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look-at-the-soul · 11 months

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My refuge

Tommy Shelby x reader (daughter)

Request by @kpopgirlbtssvt Thank you for sharing this incredible idea around, I decided to give it a try, but I highly encourage any other writer who wants to join in because the way I approach it. Might be completely different…

I think this idea was the perfect match to celebrate K @runnning-outof-time 3K followers celebration! 🌹🌷💐🌺🌼Congratulations dear K, I adored your Tales from the Garden theme and had this visual idea of the garden…

“Daddy? I brought some tea.”

Tommy looked towards the door, where you were standing poking only your head inside his office, his heart still skipped a beat every time he heard you call him that.

“You can come in sweetheart.” He stamped his cigarette in the ashtray.

Michael sighed loudly as you interrupted their conversation, his annoyance didn’t go unnoticed by Tommy.

“Frances helped me bake cookies, I hope you like it.” Y/N smile made Tommy smile as well, how could he reject you something? If his only daughter wanted him to eat a cookie, he’d eat a fucking cookie.

“Thank you love.”

Michael scoffed again, watching the interaction.

“Will you be busy for the rest of the afternoon?” You asked sweetly as your father took another sip of his tea.

“Why?”

“Because you promised we’d go riding.”

Tommy’s expression softened.

He stood up immediately, looking in Michael’s direction. “We’ll see this tomorrow.”

“What? No, Tommy I need y-”

“Michael.” Tommy warned giving his cousin a death stare, he wouldn’t repeat himself.

Turning his back at him, Tommy got rid of his suit jacket, and started rolling the sleeves of his shirt up.

Michael looked annoyed at you and then at Tommy, he felt a strong dislike for the long lost daughter that suddenly appeared, making his cousin a soft, ridiculous, old man.

Michael grabbed the papers from Tommy’s desk and stormed out of the office without a word.

“He’s always angry.” You stated with a giggle, making your father chuckle.

“Let’s go my darling.” He took the remaining of his tea in one big gulp and then the cookies you baked to eat on the walk to the stables.

It was impossible to not feel calmer around you, Tommy noticed. Realizing how full of life he felt, how much he wanted to protect you.

On their way to the stables, you stopped to smell one of the bushes with pink roses. Your Dad, who was usually in a hurry, stopped on his tracks to take in the moment, wishing he could be more like you. But deep down he knew he wasn’t made to enjoy simple moments like those.

“I love your garden, I could spend all day sitting here surrounded by this beauty.”

Tommy felt constantly in awe by the things that made you smile, his mind trying to storage every moment, every word, trying to make up for the time he lost.

He stayed quiet as the two of you were riding, thinking of how much you and the woman he once loved looked alike.

“I shouldn’t have interrupted your meeting with Michael?” You asked worried. “Sorry, I thought you were free.”

“What? No, none of that, you’re my priority from now on.”

“Then why are you so quiet?”

Tommy was forced to look up at you, fighting against the lump in his throat. “You look exactly like your mother.”

Without even knowing, you had started a revolution within him, made him go back in time when he was young and carefree.

“How did you and Mum meet?” The question had been on your mind for a while, you looked in his direction with curiosity, not understanding the reason why everyone looked at your father with fear in their eyes, he was the sweetest man on earth.

Tommy took his time to think of how to elaborate a proper answer.

“I saw her at an Appleby fair, she was dancing with other girls… she was like a magnet, I couldn’t look anywhere else.” For an instant, he was back in time into that very moment.

“What happened then?” Your face lit up, moved to have this little piece of information, for years, you only knew your mum’s side of the story, now, it was time to get both.

“She asked me out to dance with her, then it started to rain heavily and the fair was canceled, we went to my caravan and I’ve never been happier,” Tommy stopped and winked at his daughter, “until you stood in my front door.”

“She always talked about you, until her very last breath.”

“I wish I could prevent her parents taking you both away from me… but when I went to France and sent her letter with no answer, eventually, I stopped writing.” A heavy sigh abandoned his body as he stopped by a tree.

In more ways than he thought, talking about your mother helped him heal a part of his heart that had been broken for a little over two decades.

You came down from the horse and saw how your father secured both next to a tree.

A tender hand came to rest to the side of your face. “I’m just so glad you found me.”

There was a bittersweet look in his eyes, you noticed.

“I made quite an entrance, fighting off the maid, telling her, no I demanded a word with you.”

Small lines appeared around his eyes. “Like the good Shelby that you’re.”

“You never doubted for a second?”

But your Dad was already shaking his head. “No way, I knew it was you in that very moment.” He admitted, in his mind images of that day playing in his mind.

He was running late that morning and as commotion was happening downstairs, he rushed with a gun ready. Even from afar, as he took in your features, he knew it was you.

“But I confirmed it when I saw the broken Black Madonna around your neck.”

You looked at him confused.

“Back then I didn’t own anything,” he explained bending one knee, “so one day I found this broken Madonna relic, it was missing the hook to attach it to the chain, so the owner of the stand gave it to me for free, I tried to fix it and gave it to your mum for one of her birthdays.”

“That’s beautiful.” You touched it, feeling your heart beat under your hand.

Saving these memories in the deepest part of your soul.

You talked for hours, Tommy had never felt more free to speak his mind, his fears , his dreams, he realized his daughter understood him at a level nobody else did. You were his blood, and the exact same image of your mother.

***

“Good morning, thank you for coming.” Tommy walked into his office not realizing the door didn’t close completely.

“Finally after canceling this bloody meeting so many times.” Michael sighed as Tommy entered the office.

“I like your enthusiasm Michael, hopefully you will still carry that around by the end, ey?”

Leaning back, Michael tilted his head, he was clearly annoyed with the delay.

“Hopefully someone won’t interrupt us this time around over a fucking cup of tea or to go and pick up wild flowers to make a crown.”

The cigarette Tommy was about to light didn’t reach his lips, as he stopped midway.

“What didya say?” Tommy squinted his eyes.

“I said I’m fucking tired of your daughter interrupting us every single time-”

“Y/N, her name is Y/N Shelby.” Tommy dragged his words slowly, leaning his palms on his desk staring deeply into his cousin’s eyes.

“I don’t know you anymore, since when you push everything to the side Tommy? This business demands your full attention an-”

“Since she showed up in my doorstep!” Tommy slammed the desk with his hand, his voice raising. “After being away from me for twenty years, it really shouldn’t be a surprise she has become my priority now.��

“Michael.” Polly tried to warn him.

But Tommy raised his hand, to let him speak.

“I just can’t stand how you immediately turn into a fucking puppy as soon as she walks into any room, her little happy bubble is fucking annoying, this is a serious business and we don’t need a child with a bouncy bow interrupting everyone fucking meeting.”

Tommy remained quiet for a few seconds, his mouth pressed in a tight line. “Are you done, Michael?”

“I mean if you want to take some time apart from the company to spend time to work on your family bond.”

As you took the last step of the staircase, you noticed the voices coming from your father’s office, it was probably your family as you noticed Polly’s voice.

Walking closer to join them and before you could reach the knob, you heard something that stopped you on your tracks.

John couldn’t hold it any longer and started laughing.

“You definitely look like a fucking puppy, you can’t deny it… as soon as you see Y/N you turn into a fucking marionette, she does whatever she wants with you.”

“She turned you into a softy, brother.” The voice of your uncle Arthur pointed.

“Sometimes I wonder what the hell is she doing in a place like this.” Michael stated in a serious tone. “She doesn’t match the Shelby energy. What if someone comes at her? Does she even know how to use a fucking gun?”

Your heart sank to the floor, listening to what they thought of you.

Then it was your aunt Ada’s voice what you heard next. “She’s just a happy girl.”

“Ada knew how to use one at her age.” Polly admitted, you saw her over the slightly open door looking into her purse.

“Little Finn knew how to shoot before he was eight.” Arthur informed them.

“She’s a weakness, Tommy,” Michael insisted, “her happy bubble will lead us all into trouble someday.”

And for the first time, you felt anger building inside your body.

“Even Charlie seems to be more keen to be part of the business.”

With an unknown courage, you pushed the heavy door and stared at each of them. Shock reflected on their faces.

“I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to be happy, and I’m sorry for being in my little, weak bubble, but you’re probably right… I don’t belong here, I shouldn’t be a fucking Shelby.”

You didn’t waste another second to listen their answer, you turned your back at them and stormed out of the office, rushing towards the doors.

“Y/N wait!”

“Shit, how long has she been listening behind the door?” Ada asked.

“Did she really curse?” John asked shocked.

“I hope you’re fucking happy now, look at what you caused.” Tommy spat at Michael, leaving his family to go after his daughter.

But he wasn’t fast enough to go after you, when he reached the fountain, your small figure had already disappeared from his eyesight.

Looking down, he found the ribbon you always wore around your hair on the floor, about to fly away with the wind. Crounching down, he took it between his fingers, kicking himself internally at the thought of you feeling hurt.

“Get me the horse!” He barked, realizing how he wouldn’t be able to reach you by car.

You felt the way your heart was beating, uncontrollably while the tears blurred your vision. Realizing how silly you felt by thinking that you had found your place.

Being a Shelby by name wasn’t enough for them, no, you had to cut people’s eyes and be ruthless and clearly, you weren’t like that.

And you’d never be.

Your legs were burning from running, after moving aimlessly you sank down, finally letting out a sob from the deepest part of your soul.

You felt broken inside, sad because no matter what, you would never be a part of their world, you didn’t understand the family business, didn’t feel familiar with weapons, you were weak according to them.

Perhaps Michael was right after all.

Back at the house Polly scolded her son for the words he said, should mind his own business and stay away from you.

“You have to change that bloody attitude, Y/N is one sweet little child, she lost her mother.”

“She’s not a child and Charlie lost his as well and he doesn’t go trying to get Tommy’s attention all the fucking time.”

“It’s a different dynamic Michael, you can’t expect them to behave the same.” Ada interrupted him.

“Y/N and Tommy have a special bond.” Polly admitted sipping on her tea. “You can see it in his eyes… Y/N’s mother was the love of his life.”

“I don’t remember her much.” Ada expressed pouring herself some whiskey.

“I didn’t even know he had a secret relationship with her.” Arthur sighed.

“They were young and in love.” Polly explained, she had covered her nephew a couple of times from his father for not being around, lied saying she asked him to run some errands. “She was a good girl, but I never saw her again. Guess her parents moved out angry when they realized she was pregnant.”

“I can’t find her.” Tommy announced with his breath caught up in his throat and a panic look in his eyes. “Arthur, John come with me. Ada take the car around,” he clicked his fingers. “Want every single maid looking for Y/N.”

Then, he threw his cousin a death stare. “If anything happens to me daughter… you’re a death man.”

Tommy couldn’t conceive the idea of you being out on your own at night, he needed to protect you.

In his heart he made a promise to your mother the day you showed up in his house with the letter she wrote him, explaining everything; how her parents sent her away to live with an aunt in the mountains when they found out she was pregnant, they let her keep you but under the condition of being raised as a sister and not daughter.

And he was failing.

Defeated, he rode back home, trying think a plan to find you. Where would you go?

He felt desperate and frustrated, about to explode from the worry, after returning to the property finally he stopped to let someone take his horse to drink some water after spending hours looking out for you. Taking his watch from the pocket in his vest he noticed it was close to sunset now and it would get cold.

If only he could tell you how much you meant to him.

They looked for you at the stables and around Arrow House, but you were nowhere to be seen. Tommy started to feel like a lion inside a fucking cage, he needed to calm down to think where would you go, looking to his right, his eyes fixed on a bush and that gave him the hint to go and look at the garden.

Feeling his heartbeat drumming in his ears, Tommy was determined to find you so he entered the maze. He followed the herbaceous border and took a right to find the fountain, walking past the yew buttresses. Wiping the sweat from his chin, he noticed a silhouette sitting by the steps of the gazebo.

And he couldn’t feel more joy in his chest, recognizing immediately it was you.

“Y/N.” He whispered out of breath.

You were pale and didn’t answer him.

Once more, he called your name, finally getting close enough to touch you. “Wake up baby girl.”

“Daddy?” You blinked away a few times, taking in your surroundings.

“You’re so cold.” He took his coat off and wrapped it around your shoulders.

The previous events slowly coming back into your memory. You probably fell asleep after crying endlessly.

“I’m sorry I’m a disappointment to the Shelby name.”

“Oh my darling you could never disappoint me.” He rocked your body slightly, trying to warm you up with his hands. “You have more heart than anyone in that house.”

“I dreamed of Mum… she gave me a hug and a kiss and said it would all be alright, because I’ve you.”

Tommy wasn’t able to answer as the words got caught up in his throat, so he did something he rarely did.

His arms wrapped around your back and he pushed you in a tight hug.

One that was repairing him from the inside out. One that was repairing his broken heart.

“I know my girl, cause she will always be with us.” He kissed your hair and looked up in the starry night thinking of your mother and how much he had loved her. “Let’s get you home.”

From afar, Polly witnessed the interaction knowing nothing in this world would ever tear you and Tommy apart.

“But they don’t think I belong here.”

“You belong here way more than any of them, this is your house and this is your family and they’ll have to learn to accept the fact that you’re the light of my eyes.”

And your eyes lit up by your fathers words, tears of happiness making your vision go blurry.

“I ordered the gardener to create this for you, it’s not finished yet though… I wanted you to feel in this place at home.”

