the spare one under the other, ready to be taken back downstairs.

You crawled off the bed, stood up, and stretched, reaching straight up to the roof and standing on the tips of your toes, yawning as you did so. Finn watched you as you moved, your hair swaying with your every motion. You turned around and grabbed the trays, and Finn got ready to help you.

"I've got it," You reassured your husband, who nodded.

"If you give me a kiss I'll believe you," Finn replied, smirking.

Saoirse giggled as you leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his lips, then lifted up the trays, heading downstairs.

You managed to not drop and break anything in your trek down the stairs, making a feeling of success bubble up in your chest.

You started humming a song as you continued your walk to the kitchen, and placed the trays on the island, filling up the sink to wash up the dishes, putting your hand under the tap to test the temperature. You looked out the window, and grinned. Today would be perfect photo taking weather. You stopped the tap, then decided to put away the stuff that Saoirse and Finn used to make the breakfast first, making room on the sink for the rest of the stuff.

Once you were done, you grabbed the glasses and jugs, washing them up first, putting them on the rack, then did the dishes, and let the sink drain. You wiped the trays over with a wet cloth, placing them on the rack too, then went back upstairs. You peeled into Saoirse's room, and noticed that her bed was unmade. You made it for her, arranging her stuffed animals amongst the pillows the way she liked them, then went across the hallway to your own room, where Finn and Saoirse were fixing up the pillows on the bed, having just finished making the bed themselves. Saoirse was knelt on the bed as she adjusted the pillows, being too short to lean over it with ease like Finn.

You leaned against the doorway, watching as your sister sneakily grabbed the pillow closest to her, and moved it as if plumping it, gripping it tightly, then picked it up lightning quick, swinging it back then bringing it forward, connecting it to the side of your husband's face, sending him stumbling.

You gasped as your sister cackled, but Finn wasted no time grabbing a pillow of his own and returning the favour, sending Saoirse face first into the mountain of pillows she had just finished fixing.

You guffawed at this, then quickly clapped your hand over your mouth as Saoirse sat up, and looked at you. Finn also had his gaze set on you. Saoirse narrowed her eyes, and shuffled forward on the bed.

"Saoirse — no," You warned holding a finger up as she got off the bed.

"Saoirse; yes," Finn encouraged, making you glare at him.

"Hit me with that pillow and you're not getting any dessert for the next week," You warned, finger pointed at her.

She stopped her stalking over to you, and looked over at Finn.

"Hit her with that pillow and I'll give you two more pounds," Finn said, making your jaw drop.

"If I got hit, you do too," Finn stated, seeing your betrayed expression.

"Fucking — Saoirse, you'll not hit me with that pillow or you'll not be my favourite sister anymore!" You threatened, although it was empty; Saoirse knew you didn't have favourites.

"Bonnie's my favourite anyway!" Saoirse said with a shrug, before launching the pillow at your face, making you shriek and stagger back.

You pulled it off your face just in time to see Saoirse clamber back onto the bed, grab a pillow and pelt it at a laughing Finn, hitting him square in the forehead, throwing him off balance enough that he fell down into a heap on the ground.

While Saoirse was giggling with glee, you snuck up behind her, pillow in hand, and hit her across the knees, hard, making her stumble and fall onto the mattress with a squeal.

"That's what you get for hitting me first!" You declared, crawling into bed with her and tickling her, making her shriek with glee.

Finn, now up with the support of the bed, crawled onto it and started tickling your younger sister too.

"Say 'Finn and (Y/N) are the greatest and I'm sorry I ever hit you two with a pillow' and we'll stop," Finn told your little sister, who was wriggling around, trying to escape you and Finn, both of you with grins big enough to split your faces in two.

"Finn — Finn and (Y/N) — Are the greatest and — I'm sorry I ever hit you two with a pillow," Your sister said, the last bit of the sentence running together, making you and Finn immediately withdraw your hands.

