#I also don't believe in divorce. Once you marry a Shelby–

[everyonesawhoregrace]

The Wife

One | Welcome Back

I stared nervously at the doctors bald head. My eyes were wide and I felt nothing but a sense of discomfort as he pulled away from my parted legs. The doctor tore off his gloves and tossed them in the bin beside him, I looked down at the slightly bloodied gloves and got even more nervous. My entire body clammed up. I wanted to die.

Beside me sat a familiar face, that of Thomas Shelby. My husband.

Immediately, I felt at eased as he looked at me. His blue eyes could heal the world from its maddeness. It was engraved in my soul, feeling safe around Thomas was kind of a given. When he noticed me staring, he leaned in and brought his lips to my ear, my eyes fluttered shut and I listened for him to speak.

"I'm going to fucking kill you if you're pregnant." Thomas states in a low growl.

I hold my breath but turn to meet his eyes. My mouth flies open.

"Well lucky for you, Joanna, you aren't pregnant." Dr. Moore says and pulls off his glasses. He brings his attention to Thomas now, and frowns. "I don't like those kind of threats in my office, Mr. Shelby. Even if your wife is apparently committing adultery."

"Yeah, Thomas listen to the man." I take the doctor's hand, who helps me sit up. "Thank you doc." I smile.

"You're welcome." He replies before standing up. "Medically, I don't have to prescribe anything but might I suggest marriage counselling for the both of you."

Dr. Moore has been my doctor since I was a child, and Tommy hates that another man has known me for longer than he's known me. It's sick and twisted but I fell madly in love with sick and twisted.

I pull down my dress and pull up my underwear, turning to Tommy I laugh. "He doesn't believe in marriage counselling."

Thomas shakes his head. "I also don't believe in divorce. Once you marry a Shelby–"

"You die being married to them, even though you hate each other." I add with a light hum. Turning to doc, I widen my eyes and mouth, HELP ME.

Dr. Moore shakes his head, "That doesn't sound healthy. What does your mum and dad think of this, Joanna?"

I laugh, but this time it's in fear. "They don't know about any of this. They thought we got a divorce when I went away to the south of France."

Thomas gets out a cigarette. "Your parents are enablers."

He gets up and walks towards the window, cracking it open he looks outside. It's a gloomy day, and Tommy looks perfect along the London street. He looks divine, dressed in a long black coat and a professional suit on. I know he got all dolled up for me, for goodness sake, he even smelled golden. Thomas wore a brand new suit for me when he picked me up from the smelly ship dock. I know he wore a brand new suit because the tag was still on his blazer. I was flattered.

"You say that only because they hate you." I scoff, folding my arms over my chest.

"Alright! Out!" Dr. Moore claps his hand. "I will not stand around for this no longer. Mr. and Mrs. Shelby, have a good rest of your day."

"Alright old man." Thomas barks.

"Thomas!" I hiss, before turning back to my doctor. "I do apologize for my incredibly rude husband."

Dr. Moore only shakes his head, he escapes the room before Thomas lights his cigarette. Something that is not allowed in such establishments.

"So are you glad you're not pregnant?" He asks me, grabbing my purse from the examination table.

"Of course I am." I hiss. "God forbid I end up carrying a child that isn't yours."

My sarcasm makes a hint of joy creep up on Tommy's face. I almost congratulate myself. He strides over to the door, and yanks it open, open for me. "Go ahead, princess." He nods.

I roll my eyes, leaving the room. "Just say welcome back, you prick."

He fixes his coat and runs a hand over his face, "Welcome back you prick." He murmurs.

I walk in front of him, and knowing he can't see me, I break into a big smile. Ah, hopefully, it's good to be back.