Slowly, you broke away the embrace to look at your father, with a tender touch, he wiped the tears from the corner of your eyes.

“This is for you.” He encouraged with a smile. “It was a surprise I was saving for later.”

Taking in your surroundings, you couldn’t believe the beautiful oasis before your eyes. You haven’t noticed before.

“Daddy!” Your hands flew to your mouth. “That’s white daffodils.”

Tommy chuckled. “Oh don’t expect me to know that.”

“These are peonies!” You were delighted. “And irises.”

Tommy saw you moving around the garden, enjoying the peace you being happy in this place brought him.

Taking you by the shoulders, he made you turn around to face the gazebo.

“I particularly love that… imagined you sitting there for hours.”

You were lost in the colors and smell, but soon you turned around to look at your father.

“Thank you for giving me this.” Your arms found their way around his body, time stood still.

“I was hoping this would be your refuge.” Tommy whispered, kissing the top of your head.

“Can we join the hug?” Ada interrupted, making you both turn around.

“I’m sorry about what Michael said,” your aunt Pol apologized, “I do enjoy your cheerful energy.”

“It’s a balm to this fucking family madness.” Ada explained.

They each linked their arms around you tenderly.

“You’re a sweet child and I love you.” Arthur blushed but joined the hug as well, behind him, uncle John looked at you.

“When you came into our lives, I knew it was you the one who could make him line up.” John winked at you.

“Come on you two, don’t stay back there.” Ada shouted at Finn and Charlie, who were standing awkwardly a few steps away.

“You’re the sweetest young girl, we love you just like that, Y/N it doesn’t matter what anyone tells you, don’t let this cruel world change you an ounce.” Polly said caressing your face.

And you believed her, them.

She then looked at her nephew.

“You did a wonderful job with this place, Tommy.”

He didn’t need something like this though, since he felt like having you close, was his own kind of refuge. His safe haven.

***

Master list

A/N: Oops this got a bit long 🤭 but there were so many things I needed to add, I hope you enjoyed it!

Tag list: @lyarr24 @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @datewithgianni @cloudofdisney @gretelshelby @gypsy-girl-08 @lespendy @onlydeadcells @fastfan @stevie75 @prettylittlehoneyeyesxoxo @esposadomd @forbidden-forest-witch @ange-thoughts @moral-terpitude @elenavampire21 @forgottenpeakywriter @thenattitude @winchestergirl22 @heidimoreton @imichelle-l-rigby @allie131313 @already-broken144 @peakyscillian @babaohhhriley @shelbydelrey @shaddixlife @sloanexx @sydneyyyya @adaydreamaway08 @pono-pura-vida @thomashelbyswife @darleneslane

#That’s what Cill said #tommy shelby fanfic #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby x y/n #tommy shelby x daughter!reader #thomas shelby imagine #peaky blinders imagine #polly gray #arthur shelby imagine #polly gray imagine #john shelby imagine #michael shelby imagine

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justabigassnerd · 2 years

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You'll be safe here

Pairing - Tommy Shelby x teen!reader

Word count - 1,354

Warnings - mentions of abuse, injuries, angst

Summary - Tommy worries about the wellbeing of his youngest employee

A/N - whatddup y'all it's your girl coming at you with a new fic! This was an interesting idea sent in by an anon and I hope to god I did it justice because I never wanna let you guys down. I don't have much to say in this A/N other than please send in requests, feed back and enjoy!

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If there was one employee Tommy Shelby knew he could rely on, it was you. You were only a teenager, but you always worked hard and got all your jobs done when they needed to be done. However, Tommy couldn’t help but feel like something was up with you. He knew you lived with your mother not too far away from Arrow House, earning money to support your mum. But he also knew that you stayed in Arrow House long after your shift ended, mingling in the kitchens, offering to do more work. You would do everything within your power to stay longer at work which confused everyone within the house as every other employee that went home for the evening would shoot out the door the second their shift ended without a second thought. Tommy and the rest of his staff also noticed how tired you looked every day, and they were all concerned, especially when someone would ask if you were alright, and you brushed them off with a ‘fine’ and a smile.

Tommy’s worry for you doubled, no, tripled when Mary came into his study one morning, informing him that you were late for work. You hadn’t called ahead to say you were running late or ill, you just hadn’t shown up early or on time like you usually did.

“Have you tried ringing her house?” Tommy asks, taking a drag from his cigarette to calm his rapid heart rate, Mary nodded her head.

“No one picked up Mr. Shelby.” She informs, wringing her hands nervously. Mary was just as worried about you as her employer was.

“Keep an eye out for her, will you? If she turns up, send her in here, okay?” Tommy asks, getting a nod of confirmation from Mary before she turns on her heels to return to her job. Tommy works hard to occupy his mind, but he couldn’t stop himself from worrying. You’d been working at Arrow House since Tommy purchased and moved into the property and Tommy had gained a protective feeling over you, especially when he learnt you never had a father figure.

“Mary said you wanted to see me, Mr. Shelby?” Your timid and cracking voice speaks from the doorway to his study, Tommy looks up and waves you in quickly before returning his gaze to his work.

“Take a seat y/n.” He says, flicking through papers as he talks, waiting for you to sit down.

“I’m sorry for being late Mr. Shelby. It won’t happen again I swear. I just lost track of time. I need this job, please don’t fire me.” You apologise, sitting on the small sofa and fiddling with your fingers nervously, stress tears building in your eyes at the thought of losing your job.

“I’m not going to fire you, y/n.” Tommy says, finally looking up. His eyes narrowed in concern when he noticed the bruise on your cheek. It was faint, clearly brand new, and beginning to form. Many people wouldn’t notice it, but Tommy did, with the life he lives he could notice any type of injury be it big or small. He got up and rounded his desk, stubbing out his cigarette as he goes before crossing to you. He stops when he ends up in front of you, making you look up at him worriedly.

“Who did that to you, y/n?” He asks, his voice quiet and soft, not a tone you were used to hearing come from your employer’s mouth.

“Who did what, Mr. Shelby?” You ask innocently, trying not to let your voice wobble as the tears build.

“I can see a bruise on your cheek. Who did that to you?” He presses, grabbing the chair in front of his desk and pulling it up in front of you, sitting down on it.

“No one, sir. I just had an accident.” You lie, eyes flicking around the room, looking everywhere but at Tommy.

“Uh-huh, and does that accident have a name?” Tommy continues, not believing your lie for a second.

“No. I just slipped.” You insist, clenching your hands into fists as they rest on your legs.

“You can’t bullshit me. You can tell me what’s wrong. I won’t get mad.” Tommy says softly. The way he spoke to you so softly and gently made the dam break and tears dribbled down your cheeks. Tommy was shocked at how you collapsed into sobs, burying your face in your hands, your shoulders trembling. Tommy quickly moved to sit beside you on the sofa, pulling you into his arms and shushing you gently. He didn’t care that you clung to him, or you were sobbing into his new suit, he was just concerned about you and what had hurt you.

Tommy sat holding you for minutes, rocking side to side and whispering calming words into your hair as your sobs slowly turned to whimpers and your tight grip on his shirt, pulling away and wiping your eyes embarrassedly.

“Sorry, I’ll get to work now.” You apologise, going to stand up before Tommy speaks up.

“No, stay here. You need to tell me who hurt you.” Tommy says, holding you gently on the shoulders to keep you still, looking you in the eyes. You were silent for a moment, debating about whether you should be telling your boss about what was going on at home.

“It was my mum…” You say, after the moment of silence, head dropping in shame at the admission.

“Your mum?” Tommy asks, disgust and shock in his tone as your words settle in his head. When you merely nod at his words, he feels a wave of hot anger growing within him as he tugs you back against his chest, holding you close as if that would protect you from the harsh world outside Arrow House.

“I’m scared to go back home. She was so angry.” You whisper fearfully, Tommy could feel you trembling in his arms at the thought of going back home to where your mum is.

“You’re not going back there. I won’t let you.” Tommy says firmly, squeezing you tighter before letting you wiggle out of his arms.

“I have nowhere else to live, Mr. Shelby.” You say, worry gripping at your chest at Tommy’s suggestion.

“You could live here. You’ll be safe here. Your mum won’t hurt you again. I won’t let her.” Tommy says gently, rubbing soothing circles on your shoulders as you sniff heavily.

“I wouldn’t want to be a disturbance, Mr. Shelby.” You whisper, eyes fixed on your lap.

“You wouldn’t be a disturbance y/n. I’d rather you be here safe all the time rather than you having to go home to that bitch every evening.” Tommy says, the worry evident in his voice as he speaks.

“Okay, okay I’ll stay.” Tommy lets out a small sigh of relief when he sees you nod and confirm that you’ll stay in Arrow House with him.

“Good. I will send some men over to your house to gather your belongings. You will stay here until you’re ready to move out.” Tommy confirms, getting up from his seat on the sofa and crossing to his desk, calling his brothers, and telling them to go to your house and gather up your belongings.

You were nervous at first to be living with Tommy, you were worried your mum was going to track you down somehow. You would flinch whenever Tommy moved too fast without warning and Tommy hated the terrified look in your eyes you tried to hide away whenever he did that.

Over time, you adjusted to your new home and life with Tommy. He’d told you to stop calling you Mr. Shelby and to just call him Tommy. You no longer had to work for him, anything you wanted, was provided for you. With Tommy’s help, you were able to slowly but surely recover from the trauma your mother had put you through in your years of living and the longer you spent living in Arrow House the more you felt safe knowing Tommy would keep you safe no matter the cost.

#justabigassnerd #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby x teen!reader #tommy shelby #tommy shelby x daughter!reader #tommy shelby x daughter reader #tommy shelby x teen reader #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby imagine #thomas shelby x y/n #thomas shelby #bbc peaky blinders #bbc #by order of the peaky blinders #peaky blinder #peaky blinder imagine #peaky blinders imagine #peaky fooking blinders

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padfootdaredmetoo · 2 years

Note

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

Dear Anon,

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

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

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

Part 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

“For Fucks sakes woman! ” A girl shouted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

______________________________

Another sister came into the hallway.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The Paperwork -” The sister called out

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

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

“I had a tutor before my parents died.”

“How did they pass?”

“Car accident.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

“We’ll expect you to go to school.”

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

“That’s my husband. Thomas.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_______

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

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

“Yeah?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Mostly sitting and thinking.” You responded blandly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I’m so sorry.”

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

“We’re the same then” you whispered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_____________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“John”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“But we just got here!” Finn mumbled.

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

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

_________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“No, just the one that made sense.”

“How so?” He took a sip of whiskey.

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

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

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

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

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

“Is that so?”

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

“Perhaps I should talk to her about it.”

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

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

“Do you want to watch the storm then?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The sitting room at this hour!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

______________

Extra Blurb.

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

Finn laughed at you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Where is he taking you then?” Lizzie asked

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

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

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

“How bout I wear the red one -”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“No.” He said firmly looking at Lizzie.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Just for food then straight back?”

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

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

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

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

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

@kpopgirlbtssvt

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kpopgirlbtssvt · 1 year

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Ooo is anyone interested in writing this request??? Tommy Shelby x long lost daughter where Tommy finds her much like Polly found Michael. Y/n is in her early 20s and she is very sweet, soft, and pretty much dances to the beat of her own drum, pretty much skipping in a flower field and she’s very bubbly (very much the opposite of the rest of her family. Her and Tommy become inseparable and with each other all the time (Tommy is sooo overprotective and loves her so much, and is very soft around her, never raising his voice even the slightest). The whole family (John, Finn, Ada, Polly, and Arthur) absolutely LOVES her and are all super protective of her and gentle with her, except Michael… Maybe he sees her bubbly, soft, and gentle personality as weakness and doesn’t think she belongs in the family’s and doesn’t live up to the “Shelby name”. Maybe Y/n walks in on a meeting that she was excluded from, and hears the family arguing with Michael over this, and Y/n runs off crying, thinking her family doesn’t want her anymore🥺 But they all go and comfort her and prove her wrong🥺

#peaky blinders #tommy shelby #tommy shelby x reader #peaky blinders imagine #thomas shelby #thomas shelby x reader #Shelby’s #Shelbys #tommy shelby x daughter reader #John shelby #Arthur shelby #Ada shelby #polly grey #polly shelby #Finn shelby

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strayrockette · 8 months

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A Daughter’s Letter

A/N: It's been a hot minute since I was last active...But I think I'm back?

Huge thank you and appreciation to @runnning-outof-time for never giving up on me even when I was radio silent.

here's a breadcome of a story I baked out while basking in the fall-like weather I've been experiencing. Something about the crisp wind and the warm sun makes me want to write sad and angsty stories.

Let me know what you all think. like, reblog, and comment. Give me all the goodies. Did I break your heart, just a little? Did you tear up?

Dearest Father,

I have daydreamed countless times of what I wanted to say. Unfortunately or fortunately for you, there are far too many words, phrases, paragraphs, essays, and monologues for me to fit onto this letter.

I suppose I should start off first by saying, you failed me. And though I wish it weren’t true…the truth of it sitting heavily in my heart hurts too much for me to deny. Your memory haunts me. It leaves a bad taste at the back of my mouth, like acid. Perhaps this is a harsh judgment from a scorned daughter. You have left me, abandoned me to the world. To grow alone. To learn alone. You’ve given me nothing but pain and insecurities. Your legacy is not one of generational wealth or love. But of heartache and wonder.