She was now red in the face with tears slipping out of her eyes, huffing. You reached over and grabbed the bottle of water you kept on your bedside table, and offered it to your sister. She sat up and took it, having a few sips.

"So, Finn, when's the photographer getting here?" You questioned your husband, wanting to make yourself look presentable before they arrived.

"I didn't hire one," He said simply, making your eyes widen in disbelief, and your jaw drop.

"You didn't hire one after you said we could get family photos?" You asked disbelievingly, and Finn nodded, then put his finger up, signalling for you to wait.

"I decided that — wait for it — I would buy us a film camera and we take the photos ourselves! How good is that?" Finn replied, grinning, waiting for the reaction of the two girls.

"I like that idea," Saoirse agreed, face now back to normal.

"That is a good idea," You agreed with your husband, and got off the bed, heading to your closet.

"Finn, what's your favourite colour? I want to coordinate outfits with them all," You told your husband as you walked into the closet, immediately grabbing your yellow sundress.

"You won't be able to see it anyway," Finn pointed out, and you stuck your tongue out at him.

"Blue and yellow are fine," He decided, and Saoirse poked him in the arm.

"Finnegan Shelby-"

"My name is just Finn-"

"-Just Finn, everyone has a favourite colour, so what is yours," Saoirse prompted, and Finn shrugged.

"I don't know. Never really thought about it before. Blue and yellow," Finn answered, now deep in thought.

"Those are me and (Y/N)'s favourite colours, though," Saoirse huffed, and it was Finn's turn to poke her in the arm.

"Yes, but you two are some of my favourite people, so I can copy you two," Finn replied, making Saoirse grin.

Nobody else had favourite colours and stuck to them like you Gold children did. But, he had chosen yellow as his favourite colour long ago, when you had taken him to a paint store once. You had enthusiastically shown him all of the shades yellow came in, from a soft, parchment yellow to a deep, Dijon yellow. You chattered and chattered about the yellow, pointing out the shades you liked the most and the shades you liked the least.

He only added blue to his favourite colours after Saoirse moved in with the pair of you. She would always point out how pretty the blue sky to him, show him her favourite light blue dress, bring him home blue things that reminded her of him (his favourite one so far was a throw cushion from a market stall, bought because of how comfy it was, given to him in case he needed something to make his office chair more comfy).

Those two colours reminded him of home. The porch with paint on it from Karl and Saoirse going over the edge of their papers, the kitchen doorway which had all of the kids' heights marked on there, the living room with couches he always let the animals sleep on, even though you would tell him not to, and finally, the two people who helped him make this house a home. You and Saoirse.

•••

You had managed to colour coordinate your outfits well. Finn had on a yellow sweater and jeans. You had worn a yellow dress with a blue belt, and Saoirse had worn a blue dress with a yellow belt. All of you were barefoot, and with your hair down in its natural state, but you didn't mind.

You had ended up with thirty-six pictures. You took twelve, Finn took twelve, and Saoirse took twelve.

Your twelve consisted of;

- Saoirse laying amongst the wildflowers in your backyard, grinning widely, her two dogs laid on their backs either side of her. You and Finn had woven flowers into her curly hair. The sunlight shining down on her made her eyes look all the more golden instead of brown.

- Finn, leaning against the beam at the front of the house, Finn Junior and Tuck on the stairs under him.

- Finn Junior and Tuck resting in the sun on the porch.

- Finn and Saoirse on her play equipment, him pushing her on the swing set

- You, Finn, Saoirse (who had Finn Junior on her lap) on the porch swing, the dogs laid at your feet (this photo was achieved with the help of the self timer on the camera, which was sat on the top of the railing)

- In the field next to your house, you leaning back on one hand, looking down at Finn, who was laid with his head in your lap, one arm across his midriff, the other reaching up to play with your hair, and Saoirse leaned against your side, looking at the camera.