[myriadxofxmuses]

@indiestarter

Open to: Thomas Shelby, Peaky Blinders fandom/Canon divergent aus (set during season 2 and beyond. Will be pro-ship, slow burn, length will vary)

Muse: Emily. (Cliff's note bio: She had three brothers. All were called to war. Her parents are deceased, so she volunteered to be a nurse (having started training while married to her first husband - who has divorced her over her inability to provide him a family. Her miscarriages and subsequent finding of being barren adding to his decision.) while her siblings were off fighting. They all end up perishing. She moves to start a new as a nanny - her nurse training a plus for families. Becomes Ada's nanny for Karl after her husband dies and that's how she's brought into the Shelby's world.)

Emily had just gotten Karl down for the night when Ada came home from work. She was busy finishing up dinner and cleaning up the kitchen.

"Karl's just been to bed," she called out as she turned off the sink and shook her hands clean. "He tried his best to stay up for mum, but his little eyes got too heavy for him," she reported as she made their plates.

Ada walked in, half furious, half in shock, and made her way to the small kitchen table. She set her things down, the house keys Tommy had given her included, and scoffed.

"What are those?" Emily asked as she brought their plates to the table, motioning to the keys as she sat.

Ada remained silent, still in disbelief that her brother found her. His reach really was far. Farther than she expected. She would never be able to outrun the Shelby name, no matter how desperately she tried to.

"Ada?" Emily asked, pausing her meal in concern. "Are you alright?"

"My brother, Tommy, gave me a house earlier today," she finally admitted.

"Really! That's wonderful," she told her excitedly. "Now maybe you won't feel so cramped," she offered in continued congratulations, referring to a recent conversation about Karl and his growing need for space.

"I'm not taking it," Ada told her almost emotionless.

"Not taking it? Why? Ada, this is a good thing. You just said you wanted more space for Karl to play and grow, but we're worried you wouldn't be able to on your salary. Now you can."

"I'm not taking it because it comes from filthy Shelby money. Money my brother only uses for his own personal gain. Nothing more," she explained further. "My brother is only doing this to further his 'business' and to keep tabs on me. He can't accept that I've given up the Shelby name."

Emily could hear the disdain for her brother in her voice. She'd divulge enough to know the tensions between Ada and her family back in Birmingham - the races, the danger, the constant drama. Even how Ada's newfound communist beliefs pushed them away. . Emily had heard most of it, but what she had also gotten out of it was that the Shelbys were tight-knit. Nothing got in between their bond or their loyalty.

Emily stopped eating and took hold of Ada's hand, bringing the woman's attention to her. "Ada. I know you're angry with your brothers, but Tommy obviously loves you or he wouldn't have wanted this to be yours," she said placing the keys in her hands. "Families fight. All of them. My brothers and I would argue until the cows came home sometimes. I couldn't stand it and I'd wished them dead more than once," she admitted with a soft, sad chuckle. "But there is nothing I wouldn't do to bring them back for a day - even if it meant fighting with them. Don't throw away what little good the Shelbys do because of differing beliefs and past tragedies."

"You don't know Tommy."

"No, but you do. And it is obvious he loves you and only wants the best. For both you and Karl and it seems to me that he is trying to make it right with you," Emily assumed. "Give him a chance."

Ada couldn't believe Emily was siding with Tommy. Without so much as a hello nonetheless. But she was right on some level. Ada knew Tommy loved her unconditionally. Regardless of her anger and dislike toward him currently, she couldn't dent he'd always been there in the past.

"I'm not saying you have to go back to being friendly with him or the rest of the Shelby clan. But it can't hurt to at least go and see what he's given you," she said putting the keys in her hand.

She took the keys and rolled them in her grip. Taking anything from Tommy always meant there was a catch. But she did need a bigger place. And his arrival, though infuriating, was convenient.

"Fine. But we're only going to look. I don't want to be in Tommy's pocket just for a bigger roof over our heads."

------

The two women looked up at the house the next afternoon. It was beautiful. And big.

"Shall we head inside?" Emily asked with a smile, still hopeful Ada would change her mind about the place.

And it had.

It would only take the women a few days of constant work to be moved in and settled. And another few weeks after that when a knock came calling as Emily put Karl down for his afternoon nap.

"Can I help you?" she asked the man on the other side once she'd opened the door.