I wonder, are you even alive? Do you remember me? Know that I exist? Do you think I’m dead? Alive? Living? Happy?…

Words filled her mouth, eagerly awaiting the freedom of relief of being heard. Each one was biting and vicious like a madman with a knife. Aimlessly swiping into the air all in vain and with all the hope it would pierce through flesh, if only to make it clear the kind of pain that held her at choking point every minute of the day. Her pain swallowed itself. Receding back into its slumbering cage, where it would once again wait for the moment it could be free.

For now, she would deal with another kind of pain. Equally as excruciating but not as invisible. The best kind of pain, she thought bitterly.

Her forearm ached violently as she poured alcohol onto the wound. She should have known better than to approach a panicked soldier. A wounded one at that. His leg had been shredded to bits and the blood loss had him delirous. Adrenalin was the only thing that had kept him awake and panicked as he was. Y/N gave a quick glance at the white sheet thrown over the cot to her left and fought the urge to burst into tears. Nothing, I could've done. Not my fault. Her mind repeated this mantra. She didn't believe it but maybe one day it would stick.

She carefully threaded her skin back together with the little supplies she had on her person. Medical supplies were dwindling and guilt wrapped around her stomach for using it on herself.

"More incoming!" A voice shouted in the distance. Her heart sunk ever so deeply as she inhaled a breath and steeled herself. Forgetting her measly work on herself, she tied a ripped sheet over her arm, already knowing it would loosen, but knowing that there were others who needed her more.

Her feet pounded into the muddy ground, the grey skies and the panicked cries mixed with the scent of ash and blood branded her.

The number of men piling up into the church and tents was ever-growing. Always growing.

She hated to ask, but did out of necessity "How many and how bad is it?"

"4 unconscious, 3 missing limbs, 4 with burn marks" A girl, no taller and older than her stated. Face caked in mud and blood. Y/N chose to ignore the tears in the girl's eyes, Marge, she corrected herself. A new volunteer who was just as clueless and naive as every other girl who came in her place.

"4 for 4 in the church, the 3 with go to tents 5 and 6" Y/N ordered. She went to help the others relocate the soldiers to their respective spots. "Your hurt" Marge could barely take her eyes off the sight of her slit forearm. the wound ugly and jarring and barely pierced together. A tiny string hopelessly holding the reddened skin together.

"I'll be fine, dove. We've got work to do" Y/N nodded to the stretchers making their way past them.

"You're no help if you can barely lift anything with your left arm" Catherine, an older and more experienced nurse stated exasperatedly. "Get out of my sight, before you hurt someone and yourself."

She shooed her away with a comment about how soldiers needed us nurses to be in tip-top shape in order to be of use. It quelled the guilt inside her for only a moment. Y/N sighed and made her way to the quietest part of the church/make-shift hospital. Away from the screaming and cries. The only place in this hell hole where soldiers didn't leave, lifeless.

Her footsteps echoed as she made her way to a chair near the back of the room. A soldier lay sleeping. He'd come in a day ago with a broken leg and fractured hands. His fingernails were bloody and almost falling off. He'd climbed out from the ground they said. Or tried too. The crew of men who'd dug him and his fellow comrades out were amazed at their survival. To survive being buried under dirt while a war raged on above was more than a miracle. A God-given blessing. Or so they said. Y/N believed it to be pure luck and an insane amount of will.

She nestled herself into her spot, brought a tray closer to her, and laid her arm a top of the table stand next to her. She fished a needle from her pocket careful not to prick her fingers and began the work of stitching herself together. She worked quietly, teeth pulling at her lips, tongue choking back the whimpers.

"You're hurting yourself," A deep voice timbered.

Her brows furrowed eyes never leaving the steady needle making its rounds into her skin, "If you know a way to make this hurt less, I'm all ears, soldier."

"Ay," He rumbled, "Just let it out."

She scoffed and almost laughed. Let it out? She closed the last stitch and broke her gaze, ready to tell him off for offering such helpful advice but stopped.

His face was littered with cuts, and it was the first time she'd ever managed to really get a good look. His eyes were so blue she wondered if he'd taken the beauty of the skies and held it for himself. "You've done well, keeping us lads in one piece," his mouth pursed and he sighed, "We won't think less of yah for crying in pain."

"Right, lads?" He called out, so sure of himself. A chorus of agreement rang throughout the room.

For the first time since offering her services to the war, she cried.

Dearest Father,

I met a man. And he's given me far more valuable advice than you ever did..... I hate you.

Sincerely,

Your aching daughter.

----

Taglist:

@mysticalpandora @ultimatreality @lovecleastrange @watercolorskyy @rockerchick05 @lyarr24

Can't remember who else wanted to be a part of the tag list. If you'd like to be on it please let me know!

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mythos-writes · 2 years

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Hey can you write a peaky blinders fic where reader is tommy Shelby's daughter and she's super pretty and super dominant at the same time, like a 'girly girl' but could kill you in a matter of seconds, and she meets a boy, who is so soft and is basically a golden retriever, and she's like "i'm keeping him". But obviously she is peaky blinder and is doing jobs like blinding people who owe money, and the boy finds out like two months into the relationship (cause he's new to Birmingham) and he's like "I don't like you doing this cause I dont want you to get hurt" and she's like "I can't I need to do this for the family" but a couple weeks later she's about to finish the job but she feels guilty and asking is this this right, like for the first time she hesitates, and the other junior peaky blinders are like "what 🤨" and they end up finishing up for her, and later that night she tells her father about what happened and tommy wants her to breakup with him so that there no distractions and she reluctantly agreed and broke up with him, like a week later she's having one night stands with submissive and breedable ™️ men and ends up running into her ex with sex hair and heels in her hand and he's like super jealous and mad and yells at her asking if anything was real between them and she yells at him that the only reason was so that she can get over the love of her life and that it's useless to date someone tommy doesn't approve of and she links he deserves someone that isn't a murder psychopath and he tells her that he doesn't care what her father thinks and the fact that she's a peaky blinder and he only wants her anyways they say some sappy stuff and make up after awhile and all is right with the world also sorry that this is long also the boy loves to bake and has a cat named Oliver <3

Thomas Shelby x Daughter! Reader, OC Harold Patterson x Shelby daughter reader

Plot: (Y/N) is very similar to her father. Same personality, same smarts, etc. So when she meets someone who is completely opposite of anything she has done or represented. Tommy finds out and wants her to put an end to it… [I changed the ending a little, but it keeps to the request.]

Word Count: 2772

Warning: Gif from Pinterest, swearing, drinking, smoking, angry Thomas Shelby, Peaky Blinders level of violence

(Y/N) was walking back from school on a cool afternoon in Birmingham. As she was walking to the Garrison, she runs into a larger body, dropping her school work onto the dirt roads.

“Oi, watch where you’re going next time you git,” she yells out before she starts to pick up her things. She heard someone rush over and start to help her pick up her things. She is greeted with forest green eyes, freckled skin and gold-rimmed glasses. His long brown locks fall over his face, due to the wind.

“Um, thank you,” she says, picking up the last of her things.

“It’s no problem at all. I couldn’t just let a pretty girl like yourself do all that work,” he jokes a little. She giggles at his comment, her face warming up at the words.

“You’re not from around here are you?” she questions, catching his accent, knowing it wasn’t a Birmingham or London accent.

“No, I am actually from Edinburgh, Scotland,” he states. She smiles, letting the quiet between the two settle in the loud streets.

“Harold Patterson,” he says, sticking his hand out to hers. She takes the gesture with the smile still plastered across her face.

“(Y/N) Shelby. Nice to meet you, Mr. Patterson,” she says. “So what brings you to Birmingham?” she asks. Not a lot of people come to Birmingham out of the blue.

“Oh, I came here looking for work, there wasn’t a lot back home,” he comments. She nods, fidgeting with her papers.

“Do you want to continue this over tea?” he asks. This question catches her off guard, no one had ever asked her out on a date because they didn’t want to get on the bad side of Thomas Shelby.

“Yeah, I would like that. I know a great spot that we can go to,” she suggests. Harold reaches his arm out so she can take it.

“Lead the way.”

It’s been a few months since (Y/N) and Harold secretly met, and Harold showed no sign of learning what her family does or is known for. So when she would have to go deal with ‘family emergencies’ Harold didn’t think anything at all. He trusted her, probably more than he should, but she also reciprocated his trust…to a point.

That afternoon, she was walking with her uncle Finn and some of the younger blinders, sent to deal with some minor issues that had come up. They stood at the edge of an alley, waiting for their victim.

“There he is,” Isaiah calls out, getting their attention. (Y/N) rolls her shoulders looking between the group.

“Alright, let's get this over and done with,” she comments before ushering the boys to get him. As the boys pulled the man into the alleyway and were beating him up, Finn and she came in, making sure no one would interrupt their business.

“You know why this is happening to you?” she questions the man, as he was being helped by Isaiah and another peaky boy. The man just groans out, not answering. She sighs before pulling out her gun, aiming it at his head. Normally she would pull the trigger with no hesitations at all.

But she hesitated.

She looked at the man and all she could think about was Harold. If he found out, what would he think? Would he break everything off? But her thoughts were halted by a gunshot. Finn finished the job. She cleared her throat, ignoring their stares.

“If we are done here, I have a meeting to get to,” she says, placing her gun back into her thigh holster. Finn looked at her, before quickly following.

“Are you ok? You never hesitate when it comes to jobs like this?” he asks. (Y/N) looked over to her uncle, not wanting to show any emotion.

“I’m fine Uncle Finn, just a lot on my mind is all,” she replies. Finn stopped her and looked her in the eyes. She was just like Thomas, hiding her emotions, but she never hid them in her eyes.

“You met someone?” he asks. She quickly covered his mouth, not wanting any nosy people to hear. He soften his gaze on her as she slowly removed her hand from his mouth.

“How’d you meet?” he questions.

“Some git ran into me, making me drop some school stuff and he came over and helped me, and then we just started from there,” she states, reminiscing of that faithful day.

“And he knows who you are?” she shakes her head which causes Finn’s eyes to widen.

“He had just moved here from Edinburgh, so he has no idea who the Shelby’s or the Peaky Blinders are,” she says, almost excitedly. Finn sighs before pulling out a smoke.

“You know Tommy will find out,” he comments, she shakes her head.

“Not unless you don’t say anything. she notes, taking his smoke away. Now, if you excuse me, I have someone to meet,” she states before walking away.

She walked down to their normal meeting spot and saw him standing there. She smiles before making sure her cost was clear and started to run over to him.

“Hey,” she calls out, getting Harold's attention. She sees some hesitance from the man in front of her.

“Are you ok?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let's get going,” he rushes, grabbing her hand and starting their walk. It was quiet between the two as the sun starts to move to a late afternoon setting.

“So I saw something today,” Harold says as they walk down to the river.

“Oh yeah, and what was that?” she asks. (Y/N) catches his nervousness and quickly held his hand.

“Harold?” she asks.

“I saw you and a group beat up some guys,” he states. (Y/N) felt her blood run cold. She never wanted him to find out what she did for her family, especially not now at the start of the relationship.

“Harry, it isn’t what it looked like..” she tries to explain.

“What do you do (Y/N) Shelby?! I care about too much to watch you have a chance of getting hurt!” Harold yells. This shocked her cause she had never heard him raise his voice before.

“Well?” he pushes. She sighs, fidgeting with her ring.

“Ever heard of the Peaky Blinders?” she asks. He paled at her words.

“No, you don’t work for ‘em, do you?” he asks, worried that she had gotten herself into some debt with the gang.

“No, no… um… my family runs the Peaky Blinders,” she states. He looks her over, before bringing her into a hastily embrace. The two falls onto the grass, Harold covering her body with his.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he questions.

“When people find out who I am, they run for the hills or end up at the hands of the gang. I didn’t want to endanger you just because of my name,” she states. Harold admires her words before bringing her into a tender kiss. She moves her hands to his hair, gripping a good chunk of hair and shifting positions. (Y/N) straddle shim and deepens the kiss. She releases him from the kiss, and both their faces warm from the sudden affection. She smiles down at him, fixing his glasses that became a little crocked.

“You’ll be the death of me,” she whispers. He smiles before bringing her into another kiss.

"I'm fine with that," he murmurs against her lips.

(Y/N) walked back into Arrow House, and it was dead quiet. Her mind reeled from her meeting with Harold, making her rethink her future in the family business. Before she could make her way to her room, her father was standing by his office door, arms crossed across his suit-covered torso. He beckoned her to his office, without speaking a word.

“Sit,” Thomas orders. She quickly follows the order, watching her father’s actions. He finishes his whiskey.

“A little birdy told me that you were seeing someone,” Thomas starts, sitting in his office chair. (Y/N) sitting across from him.

“Yes, that’s correct,” she replies, fiddling with one of her rings. He lights a cigarette, watching his daughter’s actions.

“And, who would this boy be?” he asks. (Y/N) gulps down her nerves before licking her dry lips.

“His name is Harold. Harold Patterson. He had just moved to Birmingham from Edinburgh,” She says. Thomas looks her in her eye.

“You need to end it,” he states before looking at some papers.

“What?! Dad that’s not fair-” she starts but Thomas cuts her off.