- Saoirse reading a book with Finn, the pair on the floor, leaning against the bay window seat

- You, Finn, and Saoirse holding hands and walking, Saoirse in the middle, the pair of you looking down at her and her looking at the animals (you had to bring a chair outside to achieve this)

- Saoirse on her carousel, reaching up and attempting to touch the lights that lined the top of it

- Your hand on top of Finn's showing off your wedding rings

- The three of you on the steps of your vardo (which you had moved next to the stables a while back)

- Saoirse feeding your chickens

Finn's twelve consisted of;

- You, leaning against a door frame with your arms by your side, smiling shyly up at the camera

- Saoirse petting your horse Charlotte

- You, sat at your vanity, brushing your hair (he managed to angle it so he was in the reflection of the mirror, camera to his face)

- You and Saoirse on his rocking chair, giggling, Saoirse in your lap

- The cat and dogs on the couch (you had scolded him after this one)

- Saoirse and you making a cake, you showing her the contents inside the metal bowl as she knelt on the kitchen island

- You, and him standing next to a tree in your orchard, looking up at Saoirse who was in the branch above the pair of you

- A mirror picture of the three of you in the guest bathroom downstairs, you leaning against the wall, plaiting Saoirse's hair, and Finn sat on the edge of the tub, Saoirse 'fixing up' his curls

- Saoirse, leaning against the couch with her arms crossed under her head, looking directly at the lens with a serious face

- You, playing guitar

- Saoirse playing ukulele

- Finn and you at the upright piano, Saoirse sat on top of it, legs dangling down over the keys

Saoirse's twelve were;

- Finn, sat up on Charlotte, you kissing Charlotte's nose

- You, spinning around in the field, so your dress was flared out

- Finn sitting in his rocking chair, lighting up a smoke

- You, brushing the cat's fur

- You and Finn, kissing in the backyard (she had giggled and giggled and giggled when she had took this photo)

- Daisy and Duke asleep in their basket

- You and Finn icing the cupcakes that you and Saoirse had made

- Finn, piggybacking Saoirse, Saoirse giggling

- You and Saoirse standing with your backs to the camera, your hands coming up to make a heart

- You, Saoirse, and Finn crouched (you two girls kneeling) in front of the small pond in your front yard, Saoirse pointing to a fish in the pond

- You, sat down in the field, weaving long grass into a basket

- Finn sat on a chair, his front against the back of it, watching you as you leaned towards a mirror, running a finger along your hair (This was Saoirse's favourite, because all you could see in Finn's eyes was pure adoration)

You had taken the film to town to get developed and buy photo frames, a trip which you all thoroughly enjoyed, especially because Finn ended up taking you all to get ice cream. It was a good day.

§§§

Thank you to everyone that voted on names, appreciate your input so much!!

Also shout out to everyone that replies/messages me and gives me feedback/comments!! I love hearing feedback lol

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 37

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 35

PUBLISHED: 07/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

READER'S POV

Finn and I had already been to camp (after showering together, of course) to get breakfast and pick up Saoirse. Now we were in the living room, hanging up the paintings that Billy had given us for Christmas. He had given one to each of us, then one to all of us.

I had no doubt that Linda thought of the gift. She may have been a bitch, but she sure knew how to pick presents.

It was a good thing, too, because they made our walls look all the less bare. We didn't have many photos. Finn's parents weren't overly worried about taking photos of him, and we could rarely get near a camera to take photos of Saoirse, having to draw or paint her instead. In fact, the only photo Finn and I had together, as well as the only one all three of us had together, was ones from our wedding.

I frowned as I adjusted the painting on its hook and made sure it was level, then stepped back, going and curling up in my armchair.

"What's wrong, my love?" Finn asked from his spot on the floor next to Saoirse, practicing a song she taught him on the ukulele as she read a book.

"We don't have any family photos," I huffed, and Saoirse stopped reading to look at me.

Finn shrugged one shoulder, as if he couldn't care less, making me scowl. He cocked a brow and waved a hand, showing him to not worry about it.