“It end. NOW!” Thomas states, smoke flowing out of his mouth. (Y/N) stood her ground, not giving into her father’s intimidation.

“No,” she defends. Thomas stops what he was doing and stared her down.

“Excuse me?” “You heard me. No. I will not be ending my relations with Harry. He cares for me and I care for him,” she states. (Y/N) had never been nervous about standing up to her father, but she is not only risking herself this time, but she is also risking Harold's life too.

“You really want to defy me,” he threatens.

“If you keep threatening my happiness, then yes,” she defends. He rolls his eyes, taking another drag of his cigarette.

“You will find someone else,” he comments.

“No, I will only find people who fear me because of you and your gang,” she spits. “Harold doesn’t care who I am and what I do. He cares able me for being me. And you won’t be taking that away from me.”

Thomas just look at her, shocked a little that his daughter would defend him so hard.

“Then leave,” he spits. This shocked her a little.

“What?” “You said yourself, I am interfering with your happiness, so leave,” he repeats, his cold words sinking into her heart.

“Fine, I will,” she states, walking out of his office to pack her things. Tears slowly fell down her cheek.

Hours later, Thomas goes up to apologize, wanting to make amends with her, but when he gets to her room, it was empty. His heart drops. He didn’t think she was going to follow through with his words.

“They left,” Finn’s voice breaks his rapid thoughts.

“What?” he questions, facing his younger brother.

“They left Birmingham. I saw the two at the train station,” he spits. Arthur then walked in on the conversation.

“Who left?” he questions. Before Tommy could fill him in on anything, Finn cut him off.

“(Y/N) left. She left Birmingham, by order of the great Thomas Shelby,” Finn spits. He never gets angry at Tommy that often but when it came to his niece, he was very protective. Arthur looked at his brother, shocked.

“Is that true?” he questions. Thomas just nods, not meeting his brother's gaze.

“All she wanted was to be happy, and you couldn’t even give her that,” Finn bites one more time before leaving, not wanting to be around him.

~ 5 Years Later ~

“Thomas! Eliza! Come on suppers ready!” (Y/N) calls out to her children. They came running down the road to the house that sat on the outskirts of London. Harold and (Y/N) quickly moved away from Birmingham, away from her family and the Peaky Blinders. They cared for themselves, not wanting to worry about her father or people connected to him.

She placed made plates in front of her children and her husband, who had just come home from work in the city. He placed a kiss on her cheek before starting to eat the food she had prepared.

“So how was everyone’s day?” she asked.

“Tommy and I met someone,” Eliza says.

“Oh yeah, and who might that be?” Harold asks.

“He didn’t tell us his name, but, looked like someone from the pictures you have in your room,” Thomas says. (Y/N) stopped mid-bite, her eyes quickly meeting her husband. It couldn’t be who they thought. Before anyone could get a word in, a knock came upon their door. (Y/N) quickly got up and went towards the door. She saw the outline in the glass, she knew who it was.

When she opened the door, she was greeted with the cold blue eyes of her father. She was shocked to see him standing there in front of her. She hadn’t seen him since the young couple fled the city.

“What, not going to let your old man in?” he questions. (Y/N) quickly moved and let him in. He took off his hat, looking around the farmhouse that his daughter owned. He looked over to the kitchen to see two little heads popping out from behind the door. Harold quickly pulled them back into the kitchen, wanting them to finish their dinner. He made eye contact with his ‘father-in-law’ quickly before following his kids.

“This way dad,” (Y/N) calls out, pulling Thomas’s attention back to her. He walked into the living room, seeing that it has been well lived in. He sat down in one of the chairs, while (Y/N) went to a small cabinet.

“Do you want a drink?” she questions.

“Yes, thank you,” he replies before getting handed a glass of whiskey. She had one herself and they just sat there in awkward silence.

“How did you find me?” she questions, breaking the silence and jumping right into it. Thomas sighed, finishing off his drink quickly before answering.

“I always knew where you were,” he answered. This shocked her, knowing that her father had always known where she went.

“I have men everywhere, they would keep me informed of your whereabouts,” he states. “But what they didn’t inform me about the two little ones that you two have,” (Y/N) gulped back her drink before looking at her father again.

“I know who is a Peaky Blinder when I see one, and I may have threatened a few,” she states. Thomas gives a shallow chuckle before finishing his drink.

“Still the same old (Y/N),” he says.

“Would you like to meet them?” she questions. This shocked him but quickly agreed. She smiled before getting up and walking out of the room. Thomas hadn’t been this nervous to meet someone before. He had met many scary and intimidating people before, but meeting his grandkids, scared him to hell and back. The sounds of little footsteps brought him back. He looked up to meet two little humans standing in front of their mother.

“This is Thomas Arthur, and this is Eliza Ada. Your grandkids” (Y/N) introduces them. At the introduction of their names, his iced heart melted. Even when she wanted nothing to do with him, she still named her kids after him and her family.

Thomas stood up and kneeled to their level. The two kids move back a little, nervous at the stranger in their house. (Y/N) placed a reassuring hand on their heads. They turned back to Thomas. Eliza moved first, coming closer to her grandfather.

“Hello,” she says. Thomas gives her a small smile.

“Hello,” he replies. She then reached out and hugged him. This shocked both adults in the room. He then brought his arms around her small frame, enjoying the little hug from her. Little Tommy then moved and joined his sister in hugging him. (Y/N) felt tears well up in her eyes. Watching her kids meet her father was something that would never happen.

Harold quietly moved beside her, wrapping his arms around her, watching the sweet moment between the kids. Thomas looked up and sent a smile to the two. He picked up the kids, causing them to let out surprised giggles. He let out a grunt but still held the kids.

“Still got it,” he comments, causing (Y/N) to laugh.

“Poll and Arthur would love to meet them,” he comments. (Y/N) nods, looking over to her husband.

“We were thinking about visiting Birmingham for a week or so,” she states, seeing his eyes light up at the news.

“You can stay at Arrow House with me,” he states.

“Oh no, dad that won’t-” she tries to reason, but she is cut off by Thomas.

“Think of it as part of my apology. For once it seems that I was wrong,” he says while putting the kids down. She looks back to Harold, who gives her a small nod.

“Then expect us sometime next week then,” she states with a smile. Thomas moved and brought his daughter into his embrace.

“I’ve missed you so much poppet,” he whispers.

“I’ve missed you too dad,” she whispers back.

#thomas shelby x reader #fanfiction #fanfic #peaky blinders #cillian murphy x reader #peaky blinder fanfic #thomas shelby #peaky blinders x reader #arthur shelby imagine #thomas shelby x y/n #thomas shelby x imagine #arthur shelby #thomas shelby x daughter reader

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ryuzakemo128 · 2 years

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Please can I request a Tommy and his daughter with the prompt

I will continue to be here. Hate me, don't hate me. I'll always be there whenever you need me

I hope you like this.

Unfair

Young, beautiful, lively and full of energy. Y/N Shelby, painter and violin player with a penchant for playing depressingly sad songs in order to practice.

Arthur often wept while listening to her play. He'd often say that it made him feel sad and think often too deeply. So she stopped playing them around her uncle. She might have been depressed. But she didn't want to hurt those around her.

You were currently ignoring your father, not because of something he had done or what happened that day.

"I will continue to be here. Hate me, don't hate me. I'll always be there whenever you need me."

"If you think I hate you, then you're completely incorrect and honestly dad if you think I hate then you haven't listened to a word I said."

He knew you didn't mean to say that you hated him. Your Aunt Ada never too far away at times like these. He picked up the phone and called Ada, "Ada, I need your help with somethin."

"You did it again didn't you. You said know and she stormed off screaming that she hated you."

"Somethin like that"

"I'll be over soon and we can both figure this out together. Next time, don't yell at her."

By the time Ada came over, you were fast asleep and ignoring everyone that ever came to your door. Days flew by and the argument was well into memory, she left a note saying she was sorry she was born looking so much like her mother. But she wasn't in her room, she wasn't at Ada's place or with Polly. She wanted to leave for a few hours, her father didn't notice her gone as he was busy that day.

"Y/N! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Your father shouted inside the house looking for you. "Y/N!"

He read the note and prepared for the worst, his anxiety ramped up through the roof when he saw that she wasn't in there. Arthur yelled out "Gun is gone too!"

John yelled out "she's not with Esme either. I just called."

You had your father's gun in your hand and a numb feeling washes over you. You had no intention of using on anyone or yourself, but it didn't mean the temptation wasn't there. She climbed a tree as soon as she caught a glimpse of her father.

"I don't want to talk to you right now Father. I want more time to think. I'm sorry for running away. But I don't think I can stand being someone you can forget about so easily. My hair is is greying long before yours. how is that fair? Not that you noticed it anyhow." You think to yourself, watching them search for you.

"They'll give up on me I know they will. They'll go back home and pretend as If I never existed in the first place." you started weeping at the thought of being forgotten. As if it was the only thing consuming you, the fear of being forgotten and left behind.

"No one listens to me, why on earth do I bother?"

"What on earth are you doing up there?!"

"I dunno why do you think?!"

"Get down from there!"

"Fuck no."

"I'm sorry for yelling at you y/n"

"I'm sorry for stealing the gun and running away."

Before he could say anything else, "I understand if you want to get rid of me"

"There is no way in hell I'd do that!"

You jumped down from the tree, "you sure dad?" You step toward your father, "I'm sure love"

"Also I have learnt a piece of music and I want to play it for you."

Arthur rushed over relieved to see Tommy with his daughter walking up the hill towards the house. John stood there arms crossed.

"Don't do that to us again, you hear y/n?" Arthur hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry Uncle Arthur and Uncle John."

"y/n has learnt a new piece of music on her violin that she wanted us to hear. right y/n?"

#peaky blinders #peaky blinder #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders au #peaky fookin blinders #peaky fucking blinders #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinder imagine #thomas shelby #daughter shelby #John Shelby #arthur shelby #peaky blinders x daughter reader #daughter reader

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simplyundeniable98 · 6 months

Text

look at me t.s.

Pairing | Thomas Shelby x Female reader

Summary | When Mrs. Shelby requests Tommy in the room with her for the birth of their first daughter everyone is shocked. Men aren't supposed to be in the room with their wives as they give birth, it's just not how it is supposed to be... well all men aren't Thomas Shelby.

Warnings | Mentions of childbirth, pain obviously she's literally giving birth, maybe ooc Tommy? idk. Reader is a little mean to her doctors but she's in pain cut her some slack. MDNI because I said so. Foul language.

Word Count | .06k

~This is loosely based off of the scene in Queen Charlotte when they won't let George into the room to see Charlotte. If you know what I'm talking about I love you~

All dialogue in italics is spoken in Romani.

"Mrs Shelby forgive me but husbands aren't usually in the room during the birth" The doctor spoke hesitantly as his eyes flicked nervously around the room.

Everyone seemed to speak hesitantly around her. I guess that was what you get when you become a Shelby. Everyone around you is constantly terrified to tell you no or disagree. It was like being royalty in a sort of fucked up way.

Polly Gray cut the doctor a look as she walked over to you and put a reassuring hand on your forehead.

"Polly please" you cried in pain "I need him here." Nothing from the old wive tales could compare to the pain you were feeling. You had been pushing for hours now with Polly at your side but nothing was working. Your daughter simply just would not budge. Polly had made the comment early on about her already showing traits from her father.

"I don't care what usually happens. If Tommy Shelby is not in this room in the next five minutes, I will personally end you." You spoke with a hiss pointing at the doctor.

You weren't usually this aggressive, but given the fact you were in pain and used to getting what you wanted all the time, the circumstances were different.

Polly sighed as she looked down at you and began to head out of the room.

"What's wrong, is she okay?" Tommy spoke immediately as Polly exited the doors of your room.

"She's requesting you Thomas" Polly spoke in Romani so as to not alert the other doctors of your request.

"She wants me in the room with her?" He spoke hesitantly as he looked towards the door.

Polly nodded and Tommy immediately started towards the door.

"I'm sorry Mr. Shelby but I cannot allow you to be in the room." The doctor outside of your door spoke as his eyes flicked down to the floor to avoid Tommy's sharp gaze.

"Tell me, doctor, do you like your job?" Tommy spoke with a raised brow as he waited for his response.

When he didn't reply Tommy bent down to reach his gaze "Hmm? I asked you a question doctor, do you like your job?"

"Yes. Yes I like my job" He murmured still avoiding the sharp blue eyes that were currently staring daggers at the man.

"Well if you intend on staying alive long enough to keep it, I suggest you move out of my way." Tommy stood up straight and tilted his head towards the door.

The doctor nodded and stepped aside, letting Tommy enter the room. "If I hear one more word from anyone about my presence in this room, I will have a peaky blinder on each and every one of your doorsteps first thing tomorrow morning" Tommy spoke before anyone could protest.

"Tommy" you gasped as you finally laid eyes on your husband. "I've been asking for you"

"I know, I know. But I'm here now eh? I'm here now." Tommy bent down to give your forehead a kiss as you winced.

"I cant do this Tommy" you cried "I want it to be over"

Tommy's heart broke at the sight of you. His wife. He wished he could just take all of your pain away and keep it for himself.

Tommy bent down to kneel at the side of your bed as he cradled your face in his hands.

"Look at me. Hey, Look at me, love." He spoke softly as you turned your head to gaze at him with teary eyes.