"We should get some?" She suggested, although it sounded more like a question than a suggestion.

"We can book a photographer for our wedding anniversary," Finn added, eyes still on me as he studied me.

"I'd like that idea. But it's ages away though," I complained, throwing my arms up in annoyance as I shifted so I was dangling my legs over the side of the chair and my upper half was hanging over the other side of the armchair.

"It's in nine days, on the tenth," Finn pointed out as I listened to the fire crackle, and my eyes widened.

"Like fuck it is," I protested, rolling out of the chair, landing on my hands and knees with a 'thud' then standing up and marching over to the door leading to the hallway, making my way into the kitchen.

I headed towards the fridge, where we had a calendar hung up on it, and looked at the January page.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Oh, fuck, it is."

"Told you," Finn replied as he came into the kitchen, making me roll my eyes.

I kept on looking at the calendar as Finn pottered around.

"Your birthday is on the third?" I asked, turning to face my husband, "How come you never said anything about it."

He paused, mouth open as the arm holding the cookie he was going to bite stopping in its tracks, and shrugged, then bit half of the cookie clean off.

I gave him a deadpan look, clearly not impressed with his response, and grabbed the pen from the top of the fridge, then wrote in my birthday, placing the pen on top of the fridge once more.

"Well, when's yours then?" He questioned, mouth still full of cookie.

"On the fourth," I answered, and walked over to the island to grab my own cookie out of the jar.

He swallowed the food in his mouth, looking at me in bewilderment, "Of January?"

"Of January," I confirmed, and took a bite, humming at the taste of it.

They were homemade, I made them yesterday before we started partying.

Finn's eyes kept on flickering to my bracelet as he nibbled on his second biscuit, and I nudged him with my foot.

"What, Finn?" I sighed, feeling slightly frustrated, and he held a finger up as he continued chewing, then swallowed, and wiped his lower face with the back of his hand, ridding it of any crumbs.

He hesitated, putting his cookie down. He opened his mouth and closed it. I fought the urge to cross my arms impatiently, instead deciding to reach out and grab his hand, rubbing the back of it with my thumb. The action made his cheeks tint pink.

"Erm — I was looking at the rose charm," Finn admitted, leaning back against the island and hoisting himself up to sit on the bench.

I did the same, swinging my feet and waiting for him to continue.

"Well — I know from how all of the kids talk that Aberama and Rose never actually separated and that your father never actually got with Marian. And I'm confused about how you even ended up with Aberama." Finn said, the words tumbling out of his mouth and nearly running together at some points.

I nodded slowly, "How about a cup of tea?"

Finn immediately leaned over and switched the kettle on, as I wiggled around and made myself more comfortable, leaning back on my palms.

"So — where should I start?" I asked my husband, looking up at the roof so I wouldn't have to see him looking at me.

"At the start," He replied, barely giving me time to finish my own sentence.

I took a moment to think, before starting to speak.

"Rose and Aberama were on again off again, although everyone knew they belonged together. They had Esmeralda a good six years before me, then Bonnie followed three years after. In an off again stage, Dad met Marian at a fairground, and they got to know each other in the biblical sense. Eight months later, I came along, and with the help of some healers from the Gold family, I survived." I said, racking my brain for what Dad told me about my early years.

"Eight months?" Finn asked incredulously, eyes wide, "Is that why you're so short?"

I could feel my cheeks growing warmer.

"The healers said it was an effect of coming into the world too early!" I snapped, and Finn said a quick 'Sorry'.

"Anyway. I lived with Marian, and Dad would come and visit when he could, taking me on the road when Marian let him. Sometimes Marian even came with. Her and Rose got on well, as well as her and the older two, until they found out what she was really like, of course. He had eyes in the neighbourhood, other travellers that had settled down, so he knew how I was faring, somewhat. Uhhh — I never went to school. Marian didn't want to send me, instead I just ran amuck around the neighbourhood, playing hopscotch, making friends, eating apples from our neighbours' orchard — just having fun." I paused as the kettle stopped boiling.

Finn got up and started making us tea.

"Keep going," He requested as he grabbed the biscuits.

"Marian was forever nasty when I was a child, only nice when we had company. It got worse as I got older," I recounted, my hand absentmindedly going up and rubbing the small scar going through my eyebrow, "When Saoirse came along, after I turned eight, Dad and Rose came to visit us with her. That was probably the first time Dad, and the older two, actually ever saw firsthand how Marian treated me. Dad didn't take too kindly to it, and tried to take me off of Marian, but Marian had a lot of friends in high places, friends that wouldn't mind turning a blind eye to the way she treated me."

Finn grimaced as he brought my tea and biscuits over to me and sat it on the bench next to me, then taking the time to press a kiss to my forehead and hold it for a while, before moving to get his own tea and biscuits.

"Erm, it all came to a head when I turned nine. Dad, Rose, and the kids all came over for my birthday and it turned to shit. There was a lot of things thrown, words said, and tears. I don't like talking about it. No one does. Dad took me away that day, saying he'd shoot Marian if she tried to stop him, and I believed it. I visited her once again when I was thirteen, but other than that I had no contact with her, and didn't see her again until the wedding," I finished, and Finn took a long, slow, sip of his tea.

"It wasn't all bad," I added, "But you know how it is."

"We tend to focus on the bad parts," Finn said understandingly, nodding.

I gave him a small smile, and took a sip of my own tea.

"Erm — is Marian the reason you got funny over family photos?" Finn asked carefully, and I let a long breath out through my nostrils.

"She — she didn't have any photos of me, but she always had her and everyone else she knew up in the walls," I explained, and Finn frowned, leaning over and placing a hand on my knee, then squeezing it.

"Now, Mr. Shelby, what was your life like?" I inquired, and Finn chuckled, dipping his biscuit into his tea.

"Can we finish our tea first?" He asked, and I nodded, grabbing one of my own biscuits.

•••

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You and Finn decided to celebrate your birthdays together, on the fifth of January, with a lunch at your house, in the garden, with everyone bringing a dish of food.

It was a joyous occasion, with quite a few people in attendance. Esme and her brood even attended it, to your surprise.

If you could make a day happen again, the fifth of January, 1927, would be your first choice.

§§§

Short lil chapter because it's sorta kinda a filler lol it was meant to go in a different direction but it didn't go in that direction so eh

Also I'll give you guys from five days to a week to pick baby names from the list in the previous chapter (voting ending on the 14th of July at the latest lol)

Also — If some of you eagle eyed readers noticed that the first set of baby names were all variants of Finn's name, there's a reason for that.

If you go back to chapter nine, you'll see a scene where the reader says that she would never name her child 'Finn Junior' if she was naming them after Finn, instead using his first name as a middle name or using a variant of his name for the first name 🤭

Anyways — The rest of the chapters between now and when I plan to start writing about season 5 may all be shorter than usual, due to being fillers/not being overly important to the plot, just being more of Finn and the Reader's relationship lol

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

NEXT PART

Part 36

[gracefulsunflower]

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 34

PUBLISHED: 07/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You, the rest of the Golds, the Jesuses, the Shelbys, and Johnny Doggs' tribe were all in the dining hall of Arrow House, eating lunch. Tommy was hosting a Christmas lunch, and everyone stayed over the night before. The kids had all opened the present at the crack of dawn. You and Finn still had a handful of presents for Saoirse to open when you got home.

She had opened a few at Arrow House, her favourite one so far a kaleidoscope. She loved bright colours.

"Nice nails, there Finny boy," Arthur snickered, looking at his brother's purple nails.