"You can do this. I know you can. You are the most headstrong women I know, and ill be damned if you give up now." You giggled at his lighthearted teasing and nodded.

"And you don't really have a choice love. This baby has got to come out in one way or another." He smirked at you as you rolled your eyes at your husband.

"Okay Mrs. Shelby its time to push" Your doctor spoke as Tommy placed a kiss on the hand he had ahold of and nodded at you.

"Let's meet our daughter Mrs. Shelby."

#thomas shelby #tommy shelby #peaky blinders #peaky blinder fanfic #cillian murphy x reader smut #cillian murphy #thomas shelby x reader #cillian murphy x reader #peaky blinder imagine

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princessofmarvel · 8 months

Text

Runaway

summary | thomas has made a deal with a man to help his business. thomas’s only condition? to marry the man's daughter. except she doesn’t want to marry him.

pairing | thomas shelby x fem!reader

word count | 1.98k

genre | fluff with some angst?

requested? | yes! i had so much fun writing this! especially since i have never written anything like this before! thank you so much for requesting! please let me know if you like it!

warnings! | arranged marriage? darkish thomas? (not really, i’m just not great at writing dark characters sometimes, lol) not proof read yet!

author’s note! | hey everyone! this main character was written with poc in mind, i have tried my best, but since i am not a person of color please let me know if there is anything i can change to make it better! i hope you enjoy your request! please know that if you have requested something, i promise that i will get to it soon! And as always, I do I have really bad OCD that causes me to write in some random capitalization, and punctuation, But I think that we don't have to worry about that in this fic lol. And let me know if there are any mistakes, but please be kind!

Thomas knew what was happening today, hell his whole family knew. His future bride was coming to birmingham. He struck up a good deal with her father about helping her fathers business about a week ago, then he saw a photo of the man's daughter. The only condition Thomas made? To marry his daughter. Once they agreed, the man said he needed a week to get his family there. By the time they got there, Thomas had already got everything set up to make damn sure the man would be successful in birmingham. Which included a few fights, but Thomas would do it all over again if it meant he could have her.

They weren’t to meet until the wedding, something her father insisted on. So Thomas stood in a room of the church getting ready, when his brother John busted in.

“They can’t find her Tommy” was all John said as he huffed as if he was out of breath.

Thomas’s mind began to race. What did he mean they couldn’t find her? Has something happened? Had one of his enemies found out about today and took her?

“She was getting ready, and asked for a moment to herself, when her mother came back in to check on her, she was gone.” John added as he leaned on the closest chair.

Thomas stood and took in his brother's words for a moment before he left the room. His future wife was out in Birmingham in her pretty white dress, with no protection and no one was doing anything about it. Her family may not know this city, but Thomas did. He knew what could happen to her if she stayed out there too long. This won’t be an issue when they’re married, and she has his last name. She could kill someone and get away with it then, but right now no one in Birmingham knows who she is. All they know is that she is a pretty girl in a white wedding dress, and the thought of what could happen to her made him sick.

Thomas looked everywhere he could think his fiance would be. He couldn’t find her anywhere, the only place he hadn’t checked was the Garrison.

He walked in to see his bride to be, standing behind the bar making herself what looked like her fourth drink. He walked in slowly, making sure not to scare her.

“(Y/n)?” He asked as he walked up to the bar. She looked up at him as she continued to make her drink. “I’m Thomas Shelby, your future-”

“I know who you are.” She said, cutting him off.

“Well, we're supposed to be getting married right now.” He said matter of factly. “So what are you doing here?”

“I’m not marrying you, thought you would have figured that out by now.” She said as she took a sip of her drink.

Thomas looked at her, making sure to not show how shocked he was that she was speaking to him that way.

“And, why not?” He asked her, now intrigued.

“I don’t want to, I don't know you.” She said as she finished her drink.

Thomas moved to be behind the bar where she was. He took her drink from her hand and placed it on the bar.

“(Y/n)” He said as he towered over her. “Your father has already given me your hand.”

“I know, I don’t care.” She said as she grabbed her drink back from Thomas.

Thomas just took a moment and stared at the girl as she took her drink back. It was the first time he truly got to look at her. He got to take in the color of her eyes, and the curl of her hair, she truly was beautiful.

“Why exactly are you so against marrying me?” He asked as he stared at her.

“I want to be my own person, not defined by my father or my husband.” She said not missing a beat.

“I think I can help with that.” Thomas said, starting to get closer to the girl. “I have a certain reputation, if you’re married to me, you’ll be untouchable.”

“That's still me being defined by my husband.” She said, cutting him off with a small eye roll.

Thomas took the drink from her and set it back down, but this time, she didn’t turn away from him, she just stared up at him, waiting for him to continue.

“As I was saying, you would be untouchable, and if you wanted a role in peaky blinder business, you wouldn’t just be “Thomas Shelby's wife”. You would be “(Y/n) Shelby, most feared woman in Birmingham”. You have an opportunity here, the choice is yours.” Thomas said, staring her in the eyes. Normally he would never offer this to someone he just met. But there was something about (Y/n), just the look in her eyes, the way she wasn’t scared of him, how she held herself, how she looked at him with the same amount of intensity he looked a her with, how she didn’t care she was defying the most feared man in birmingham. "Don't let your pride get in the way of a smart decision."

Thomas watches the girl stare at the wall for a moment, him taking in her side profile. Until she finally looked up at him.

"I won't be reduced to just your little wife?" She asked with a small glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"I'll let you take care of anyone who says you are" He said with a serious look on his face.

The girl gave him a small smile, it was obvious that no one had ever believed in her the way Thomas was right now, that they all thought of her as some weak little girl and nothing more.

"Fine, I'll marry you" She said as she looked up at him with a small smile.

Thomas wrapped her arm in his and led her out of the Garrison. He held the bottom of her white dress up away from the dirt as he walked them back to the church.

“You know, you’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding.” She said to him with a small laugh. “It’s bad luck.”

“I won’t let anything ruin this marriage, trust me.” He said as he opened the church door for her and let her walk in first. Thomas watched as her family whisked her away, knowing that this girl was truly something he had never expected her to be, and he loved it.

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acewritesfics · 1 month

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A Wedding After All | Tommy Shelby

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x Pregnant!Reader

Request: No.

Warnings: Alludes to cheating [I do not condone cheating]. Pregnancy. Past childhood sweethearts. Brief mention of war. One f*ck.

Word Count: 2,103

Tommy Shelby Masterlist | Main Masterlist

"Is Tommy in his office, Polly?" Y/N asks as she approaches the woman who has always treated her like a daughter. Her cheeks are flushed after walking as fast as she could to the Shelby Company's headquarters. She's come straight from the doctor's office.

Polly cast a worried glance towards the younger woman. "You alright, Love?"

"I need to talk to Tommy," she says, her gaze darting towards Tommy's office. "It's important that I speak with him."

"He ought to return at any moment. I'm sure you can tell me whatever you need to tell him," Polly remarks as she sees Y/N beginning to pace back and forth in front of her.

"Sorry, but I can't. I won't say anything until I've spoken with Tommy." Y/N is unable to calm herself as nauseous feeling settles in her stomach.

The Shelby family's Matriarch felt unsure how to handle the current situation she finds herself in. If something bothered her, Y/N would always tell her. She never went to Tommy first with anything since their relationship ended years ago.

Polly knew the woman Y/N's father married a month after his wife died, and it came as no surprise how viciously she treated the teenage girl, from spreading rumours to physically beating her, while her good for nothing father did nothing to stop his new wife.

Polly immediately scoured the entire town of Small Heath for Y/N and welcomed her into her home once she learned that she was kicked to the streets when she was fifteen.

It wasn't long before Polly introduced her to her brother's family. When she met the Shelby siblings, they forged an immediate bond. Ada, the only girl, took to her the most, relieved to have another girl to talk to. The two women are still as thick as thieves to this day. They have a sisterly relationship that not even Tommy could disrupt.

From the moment they met there was an obvious immediate attraction between Y/N and Tommy. It didn't take long for their friendship to grow into a romantic love. Their romance was a whirlwind of passion, excitement and love. The two of them only had eyes for each other. Everyone knew she was Tommy's girl, and no one dared to touch her. Even though Tommy had little in common with his father, the Shelby name came with a not-so-great reputation.

Tommy and Y/N weren't hesitant to call each other out on their foolishness, their confrontations occasionally attracting unwelcome attention. But they never went to bed angry with each other, which sometimes resulted in restless nights spent talking and making up. He had been her first love.

However, their romance eventually ended when Y/N travelled to London shortly after turning 21 to pursue becoming a nurse. Tommy wanted to promise that he'd wait for her to return to Birmingham because he knew she was the one who he was supposed to marry and spend the rest of his life with. She urged him not to make any promises to her, fearing that their parting would only cause more heartbreak. But Tommy never gave up on her, writing almost every day to persuade her that everything would work out between them. They both held hope that it would until the letters eventually became less frequent as they both became busy with their lives.

The war broke out two years into her training, and she and many other nurses were deployed to France to care for their countries' wounded. There, she was reunited with her former love. In the midst of tending to the soldier's wounds, their love for one another was rekindled.

But as the days passed, Tommy's once beautiful vibrant blue eyes turned dull, emotionless, and void as they witnessed people die in the most horrific ways. When the war was over and they were sent home, they went their separate ways once more.

It wasn't until six months ago that Y/N returned Birmingham. She'd been assigned to work in Small Heath's hospital. She preferred working at this hospital to the one she previously worked at in London. It moved at a slightly slower pace which she enjoyed.

She reconnected with Polly and the brothers once she had settled back in and called Ada at least three times a week to keep her updated now that she was living in London with her son. Despite Ada's displeasure at Y/N wanting to return to Birmingham, the younger of the two women supported her decision knowing that their hometown was where Y/N belonged.

Y/N had missed Polly and the brothers and was overjoyed to have them back in her life, as well as to be back in theirs.

She enjoyed being back in Small Heath, even if her heart was crushed by her own past decisions. She assumed she was over Tommy, that all they'd ever be is friends, and that all her old sentiments for him had vanished. Tommy was her first and only love, so learning that he was now engaged saddened her. Polly attempted to convince her that Tommy never stopped loving her and that this marriage was a waste of time and money once he realises, he's making a mistake.

But all Y/N saw was the way Tommy's soon-to-be bride looked at him, the way her eyes lit up when he walked into the room, the way he makes her smile. It was the same way she would look at him. The only difference was he never looked at her the same way he looked at Y/N. He never looked at anyone the way he was before the war. Y/N didn't know if Tommy loved his fiancée, but he was marrying her and that was enough for Y/N to know that her and Tommy will never be more than friends again.

Y/N didn't want to get in the way of their relationship, so she kept her distance from Tommy. Which had been working until one night nine weeks ago.

Polly pulls out a cigarette, places it between her lips, and lights it while she continues to watch Y/N pacing the room. She takes in the younger woman's form, seeing the small curvature of her belly as her hands rest over her stomach as if protecting it.

Then it dawns on her.

Leaving her cigarette in the ashtray, she moves towards Y/N and stops her from pacing a hole into the floor. Y/N seems surprised as Polly reaches out and gropes her breasts, feeling them for a few seconds before letting go.

"You're with child," she exclaims, not bothering to hide the smile on her face. She is not a fool. This baby can only belong to one man, and it would be the push the former lovers need to come back together. Tommy, after all, would never abandon the woman who is carrying his child, especially when it's the woman he's been hopelessly in love with since he was sixteen

"Fuck me," Y/N murmurs more to herself since she should have known Polly would notice. Nothing can ever get past the Romani woman. "Please don't say anything until I've spoken with Tommy."

"My lips are sealed," she assures as she places her hand to Y/N's belly. "Is she Tommy's then?"

"She?" Y/N raises an eyebrow in response. She wasn't going to bother responding to Polly question since she already knew the answer.

"Did you forget who you are talking to?" Polly beams, eliciting a smile from Y/N, who appears to be more at ease. "She'll be beautiful, Y/N, and you'll love her more than you've ever loved anyone, even Thomas. There is no deeper love than that between a mother and her daughter."

They both have a saddened expression on their faces as they recall who they've lost. Y/N lost her mother, and Polly lost her daughter, but they found what they were looking for in each other. Polly always believed that her daughter and Y/N's mother brought them together knowing that they needed one other.

"You understand that she'll call you nan, right?" Y/N says, making Polly smile this time.

"Of course she is," Polly says, hugging her adopted daughter. She lets go of her, looking over her shoulder as someone walks into the office.

Y/N becomes tense once more. She doesn't have to turn around to find out who it is since she can always feel Tommy's presence before she sees him. She turns around with a timid smile, the nauseous feeling in her stomach intensifying as she swallows the lump in her throat.

"Y/N," he says a little taken aback to see her.

"Good afternoon, Thomas," she says formally, trying not to seem too anxious. Since the night they spent together nine weeks ago, the two have barely spoken. Polly simply stands between them, smiling. "Do you have a moment? I need to speak with you."

"I do," he replies and leads her into his office hearing the urgency in her voice.

He glances worriedly at Y/N after closing the door. "Is everything okay?"

"I saw the doctor this morning."

As he gets closer to her, he grows increasingly worried. "Are you ill?"

"What I have does cause sickness." She claims unable to look at him. The amount of thinking she did on her walk to the office did not help her at all.