Finn flushed but continued scooping potato salad onto the plate for Saoirse, who was fiddling with her new kaleidoscope, looking at the lights with it. You watched your sister as she looked up at the ceiling, and giggled at how the lights made the mosaic of colours all the more vivid. Saoirse heard Arthur's remark, and wasted no time narrowing her eyes at Arthur from across the table, and tightened her grip on her kaleidoscope. You snatched it out of her hand, knowing she was most likely to throw it at Arthur's head.

The older man shifted uncomfortably. At eight (and one month and a bit), your sister had already mastered many stares. The one she was giving Arthur now was her death stare. It even made Polly and Tommy uncomfortable sometimes.

"Can I help you?" He asked, sounding slightly disturbed.

You glanced at Finn, who gave a shrug after he placed your sister's plate in front of her.

"You think Finn's nails are funny," Saoirse replied in a matter of factly tone, a tone that gave no room for questioning.

Arthur moved in his seat, sitting himself up straighter than he was before. You resisted the urge to snicker at his discomfort. Finn was now biting his fist to try not to laugh.

"Well yes," Arthur said, moving his hand as he talked, "Us Shelby men think painted nails are for girls."

"They were done by a girl," Saoirse said shortly, obviously not impressed with Arthur, "My other best friend, Daisy. And she's better than all of you Shelby men combined, and worth her weight in gold."

You bit back a snort and rattled your sister's kaleidoscope, making her look at it and grab it back off of you, proceeding to look down at her plate of food with it.

Arthur cleared his throat, spearing a piece of his potato salad with his fork, and nodded.

"Fair enough, I believe ya," He replied, and Saoirse nodded, then had some of her own macaroni and cheese.

That was another trait of Arthur's you admired. He never spoke to children like they were stupid, and took their words into account. A trait that not many people possessed.

You knew Saoirse liked it. She would always complain about Linda, who treated her and Karl like they were still five, but you understood Linda's perspective as well.

You pushed the thought away as you had some of your own macaroni and cheese. An odd choice for Christmas lunch, but Charles was going through a phase where he wanted it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so he requested a dish of it be made. Lizzie told you that it was driving her mad, and if anyone offered her the dish in future she'd shove the dish and spoon they were serving the food with up the person's arse.

You ate the rest of your lunch without anyone making any remarks about Finn's nails, then got ready to leave, saying your see you laters to everyone. Finn got a maid to go and grab the containers of food he had put away, and you ushered Saoirse to the car, her presents already been put in the trunk and backseat by a butler.

You were dreading the drive home. You had to go the long way to go back home, because the road from Birmingham to your house was flooded and boggy. Damn unsealed roads.

The drive was going to take a couple of hours, and you weren't keen on driving it because you had such a long day already. You knew that you had to go home, however, you didn't want the roads to be closed and for you to be stuck away from your house. You were grateful that Tommy had given your family food from the lunch to have for dinner, saving you having to make a meal from scratch.

You looked at your sister in the rear view mirror, who was looking at the rain covered window through her kaleidoscope, and the corners of your lips turned up.

Finn placed a hand on your knee and squeezed it. You jumped slightly at the temperature difference between his hand and his wedding band, but as you relaxed yourself into the seat, listening to the rain pattering on the windows of the car and your sister's humming, you felt entirely at home.

The car ride wasn't as bad as you thought it would be. You got home in one piece, which was good, and ate your dinner, which was even better. Now you were in Saoirse's room, sitting on her bench with your husband softly swaying back and forth, watching her as she sluggishly played with her toys. Finn placed his glass of whiskey down in between the pair of you.

"I'll go run the shower for her," Finn told you, getting up from the bench.

You hummed and moved to pick out Saoirse's bedclothes, and stoke the fire. You were the first person to have a shower, having one as soon as you got home. You could hear the shower turn on, so you grabbed Saoirse's hairbrush and undid her braids; then pulled her hair up on top of her head in a bun. Finn came back and leaned in against the doorframe, arms crossed against his chest, watching you and your sister.

"Don't wet your hair," You told your sister, who nodded as she stood up, taking her bedclothes in hand and heading to the bathroom.