"What do you have?" He tilts her head so she can look at him. He notices tears welling up in her eyes.

She takes a deep breath in and out, gathering all her courage to tell him as h er tears begin to fall. "I'm pregnant, Tommy."

The Peaky Blinder remains calm as thoughts start running through his head. His eyes never leave hers. Y/N searches his eyes trying to find a hint of what he could be feeling or thinking.

"You are the only one I've been with, Tommy. The baby is yours and I know you are to be married so if you want, I will leave. I'll go back to London and raise her by myself. I just thought since you're the father, you have the right to know and decide what you want to do," She rambles. Removing Tommy's hands off her face, she steps back from him, her arms going around her stomach, bracing herself for his rejection.

"Or," Tommy finally speaks. "Or, you can stay here, I can marry you and we can finally be a family."

"Tommy, you're engaged to someone else," She looks at him as though he's delusional, not believing what she's hearing.

"Not a single day goes by where I don't think about you and what it would be like if we stayed together," he admits. "Because of that, I ended my engagement. I can't marry someone else when the only woman I'll ever love is standing right there in front of me."

"Tommy, I-"

"We are going to get married, we are going to have this baby and we are going to be a family," he steps towards her cupping her face again. This thumbs brush away her fallen tears. "I have never stopped loving you," he whispers before kissing her.

"I love you too, Tommy," she replies when the kiss is broken and Tommy pulls away from her. She watches him go over to his desk, pull something out of the draw and walk back over to her. In his hand is a red velvet ring box. He opens it revealing the gold ring with three red ruby stones surrounded by diamonds. She gasps recognizing his mother's engagement ring. "Your mother's ring."

"I've been saving it for you," he tells her. "You're the only one I want to wear it. Will you do me the honour in becoming my wife?"

She nods her head, as the tears start to fall harder. Tommy smiles a rare smile, one that was only reserved for her, and slides the ring onto her finger before he kisses her deeply wrapping his arms around her waist as her arms go around his shoulders.

"Well it's about bloody time," Arthur's gruff voice comes from the doorway causing the reunited couple to part.

Y/N's cheeks flush red. Tommy can't contain the smile on his face. "Brother, there's going to be a wedding after all."

"Who's getting married?" John asks missing what Arthur just walked in on. The younger of the three takes in the scene before him, seeing Y/N and Tommy wrapped up in each other. "You two are getting married?" he then asks, looking confused.

"We're getting more than that," Tommy smiles lovingly at the woman who stole his heart when they were sixteen.

#acewritesfics repost #tommy shelby x reader #peaky blinders #peaky blinders x reader #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby #tommy shelby

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theonewiththefanfics · 1 year

Text

The Layers of Thomas Shelby - Frozen Fear (one-shot)

Synopsis: Fear was an emotion Tommy elicited in others. He never thought he'd feel it himself. Not like that. Never like that...

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x fem!Reader

Genre: angst, slight fluff

Warnings: graphic descriptions of blood, injuries, kidnapping, swearing, death not sticking to canon whatsoever :)

Word count: 3028

Fear was something Thomas Shelby was intimately acquainted with. He elicited it and made others tremble to their very core with just a glance or a whisper of his name from someone else’s lips. Fear was as much a shadow in his life, as his daughter who followed him around wherever she could.

But fear was also what he felt in that exact moment as he stared at the bloodied napkin on his table, the silver locket he’d gifted Y/N when their child had turned one inside it, a simple note of “For Angel” attached to it.

Sadie was tight asleep on his chest when he’d received the damned box. Y/N had taken her to Ada’s so she could have the day to herself, get her body pampered, do up her hair and maybe spend a bit of money on some new shoes or a winter coat as a birthday present from him. If she’d asked, Tommy would’ve bought her the Eifel tower, and she’d bloody well deserve it. Valentine's was coming up, after all.

He was so proud of her. Despite the certain things that’d happened, he wouldn’t want anyone else to share a life with. She’d picked up the broken pieces Grace had left his heart in and mended it with gold. But gold didn’t matter at that moment when he didn’t know where she was. Where her body was.

When Frances had brought in the box that’d been left by the doorstep, Sadie had been softly snoring on his shoulder for the better part of an hour while he ran tired blue eyes over the logs of the previous week.

He thanked her, his voice a whisper to not stir his toddler, before cautiously examining the square. When he opened it, Tommy swore his heart stopped beating. Or he wished it did. Because it wasn’t like that time when Grace’s boyfriend had taken Y/N, or like that time she’d gotten mugged behind a shop. No. This time, he knew she was dead, and he wished he was too.

It took all of his self-control to ring up his brothers and tell them to get to Arrow House right that second. It took all of his restraint not to shout or scream, the only thing tethering him to earth and sanity his pride and joy asleep in his arms.

When Arthur and John got to his home office, Tommy simply threw them the note, his eyes trained on the small oval locket, thumb tracing the inscription upon it, smearing blood more and more over his own hands.

“Find her.” Those were the only words he uttered.

For a brief second, he’d glanced up and saw terror rush through the eyes of his brothers; he knew how much the two loved his wife, they loved her like they loved Ada and Polly, so without a second to spare, they ran back out, no doubt to gather every Blinder and search every nook and cranny while he clutched the brown-haired girl to his chest, the silver locket clutched in his other palm.

He wasn’t a religious man, didn’t even necessarily believe what his gipsy ancestors did or even his aunt Pol, but at that moment he turned his head to the ceiling and prayed to whoever might listen, old gods and new, Norse and Greek and Slavic – anyone that would hear his pleas.

Tommy thought back to every time Y/N had smiled at him, had laughed and filled his world with light. He even thought back to all those insane moments where he felt like his jaw would snap with how hard he’d been clenching it because of some stupid thing she’d done. He wished he’d appreciated those moments more because when two hours later Arthur came back to the house, the coat his wife had been wearing that morning in his hands, soaked and dripping freezing water onto the Turkish carpet, Tommy knew she was gone.

***

Her whole world consisted of cold, nothing else. It was the only thing she could feel, taste and sense. Was there anything to sense? Y/N didn’t know. She didn’t even fully believe her legs were still attached to her body, but somehow she was making her way across the field.

Time had become a concept she couldn’t comprehend, and the only thing that showed it had passed was the ever-changing position of the moon - her only companion through the long journey.

She had stopped shaking a while back, which it didn’t take her being a genius to know meant trouble if she didn’t find a way to get warm, but even that didn’t matter. Nothing but getting home did. If she had to die, she wanted to do it there, not somewhere in a ditch let alone beneath the frozen surface of the lake where Luka Changretta had dumped her.

He thought she’d been dead. He’d slit her throat, but not before ripping off the beautiful little necklace Tommy had gifted her.

“So he has something to remember you by,” the Italian mobster had given her a mocking smile before taking a knife from his side and slicing it across her neck.

The pain had been blinding, knocking all sense of reality out of her mind. She knew it would be the end. When her body lifted above the chair she’d been tied to, when her back greeted plush leather seats, her blood staining them forever. She knew she would die sooner or later. Then sweet blackness greeted her.

But death was a lot more painful than what it’d been described to be like in all the books she'd read and edited, especially the wound in her throat. Her breaths were white-hot knives dragging down her oesophagus and her lungs were on fire with each shallow take of air.

Through a haze, Y/N heard Italian being spoken before two rough hands grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her out of the car.

Her body hit the frozen ground with a thud, and it took every bit of remaining brainpower not to whimper from the pain. The winter air stung every piece of her body inside and out, caressing her with icy nails.

Slowly her mind was coming to, the cold sobering her up, but when someone took her wrists and another took her by the ankles, setting her flying, it was the frozen surface of the lake she cracked through that awoke her completely.

Y/E/C eyes flew open, murky depths of the water greeting her while every nerve and cell in her got shocked. Instinct told her to swim up, get a breath, and get out of the water before it pulled her under, but with the mightiness of a Norse goddess, Y/N suppressed all that and allowed the lake to gently pull her down, and her mind finally started to understand what’d happened.

They thought she was dead and decided to throw her body in some lake, probably hoping it would freeze over before she floated to the top and would remain that way until the very spring, prolonging the pain for her family.

The thought of her family grieving her was the only thing keeping Y/N from not trashing below the still surface. Instead, she slowly slipped her arms out from the coat and let it move to the top, while she sunk lower and lower.

Soon enough her feet touched the slimy earth below, which is when she once more opened her eyes and glanced up. There wasn’t really anything to see, apart from the light of the moon streaming in through the broken place where her body had been thrown and two retreating headlights.

Y/N waited two more seconds her whole being in shock and begging to get out and away from the cold when she pushed upwards and broke the surface. She gulped the air down in greedy takes, not caring about her split neck or the trembling of her body - at that moment all she cared for was air.

Her teeth were chattering so hard she pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, afraid it might get caught between them and she’d bite it off. Swishing her head around, she looked if the ice had broken anywhere else. Out. She needed to get out. And to whatever god had taken pity on her after everything, underneath a small makeshift pier where kids would come and fish, the ice had cracked right to the very edge.

She knew every second spent in the water was a second closer to hypothermia, so as quick as her frozen limbs would allow, she swam to the land. It was a hand’s stretch away when another pair of headlights came into view. Y/N cursed and instead of getting out of the lake, she ducked underneath the wooden planks, pressing a palm to her mouth, so whoever it was wouldn’t notice the air steaming up in the air from her mouth.

Her ears were ringing, so Y/N couldn’t hear whatever the men were talking about, only see how they fished out her coat and took it with them. They left another minute later, and she swore at whoever it was for costing it to her. Home. She needed to get home and fast, but she couldn’t be seen, couldn’t let Changretta know he’d half-assed her murder and she’d survived. He wouldn’t do so again, so Y/N waited another bone-chilling minute, checking if any car passed by again.

And then she got out, her dress clinging to her body, hair against her face, matted with seaweeds and blood, one heel of her boot snapped off – a wraith come to life and ready to haunt.

The first step was agonising, and Y/N collapsed underneath her weight, needles piercing her feet. Her knees bruised and scraped raw against the stony earth as did her hands, but she welcomed the pain, let it ground her, and used it to remind herself – pain meant she was alive. No pain would be the real problem.

Y/N wrapped her hands around her body, digging her nails into her biceps, each step an arduous labour. Small pebbles cut the soles of her feet; she’d lost her shoes somewhere along the way; her bones ached from the very inside and each breath was a task, the wound in her neck, although scabbed over, split with every small movement, small streams of blood trickling down and staining her white dress.

Lights were visible in the distance, even as her vision blurred more and more, the small bright dots becoming stretched-out beams before everything tilted and she was staring up at the sky.

The stars were magnificent, she thought. You couldn’t really see them shine like that in the city. Even with Arrow House being further away from the centre, the beauty of it didn’t compare to that of the open field.

Her mind went back to Tommy, to how they met, how they used to bicker about every single thing and to that first morning she’d woken up beside him and instead of finding his pillow cold, a strong arm had been wrapped around the middle, his nose hidden in her hair.

Neither mentioned it a few hours later at breakfast, but it’d been the day things slowly had started to shift. Then she’d gotten shot, and the switch had completely been flipped. All those glances they’d shared, the soft smiles and tiny touches were no longer hidden, but out on full display. His hand now always gravitated to touch any part of her, they fell asleep facing one another, most times Y/N using Tommy’s chest as a pillow. And then someone else came along and used his chest as a pillow, his heartbeat as a lullaby and his eyes as the ocean to pull them in and never let go.

She’d been scared to become a mom, but even with that, she’d never seen Tommy so absolutely terrified. When Y/N had gone into labour, she thought he would pass out, but he swallowed the fear and stayed with her. Despite Ada being adamantly against a man being present during “women’s business”, she’d threatened to break her neck if she so much as looked at Tommy, Polly snorting beside her.

“He put me in this position, and by God, he will be here,” Y/N had sneered at her sister-in-law before a contraption rippled through her body and she almost crushed her husband’s hand.

But then the pain went away and a small wriggling person was placed on her chest. She’d never seen Tommy fully break down before that.

“Huh,” Ada had shrugged. “So he does have a heart.”

She’d promptly received a smack from Polly and Y/N for that comment, but Tommy had chuckled.

“No, I don’t.” He’d leaned in and pressed a kiss to his wife’s temple. “These two stole it a long time ago.”

After that day, it wasn’t uncommon to find Tommy either in his office or even in their bed with Sadie sound asleep on his chest. She just about melted each time.

But now all that stared back at her was the cloudless winter sky. Y/N wanted to sob at the thought she’d never see Tommy’s blue eyes anymore or fix the way Sadie’s curls framed her face, but every little movement was agonising, so she just laid there, staring at the cosmos and waiting for that black void to get her.

***

When Y/N came to she was confused as to why there was so much yelling when being dead, why her head was pounding and her body was racked by violent shivers.

“You undressed my fucking wife!” A deep voice boomed from somewhere very far away it seemed while at the same time, the noise echoed in her skull, rattling her brain.

“Oh, would you have liked me to have left her in that frozen fucking dress?” A deep, gruff one replied. “She was already hypothermic, but by all means, you’d rather no one saw her in her knickers than be alive.”

“Shut your fucking mouth, Solomons!”

That name being said snapped her eyes open, which was a big fucking mistake, as even the warm light from a candle by the bed and from the fireplace was enough to make Y/N feel like she was looking directly at the sun and burning her retinas.

Another horrible shiver went through her frame, her teeth chattering nonstop. Pins and needles were running all over her skin and Y/N curled up in a ball as if trying to not let any of the heat she’d managed to get back escape, but that only made her feel more pain, a groan escaping her mouth. That small noise was enough though for the door to be busted open and for two men – one lean and tall, the other a burly, beard-covered menace to rush inside.

Tommy was by her in an instant, a careful palm placed on her cheek.

“Don’t try to talk,” his own voice was that of a whisper. “The wound’s pretty rough.”

If it didn’t feel like it’d hurt like hell, Y/N would’ve just rolled her eyes, but all she could do was squeeze them shut as shivers went through her body. When Tommy saw that, he was instantly on his feet, going for the fireplace and adding more logs to the dwindling flames.

When he turned around, Y/N had slid her shaking hand from underneath the duvet and extended it to him, a silent plea for him to come back.

It didn’t take much more than that for Tommy to take off his jacket and suit, not caring about the company in the room, his trousers following until he was in his breeches, sliding into the bed, wrapping her frozen body with his own warmth.

A groan escaped her mouth, as she clung to him, Tommy releasing a string of expletives when sensing just how cold Y/N actually was.

“Bloody hell, woman,” he muttered, pressing a kiss to her forehead and tucking her face into the crook of his neck.

Gently, he intertwined her legs with his, and his fingers went to card through her matted strands, the motion more so calming him down, than her.

He’d put their daughter in bed after calling for Polly to come, with the thought Y/N was dead, his whole being a numb void. He’d thought the only time he’d ever get to see her again was after her body was found, that was if it’d be in a recognisable condition, so he’d take her frozen feet against his calves, her cold lips against his chest and stiff fingers digging painfully in his sides, as long as it meant she was alive.

At some point, after Alfie and Tommy exchanged words, Solomons left, and they spent the whole night and early morning like that, tangled in one another until Y/N was no longer cold or more appropriately would snap her tongue off if she so much as opened her mouth. She still couldn’t speak despite how Alfie had cleaned and stitched the wound in her neck, but she could write.

Alfie had brought a pen and paper upon Tommy’s request so they could communicate and the first and only word she scribbled was “home”.

“We’ll go home soon,” Tommy promised. “Arthur’s just… taking care of a few things.”

To that Y/N just nodded; she didn’t need any more explanations.

She took the pencil again and flipped to a new page. “Alfie has shitty sheets.”

Tommy chuckled, tightening the grip he had around Y/N’s waist. “He does, doesn’t he? You’d think the fucker could afford silk by now. Did he even change them before he put you in the bed?”

She just smiled and nuzzled closer to Tommy pressing her no longer cold nose to his chest and breathing in his scent, as he cradled her nape.

Y/N could hear the rapid thuds of his heart. When he'd first joined her in the bed, it'd been racing like one of his horses, stuttering and trying to find a beat, but now it was a steady song, matching her own.

No longer were they afraid.

Tags (crossed out wouldn’t take):

Everything tags: @palaiasaurus64 @supernaturalbaesduh @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @sea040561 @staryeyedgirl @deathbyarabbit @m-a-t-91 @maladaptive-ninja-returns @averyrogers83 @in-the-end-im-still-trash @gallifreyansass @dewy-biitch @avxgers @unlikelygalaxygiver @magicwithaknife @ollyoxenfrees @bnhvrdy @tvwhoresblog @thatkindofgurl @sj-thefan @lestersglitterglue @im-squished @strangersstranger

Thomas Shelby tags: @datewithgianni @captivatedbycillianmurphy @screemqueen @mrsmalfoyshelby @theamuz @lyarr24

A/N: sooo, it's been a while, hasn't it? Just wanted to drop something for the upcoming Valentines :)

P.S. hope you liked this :)

P.S.S. please don’t plagiarise my work and repost it/ translate it on other platforms (wattpad etc). re-blogs are very welcome

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padfootdaredmetoo · 2 years

Note

HEYYYYY LOVE!!!! I hope you’re doing well. I don’t k ow if your taking request at the moment but I was hoping to give you the idea of like a Grace parallel and what I mean by that basically is tommy x daughter! Reader where like Tommy’s and graces relationship, y/n would be like in school or simply waking down the streets of small heath and she meets this boy who is taken with her and they grow to like eachother and stuff, you could chooses if tommy knows abt them or he finds out later (after the love interest betrayal) and then y/n finds out that he’s the the son of Luca, Alice, or one of sabinis men and was tasked at cuddling up to “the tommy Shelby’s daughter” and hoping to get info on her. Y/n finding out being absolutely crushed, tommy finds out either through a meeting with the love intrests fathers (Luca, Allie, or Sabini) boasting abt their son tricking his daughter or whatever, tommy absolutely fucking livid, finds y/n bawling her eyes out, tommy can’t help but think of Grace while he comforts his girl. And BTW the love interest has feeling for y/n and feels horrible for what he did so he definitely grovels up to you to decide if y/n gets back together with him or not

Dear Anon,

Sorry this took forever. I have no idea what the quality is with my current mental state. It's pretty angsty, more Lizzie x Tommy than I thought there would be but once I start with them I can't help myself.

Warnings: Heart break, peaky typical violence & themes, abandonment from a parent, learning to accept a new potential parent, underage drinking, soft comfort dad Tommy

I really hope you like it <3

Looking up from the pages of your book to sneak a look one last time, you realized the boy's eyes were locked on to you. A blush covered your cheeks and you looked back at your book in embarrassment. You said a silent prayer that he would just move along, and take no notice. But he moved across the busy street to where you were sitting.

Being surrounded by strong men your whole life, combined with your mind always being tucked away in various novels, gave you very high expectations as to how men should act around you. This being said it was rare that someone would be able to earn a double take or a moment's glance.

An odd feeling washed over you as you saw him coming toward you. He had a sense of confidence that radiated into his gaze making it feel almost predatory. Like he was sizing you up to see how much of a challenge you were going to be.

You kept these feelings at the front of your mind all too aware of what consequences the world suffferes at the hands of weak men. Either he had the brains and awareness to back up his seemingly confident nature, or he was just arrogant and you would climb the steps into the betting shop and forget about him altogether.

“Good morning,” He said with a bright smile.

“Morning.” You smiled tensely.

“What are you reading ?” He nodded to the book in your lap and lit a cigarette. You watch how he easily leaned against the railing. Looking down at you with big brown eyes.

His questions started and he eventually took a seat next to you on the steps. An hour or so passed by and you were enamored by the challenge his conversations brought you. Gave you a chance to execute your opinions and be to be awarded praise for it brought a thick blush to your cheeks.

“Can I ask you out for dinner later?” He asked you, the was a boyish nervousness that put you at ease over the situation, you paused thinking about what you would say to your father. “If not a date, then as an opportunity to finish this conversation.”

“Well for the sake of pushing the augment further… I could make some time tonight.”

“Busy schedule then? Hope I’m not taking you away from a lover?”

You only responded with a laugh that earned you another charming smile.

“I’m Leonardo by the way.” He held out his hand and you shook it, giving him your first name.

“Pleasure to meet you.” He kept hold of your hand placing a kiss on the back of your hand. Redness seemed to be permanently etched onto the skin of your cheeks at this point. He only looked at you in adoration before taking a step onto the street.

“Meet me at the Stag & Hound around 7?”

“I’ll try to make it -” You were about to explain that it might not be possible for you to get approval that late in the evening. Not to mention that pub was outside of the usual Peaky-owned area. Just a bit out of bounds.

“I understand” He gave you a nod and walked down the street. Conflict rose over your body and you thought about your family, they’d done much, much, much worse than sneaking out for a date by your age. What harm could be done? It was a public place, it wouldn't be too late….

_______________________________________________

One date turned into many, and it wasn't long before he’d kissed you. Down by the cut, the moon shone brightly above the two of you. He’d slipped a necklace around your neck, wanting to give you something that said you were his. It was a silver locket with a small purple flower inside. Same flowers you’d pointed out on your first date.

The attention to detail made your heart pound. You kissed him till you didn't feel like kissing anymore. You’d snuck back into your makeshift bedroom at Watery lane. All thoughts of longing for your proper room at Arrow house were pushed from your mind. Thoughts were swirling in your head about Leo.

Once you’d gotten washed up for bed you laid there looking at the peeling wallpaper on the ceiling. This room used to be your father's, he insisted you take it while he stayed in the apartment next to this one.

Putting space between you and Lizzie.

You sighed knowing that eventually, you would have to endure the pain her presence brought you. She wasn’t what you wanted in a mother, well, you really just wanted your mother or no mother at all.

She was long gone, a space that was vacant was easier to ignore. Your father provided you everything you needed, and if there were things a girl would only want to ask her mother, you went to Polly. Seeing your mother's place at the table filled with someone else, just made you have to realize all over again that it wasn't enough for her.

How long would it be before Lizzie understood them? Saw the flaws and difficulties your father possessed. She would learn, she was smart enough, so there was no point in getting attached.

If anything you were slightly grateful that it had put enough space between you and your father’s watchful eyes. Gave you a chance to take your relationship with Leo at your own pace.

You didn’t sleep at all that night. Kept up by the conflict of your family, you suddenly realized that you had dodged all of Leo’s questions about them.

Politics, history, mostly books - but never family. You were enjoying the separation from your last name, just a girl getting to know a boy. Nothing complicated about it, you tried to think of a way to learn more about his family without giving yours up.

Suddenly a worry grew in your stomach, what if all this was too good to be true?

______________________________

Your thoughts haunted you, weighing heavily on your shoulders. You sat eating toast with Polly at the table.

“I was thinking of planning an outing on Friday? All the ladies out for an evening.” Polly commented pulling you away from watching the milk swirl in your cup of tea.

“All of the ladies including Lizzie?” You sighed, tired of the feelings wrapped in your mind. You weren't angry at anyone, not anyone but yourself.

“I know its difficult, but you should give her a chance - We can -”

“I can’t talk about this right now.” Tears prickled in your eyes and you quickly went out the front door. Cold air encompasses you helping you come back to reality. You would pay for walking out on Polly like that later. You decided that going for a walk was worth it.

Your feet carried you well out of peaky territory, looking around you started to realize you’d never been around this part of the city before. You saw a cafe and went in for a coffee hoping they would have a phone you could use. You decided you’d call Esme, knowing she would be able to pick you up and give you advice. It was a small shop, practically empty which struck you as odd. Mid-morning places like this were normally packed. Men were sitting around a round table at the back of the deli and you approached the counter.

“Morning, A coffee please.” You placed a coin into the man's hand and he gave you a nod.

“He’s taking his time. Says she’s flighty.” One of the men spoke in a hushed voice.

“Well, we haven't got forever eh? Need to get as much information about the Shelbys as possible. Not a lot of time left before we have to strike.”

You realized that it was best to not ask to use the phone.

“Well, I still don’t know what a teenage girl would know about such things anyway? All this is just a grand scheme to get the boy laid.” Another man piped up.

“With a gypsy whore? Disgusting, don’t know why you hate your child.” A slapping sound rang out and you resisted the urge to run away.

You took the paper cup and exited the cafe trying to look as normal as possible. Once out of view from the shop window you ran as fast, dodging cars, prams, and old ladies. You dropped your coffee into the hands of a sad-looking man sitting on a street corner. Happy the hot liquid was no longer slowing you down.

You got in the door and slammed the door shut. Twisting the many cold locks with your fingers. You knew that you needed to move up to your room, try to hide all this away. But your lungs had already collapsed, tears streaming down your cheeks. Your sobs choked you as you realized what had happened.

Your happy escape had been a trap the whole time. He never cared about you. How stupid could you be, people didn't like you. Let alone love you. You were complicated, needy, and too loud. Your own mother left you abandoned, how on earth did you forget that people naturally disliked you? They would stay until you slipped up too much, got too comfortable, or said too much. Just like her they would pack up and leave.

Hands found you patting over your body trying to see if you were hurt.

You didn't have enough sense to realize the person gripping your arms telling you to breathe was Lizzie.

Her pale fingers pressed against the top of your chest, her other hand holding your arm. She pushed into your chest telling you when to breathe eventually helping you stop hyperventilating. You wanted to push her away, but your arms were heavy, her embrace to inviting to fight.

“Whatever happened we can fix it yeah?” She looked into your eyes and you nodded like a frightened child. She guided you up the stairs to the kitchen. She pulled a blanket from the couch and tucked it around your shoulders placing a glass of whiskey in front of you.

You were slowly coming back, aware enough to give her a suspicious look.

“You're in shock, it will help.” She nodded at the glass and you tried to shoot it back, coughing at the way it burned.

“Now tell me what this boy did and we can decide if it's worth telling your father”

“How do you know it's a boy” you sniffled.

“You only cry like that when your hearts breaking, plus you've got hickeys covering your neck.” You fought the urge to puke knowing who put them there.

“Leo- I was at a cafe, he - god they just wanted information about dad. He -” You started crying again and Lizzie made her choice moving towards the phone. Your sobs prevented you from listening to what she’d said. Her arms found your shoulders and you were grateful for the comfort she tried to give you.

Knowing you were undeserving of her kindness brought on a fresh wave of hot guilt. Your father tore through the house and she gave him a strange look as he approached. His composure softened slightly.