"I have a present for you," You informed your husband, picking up his glass of whiskey and crossing the room to meet him.

He moved to grab his glass from you, and you held it out behind you, raising your eyebrows. Finn cocked an eyebrow, and you tapped your lips with the pointer finger of your free hand, making him roll his eyes at your antics, but still lean down and place a kiss on your lips.

"That wasn't so hard, wasn't it?" You asked you husband teasingly, handing him back his glass.

The corners of his lips quirked up as he chuckled at you, then followed you to your shared bedroom, where you got a present out of the drawer of your vanity.

"Merry Christmas, Finn darling," You said with a soft smile upon your lips.

Finn came over to you, throwing back the last of his whiskey as he walked, then placed the empty glass on your vanity, taking the present into his hands and ripping it open. He opened the box, and there was a gold watch. He took it out of its box, and inspected it. He turned it over in his hands, and saw that on the back was an inscription;

'For Finn.

I will keep loving you even

after this watch stops ticking.

Always and Forever, (Y/N)'

"It's from Cartier. Do you like it?" You asked your husband, shifting from foot to foot, watching him as he rubbed his thumb gently over the inscription.

"I love it," He answered honestly as he put it on, "The inscription, it's really nice. Thoughtful. Endearing."

You felt your cheeks warm at his words. His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"It fits perfectly. How the fuck did you know my wrist measurements?" Finn questioned, and you gave him an all knowing look.

"It came to me in a vision whispered upon the winds of  secrets," You answered dramatically as you went and sat on the ottoman.

Finn gave you a look that told you that he didn't believe your obvious lie.

"You sleep like the fucking dead. I measured your wrist while you were sleeping, there." You admitted, and Finn started chuckling as he headed into the walk in wardrobe, and grabbed a bag from the top shelf, right at the back.

He had hidden it there because he knew you were too short to reach it there.

"Finn, if it's not fragile, throw," You requested, holding your hand out, ready to catch it.

You were forever impatient when it came to gifts.

Your husband obeyed your request, tossing it to you, offering you a 'nice catch' when you caught it. You knew just by the blue colour of the bag, without even looking at the writing on the front of it that it was Tiffany & Co.

You opened the bag, and found a box inside it. You took it out of the bag, and opened it, finding a silver charm bracelet, and a note.

You looked at the note first, instantly recognising Finn's handwriting.

'To (Y/N)

My friend, my love, my partner, my wife — I'm forever grateful that I have you in my life.

I love you, Always and Forever.

- Finn'

You 'awwed', and looked at the charm bracelet. It was silver. You were glad. You preferred silver jewellery. The charms were coloured, though. A bee, yellow and black, a tiger, orange and black, a green turtle, a blue butterfly, the letter 'A', which was gold, a red rose, a grey cat, a brown and white dog, an onion, and a silver 'F'.

A bee for you. A tiger for Bonnie. A turtle for Esmeralda. A butterfly for Saoirse. 'A' for Aberama. A rose for Rose. A cat for Finn Junior. A dog for Tuck. An onion for you (you snorted at this). And finally, 'F' for Finn.

"It's gorgeous, Finn I love it." You murmured, scared of being loud in case your voice cracked.

You looked up at your husband, who was surprised to tears welling in your eyes. He quickly moved to kneel in front of you.

"I'm fine. Just emotional," You said, then chuckled.

Finn chuckled along with you, helping you put the bracelet and note back into the bag, ready for you to wear tomorrow. You yawned and stumbled into the walk in, changing for bed, then staggered to bed, crawling under the covers, your husband following suit.

"I love you," You mumbled to your husband as a goodnight, eyes already shut as you made yourself comfortable.

"I love you too," Finn murmured, reaching out to touch you before succumbing to sleep.

•••

New Year's Eve. A spectacular occasion, one your family celebrated like no other. They pulled out all of the stops. The Fury family also joined in your celebration this time round, something you loved. You rarely got to see that side of your family. And fucking hell, if you thought that the Golds knew how to party, you obviously had never partied with the Fury family.