Lizzie got up and met him in the doorway.

“She’s just got her heart broken for the first time, be soft with her. Softer than you were with me.” She patted his shoulder before moving to another part of the house.

Suddenly you wondered what she meant by that comment. You thought to ask about it later, everything was pushed from your mind as your father's eyes met your eyes.

Shame swallowed you up and you tried not to cry again. His arms came around you and you leaned against him, desperate to be protected by his presence.

“I swear I didn't know. I - tried to be careful. I never talked about any of you. I never even told him my last name. Just books and history - stuff like that.”

“Mhmm” He listened waiting for you to get it all out.

“Polly wanted me to spend time with Lizzie I got angry. Wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Stopped into a deli to get coffee - was going to call for a ride home.” You whispered into his shirt collar, unable to raise your voice. “There were men there, talking about how I was flighty. Gypsy Whore - how Leo had to take his time with me.” Tommy’s arms tightened around you enough to crush you.

“I swear I didn't tell him anything.”

“What did you give him?” His voice was dark and had a tone you didn't understand.

“I-I” You stuttered not understanding his question. Until the realization hit you. “We- didn’t erm- didn’t give him that.” Your throat was uncomfortably tight with discomfort. Tommy let out a sigh.

“But he put his hands on you.” you felt his fingers brush the skin of your neck and you leaned over his arm to puke onto the kitchen floor.

“Fuck” He sighed, holding your hair back.

“Just - calm down.” He soothed at the tears returned. “I’ll handle this yeah?”

You nodded against his chest for a moment.

_________________

Anger pulsed through his veins as his daughter sat half curled into his arms on a kitchen bench. Neck marked up by a boy - a soon-to-be-dead boy.

He held her as she cried resisting the pull of old memories pooling in his own stomach. Without his consent, her face made its way into the center of his mind. Grace.

He hated that his daughter had to know this pain all on top of the constant nagging pain he knew followed her around. The pain of being born to a person who didn't want you.

But he wanted her, more than anything in his life. Anything he could dream up the only thing he wanted was her happiness. Reason for keeping Lizzie hidden away for so long.

“Your mother. She’d sold the family out, got the whole family locked up for a year.” He cleared his throat. “Left us for an American.”

He watched her stiffen, raise her head to look him in the eyes, unbelieving. Seeing her hurt even more caused all his own pain to unravel as if these events were happening again in front of him. She knew Grace had left but not the extent of the damage she had created for the family.

“Doesn't matter though, because we did everything right, eh? Loved these people the best we could. They made their choices because they are troubled people.” He watched her try to grapple with the concept.

“Nothings wrong with you, they were just caught up in their own shite. In too deep to see how extraordinary you are. Pray for them, eh? The best thing in the world was in their hands and they fucked it all up.” His words hit her hard and she leaned into his chest with a different type of tears sliding down her face.

The pain he didn't know she felt. When Grace left she was only 4 years old. He figured she’d moved on knowing that his family loved her. He remembered sleeping next to her that whole year. Listening to her cry out for her mother, Polly, and the family. How Polly refused to let her go for hours once released as if she had your cries ringing in her ears the whole time she was locked up. How you managed to keep the family around, he knew you were the reason they had forgiven him. Suddenly the issue with Lizzie took on a whole new light.

“Can I leave you here with Lizzie while I go sort this?”

“Erm- yeah.”

“She cares for you.” He said and she nodded, but he could tell she wasn't sure about the situation. Expect nothing and never be disappointed. Something he would have to handle later.

He got up placing a kiss to the top of her head and carefully avoided the puke on the floor.

He found Lizzie sitting on the bottom step of the staircase smoking a cigarette. She looked up at him and his heart lurched at how lucky he was to have the two of them.

“Please stay with her. If anything happens to her -”

“I can handle it, Tommy.” She said quickly. He handed her a gun from his coat pocket.

“I’ll send Polly and the girls' ‘round. Going to go get the boys gathered up.”

“Be careful.”

“Always am.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss. Wishing more than anything he had more time to talk to the two of them. Clear up whatever mess Grace had hanging over his daughter's head.

He stepped out the front door and let the pure hatred and rage finally radiate through him.

_______________

Lizzie came up as you tried to clean up the mess you’d made on the floor. She helped you and made you some toast, insisting it would help your stomach settle.

You sat across from her and finally started to ask the questions that had been nagging at you.

“What are your intentions with my dad?” You asked as seriously as you could with your face swollen and a thick voice raw from crying.

“That’s a good question.” You watched her think on it for a few moments. “I’ve known him a long time. Fell for him once when we were younger. I suppose - ”

“He broke your heart.”

“A few times.”

“Why do you come back to him then?”

“The bastard always finds a way of making things alright again.” Her eyes turned apologetic when she realized what she’d said.

“You want to stay with him?”

“He’s your dad before he’ll be my anything.” She said seriously.

“I’ve got a temper. I don't handle things easily.” She gave you a questioning look. “My room gets messy and I won’t let the maids clean it. I didn't like the roast you made.”

“No roast, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I understand if these are deal breakers. It’s not an easy house to live in.” You looked at her to observe her reaction.

“There’s nothing wrong with you. Things like that aren't enough to send me away.” She said softly.

“I like you a lot, but if you leave.” You shook your head trying to prevent more tears from spilling.

“Not going to leave, unless you want me gone.” She reached across the table and squeezed your hand. Just then you heard the front door open and Lizzie moved to the entry of the kitchen with a gun in hand. You realized then that she was properly invested in you. Enough to potentially shoot someone to keep you safe.

Polly made an appearance and Lizzie let out a long breath of relief. She didn't waste time saying anything, just pushed past her to tackle you into an embrace. Her tears made her chest heave.

“I'm okay.” You choked about before crying again.

Ada started on dinner while Esme poured herself a glass of whiskey. Looking at you with frightened eyes.

“God I almost had a heart attack. Made it sound like the boy had beaten you.” She shot back the liquid and Polly made a cross-motion over her chest.

“Well, before it all went tits up, was he any good?” Esme asked you causing Ada to throw a stale dinner roll at her head in outrage.

“Girls just got her heart broken, almost died and you're concerned with the quality of lovemaking!” Ada swore at her but Esme only laughed.

“What! Look at her!” She gestured to you throwing the bun back at Ada. “First of many my darling don’t get hung up on it.”

“God that’s the truth,” Polly said running a hand through your tangled hair.

“New rule you want to date someone he needs to meet us, yeah?” You nodded knowing that was the best option.

“But don’t worry, we won’t tell your da till your ready. Want her to get some action before she’d married off.”

“Esme! Jesus! No one's marrying her off.” Ada stressed.

“Oi, honest assumption. You lot had me married off.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Being subjected to your attitude problem and the never-ending nonsense the rest of you cook up?” She laughed and grabbed your hand. “Never.”

“This is nice being all together,” Lizzie said placing a bottle of wine on the table.

You looked at Lizzie and gave her a smile. They let you stay up with them, drinking wine and hearing all the tales of lost love and betrayal that they had experienced. Eventually, everyone was tired, and you were certainly starting to feel the sleepless nights creeping in on you.

“Let’s get you to bed,” Lizzie told you and they all laughed as you struggled to stand up. You and Lizzie walked next door and she watched you flop down on their bed. The necklace thumped against your chest and you realized you’d forgotten to take it off.

You sat up, head spinning trying to undo the necklace. Lizzie quickly helped you, then untied your shoes, and you laid next to her. Giggling about various stories, you attempted to explain exactly how much it meant to love someone the size of the moon. Your hand not leaving her stomach.

“Lizzie?” Your father's voice rang out and the sound of the front door closed.

“Just pretend to be asleep.” She whispered as she got up and went out to the living room, shutting the door behind her.

“Are you alright?” You heard her ask softly.

“Everything sorted. Boys all came home.” His voice was cold and it contrasted harshly against the warm tone of the late evening. “How is she.?”

“Don’t be mad -” Lizzie started.

“What the fuck-”

“She had a bit to drink - Not her fault, she was just enjoying all of us and Polly was there and Esme kept pouring her glasses. Said she was trying to get her started enough to fall asleep without remembering what happened. I didn’t think it was my place-” She rambled on but you heard your father chuckle. “Really don’t be mad with her, it’s my fault.”

“Tonight is an exception. After that, it's as much your place as anyone. Don’t want her to drink like I used to.” You heard him let out a loud sigh.

“She’s very smart.” Lizzie mused. “Just spent the last 45 minutes next to me trying to explain the solar system and the moon’s relevance in something or other. What it actually means to love someone the size of the moon.”

“She’s the best of us. Can’t believe - fuck.”

“Hey, she promised. The next boy has to meet us before taking her out.”

“No, no more boys ever again. Not enough security checks in the world.” You heard the strain in his voice and hated the pain you had caused him. You slipped out of the bedroom, against Lizzies warning look to sit on the floor next to his leg. Resting your head against his knee. His hand found its way to the top of your head.

“No drinking and no boys.” He said absently looking at the ceiling.

“Well, what about men then?” You said cheekily the wine removing all common sense. His face twisted up and Lizzie let out a loud laugh. “I’m joking! Joking!” You felt him relax next to you.

You used to sit like this when you were little, no living room was ever big enough for all your family. You never had a problem with the floor. Lizzie sat tucked into his side and you enjoyed her presence. Someone to laugh at your cheekiness. You thought of her attempts to keep you safe, from a potential intruder and from your father’s anger.

“Lizzie. Have you-?” you mumbled, happiness swelling in your chest.

“Uh-” She responded awkwardly falling under your father’s gaze. You suddenly realized that this may not have been what she’d wanted. You tried to think of something to save her.

“Polly’s -hmm - erm - We’re going to have a baby.” She fumbled but looked at him in a way that you hoped you’d experience with another person one day. His hand ran across her stomach.

“Going to name her Ruby -” You let out a yawn. Self-aware enough to let them have a moment. You got up on shaky legs, enjoying the way your mind swayed. How easily words could fall from your lips.

“Love all three of you.” You kissed their cheeks before making your way to the second bedroom.

You thought about thinking of all the twists and turns of the day, of your whole life, but decided to just enjoy the warmth in your bones and the relaxed state of your body.

_____________________________________

“BREAKFAST IS READY!” John’s voice rang out and it felt like a gunshot tearing through your brain.

“John! She’s been through enough!” Esme scolded. Suddenly the night's events caught up with you. Everything with Leo, how everyone tried to cheer you up, Polly realizing Lizzie was pregnant. You pinched the bridge of your nose.

Esme opened the door and let out a soft laugh. She helped get you out the door, stepping onto the street she handed you her sunglasses. You looked around sight landing on an unexpected face.

“Hey! Wait I just want to -” He backed off with his hands up and you realized that Esme had pulled a dagger from… somewhere?

“Look, just stay away? Alright.” You said reasonably, keeping as much dignity as you could.

“I didn’t want to - alright they made me - and God I really like you. Please just.”

“If you’d really liked me you would have gone to my father. Tried to protect me, and yourself.” You said calmly wondering how you were managing to make it up as you went along. “Your family tried to kill mine. I don't think it’s an issue we can work on.”

You watched his world crumble and fall apart. You knew that it wouldn't last that long, things would pass.

“Good luck.” You said to him before walking with Esme close to your side. You made it in the door. It wasn't hard to push down the tears watching your family start to tease you over the hangover you had. You sat next to Lizzie placing your head on her shoulder.

Polly soon appeared with a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea. You looked at the feast laid out on the table and were eternally grateful for something easy to eat.

“Back at the start here, I want to thank all of you for all your hard work, every step of the way. Look at where we are now.” Your father paused for a moment. “Lizzie’s expecting.” There was a mess of hollering, and you realized that wasn't the only bit of news. A ring was on her finger. “Planning a wedding in the spring.”

You weren't ready for excitement so you just kept hold of her arm, hoping it was enough.

________________________________

Her and Lizzie bonded over the wedding planning. You realized how much she cared about your opinions. Letting you read to the baby in her stomach before bed each night.

Tommy kept a closer eye on her, asking her about her school friends. Forever afraid of the conversations they would have to have before the next boy came along.

He was grateful for the family around her. He wasn't hurt by the ever-growing list of inside jokes and constant laughter that filled his house. His girls got along, and you had a mum that wanted to give you the world.

Ruby was born and it was three against one, but he didn't mind all that much. Lots of pink, lots of crying and feelings. More love than he could have imagined. The way they all wanted to sit with him. Listening to you go on about your school drama while Ruby was content resting on his shoulder. Lizzie was next to him offering wisdom he didn't understand.

No matter how late he came home, Lizzie would wake up insisting on taking some attention for herself.

Eventually, the time came. A boy entered her world again. It was painful to watch her have to learn how to trust. Endless fights and attempts to push him away made Tommy’s head spin. But he had to give it to the kid. He never let her go to bed upset. Calling on the phone for hours trying to make it right. Sneaking in through her balcony door like he wouldn’t notice. Listening to the boy reason with her, and how much he cared. Tommy made a point of not publicly liking him. Wanted to make it hard on the kid, make sure he knew he would have to work hard his whole life. Ensure his daughter was treated well.

She was because he was a good guy? Or because he knew that Esme told him that they would collectively dismember him under a full moon, saying she’d cast a spell that would cause his skin to peel off if he ever endangered her, he wasn't sure. But he didn't care.

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