Finn had had a good time, so far, part of which he was pinning on the green leaf he had smoked in a glass pipe with Bonnie and Aberama earlier on in the night. That and all of the short, electric touched and charged stares you and him had been giving each other all night were entwining inside of him and building up to something unbearable.

Finn looked at you through the flickering flames of the bonfire in front of him. You looked different. A good kind. You had your hair done up high in a messy bun, showing off your new ear piercings. Your nose piercing flickered in the light of the fire. Finn's eyes wondered downwards, to the dress you had on. It was a deep, dull red, and came off the shoulder, showing off your shoulders and a great expanse of chest, as well as some cleavage. You looked divine.

You reached up and let your hair down, the Fury girls either side of you helping make sure it looked okay as you took a swig of the bottle in your hand. One of the girls whispered something to you as she sat back down, and you looked over at him, and winked, then went back to talking to her, laughing at whatever she said before. He watched your lips as they moved, and found himself licking his own.

Finn could feel the heat pool in his gut, his ruddy cheeks flushing a deeper red. He wanted you. He stood up abruptly, giving the bottle he was nursing to the person next to him, and making his way over to you. You noticed this, and nearly tripped over your own feet getting up and rushing around the bonfire to your husband.

"(Y/N)," He said, placing a hand on your arm.

You shivered at the contact, and looked up into your husband's dark eyes.

"You've been staring at me all night like that, Finn," You murmured, then looked away, trying to rid you head of the thoughts you were having whilst you were in company.

"Because I want you," He breathed in reply, making you snap your head back to look at him, eyes wide.

You looped your finger through the loop of his jeans and dragged him away from camp, back towards your house. As he stumbled along, Finn could hear someone say that they only had a minute of this year to go.

Sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight.

You stopped, and Finn took that as his chance to push you up against a tree, lips connecting with yours, hands exploring your body over your clothes. You wasted no time letting your hands wander over his body.

"Finn, what if people find us?" You gasped, and he leaned down to nip at your neck.

Thirty-seven, thirty-six, thirty-five.

"Let them," He said simply, breath hot against your flesh, feeling painfully in the moment.

"What a way to start the new year," You mused as you helped him out of his shirt.

Twenty-one, twenty, nineteen.

As the people in your camp reached zero, you and Finn were already tangled up in each other, the worry of someone discovering the pair of you far gone.

•••

Bonnie walked into your house, head still pounding. He was coming to tell you that breakfast was ready, even though it was closer to lunch than sunrise.

The dogs barked at him, making him wine. He grabbed the dog food out of the pantry and poured it into each of their bowls, and did the same with the cat and his cat food, then put the food away and continued his task of finding you and Finn.

He made it up the stairs without falling back down them, a feat he was proud of his still drunk self for doing, and used the wall as support as he made his way to your bedroom door.

He opened it, and was surprised to see your clothes, as well as your husbands, discarded on the floor around the room.

He looked over at your bed, and saw the bruises littering Finn's chest, and snickered, closed the door back up, knocking on it. He listened carefully, and heard some shuffling in the room, then your voice, then Finn's.

He waited a few beats, then the door was opened, a half dressed Finn standing there, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Breakfast is ready back at camp." Bonnie said simply, then flicked his eyes down to Finn's chest, "You might want to put a shirt on before you come down, through."

Finn flushed and nodded, shutting the door, then Bonnie spun on his heels and went down the hallway, snickering to himself.

§§§

Okay I have a VERY important question for you dear readers that I would please like a few people to answer; since the reader and Finn are going to have babies, I would like you guys to help me pick out the baby names lol.

Which baby names do you prefer? (Please either reply or send me a message or something lol)

First child:

Finneas

Finch

Finley

Second child:

Isaac

Elijah/Eli

Ezra

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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Part 35