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buttercupsandboys · 7 months

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I’m so late discovering this fic @raincoffeeandfandoms but secretly I’m a little glad because now there are so many Rose stories to read! ❤️ I love a good OC, and the thought of Alfie with his childhood sweetheart makes me MELT. (Especially the bit with them together as babies 🥺) I’m very curious about this other marriage?!? and can’t wait to read more about this pair. (Also thank you @cillmequick for the rec xx)

Rose (Alfie Solomons x fem!OC)

Summary: Alfie found his wife sitting on the bed with a mirror in her hands. She's sad and he knows why. All started when he told her that Tommy was about to become father again. They tried many times, but they couldn't have a baby. Both of them remember when they were teens and they kissed for the first time. "Why do you still choose me?" she asks. "Because I love you."

Warnings: hurt/comfort. Mentions of infertility, miscarriage.|| BIG doses of fluff, especially with Alfie and the struggles, and thoughts, he had about his first kiss 🙈❤️. || Alfie x Rose masterlist

Words: 2.2k

(First fic I write for an oc. At least officially. Rose Solomons -Née Coldwell- is the same character I mentioned when I wrote my Titanic AU. Back then I wrote her as reader. Comments are really appreciate since I feel a bit insecure now 😭)

1926

The Solomons house was silent, except for the rustling of the pages of the history book Alfie was reading. His mind wasn't on the history book, though. His mind was with his wife, the one supposedly sleeping in the bedroom.

He knew instantly what that sad smile she gave him meant when he told her the good news about Tommy and the baby to come. Maybe he shouldn't have told her, but sooner or later she would have found out anyway and she would know that he knew almost from the beginning.

He'd known her all her life. Literally. When Alfie was a baby and couldn't be cared for by his mother because the woman worked (his father was absent) it was his now mother-in-law who looked after him. She and he had been born a few months apart and he used to sleep in the crib next to her until his mother came home from work. The two had grown up together. They knew each other too well to keep a truth like that from her.

The problem wasn't that Tommy would be a father in a few months, the problem was that Alfie knew she felt she had failed him as a wife by not giving him children. They had tried too many times. Too many times to count. Only once had they succeeded, but she had lost the baby a few weeks later. It had been too difficult for both of them. It was true that both of them still in their 30s could keep trying, but they had long since given up. They had seen doctors and tried home remedies recommended by old synagogue women, nothing had worked.

Alfie didn't care. He would rather have his wife with him than lose her by forcing a pregnancy that was almost certainly going to end badly. And Rose felt the same way only sometimes, like that day, it became a little more difficult considering that almost every man around Alfie was a father but him.

Alfie put the book aside and went looking for her. He found her sitting on the bed, holding a mirror in her hand.

"Looking at how pretty ya are, sweetheart?"

"I wanted to try a new hairstyle. But I found out I'm getting old, Alfie."

"What are ya talking about?"

"The first gray hairs appeared in and I've got a couple of wrinkles."

"Well, yeah, it's the same with me. It's part of the way of life, luv. You're beautiful and you're still young."

"I know. But youth, you know what I mean, it went by so fast…" she put the mirror down on the bed and looked at him, "when I want to realize it I'm going to be a real old woman."

"You'll still be sexy," he said with a soft smile, "well, that's what I want and I know ya do, too. Ain't we looking for the same thing? To grow old together? Sitting on the doorstep and yelling at the kids who make too much noise?"

"Oh for God's sake, Alfie! I don't want to yell at the children!"

"I do."

Alfie sat down on the mattress beside her and invited her to sit on his lap. Rose did so and immediately snuggled against him. His arms went around her body and one of his hand caressed her back. Though silent, he felt her sob. He hugged her tighter "What's wrong, luv?"

"I didn't think Tommy's news would affect me so much. I don't know, three months ago, Ishmael became a father and we all celebrated, including me. But with Tommy… It's not that I'm not happy for him and Lizzie, it's just… I don't know, Alfie, I always thought that one day you were going to be able to tell him that you were going to be a father, too. But it just got harder and harder and now that I'm getting to the edge of childbearing life, I know that's impossible. And I can't stop thinking that I failed you as a wife. Those three years…"

Alfie respected her silence and let her finish speaking before answering her.

"Those three years I was married to Evert, I was blessed not to have gotten pregnant. I really prayed hard that it would stay that way, but I didn't think it was going to be the same when we got back together. What was once a blessing suddenly it became a burden. Sometimes, like today, I think about whether I wanted something so badly that it turned against me."

"Honestly, luv, Thomas doesn't give a shit about other people's kids. Even if I told him ya were expecting triplets for the fifth time in a row, he wouldn't give a fuck. I don't even know if he cares about his nephews, right? That's Tommy Shelby, sweetheart, I think he'd cry more if he ran out of cigarettes than if one more child of his was born. Then, I'm so glad that cunt didn't put a kid inside you, fucking son of a bitch him and his whole family. They are cursed ones. And finally… Rosie, luv, you never failed me as a woman. Ever, right? You're the only good thing I have. If we couldn't have children, it's because maybe it wasn't our destiny. It's not your fault, but that doesn't mean we don't love each other. I love ya, just like that first day. Like what, 25 years ago? Tell me that story, luv?"

She chuckled. "Why do you want me to tell you? You were there, you know well what happened."

"I know, but it sounds nice in your voice."

----

1902.

"Solomons, Coldwell! Come here, figli bastardi! Next time I'm going to beat you both up!"

Mr. Sabini burst out of his store with broom in hand as Alfie and Rose ran. Both of them were laughing, as they ran as fast as their legs would allow.

"Quick, this way!" Alfie shouted to his friend as, they turned down the dirt streets of Camden Town.

Alfie of had to catch his breath, leaning his hands on a wall. He still had a smile on his face. She arrived a few seconds later, also leaning against a wall for air. The two fourteen-year-olds had managed to steal cheese from Darby Sabini's father who sold Italian food. It was a prank, the Sabinis had cheese to spare, and they were hungry. Those were hard times and the lousy pay Alfie had helping a baker wasn't going to cut it. The Solomons and the Coldwells helped each other with what little both families had.

Alfie pulled a pocket knife out of his pocket and cut a piece of cheese and handed it to her. They both smiled at the first bite.

"I hate these wops, but the cheese is tasty," Alfie said.

"It's the best I've tasted in a long time, Al, god knows I'm tired of rice. The bread you brought us the other day, it was so good."

"Me mum says the same thing. I'm learning fast."

"You'll make a great baker," she said smiling at him. "I know you want to be much more than that, though."

"I want to be more than that, yeah. It'll be good, you'll see."

"I don't doubt it, Alfie."

Alfie looked at her as they both sat side by side. It had been a while now that he was beginning to see her differently. One day she had been the same old girl and the next he had begun to see her as the woman she was slowly but surely destined to be. He also knew that Darby was interested in her and by comparison, the Italian boy had more money than him and a normal family. Everything he didn't have. But, on the other hand, she had already told him she wasn't interested in him. And evidently it was true. And now, after stealing Darby's father's cheese, maybe there was less chance that she would ever notice him. But Alfie said nothing. Oblivious to his thoughts, Rose smiled at him and his heart skipped a beat. He was in love for the first time and he couldn't, and above all, didn't want to stop feeling that.

The purse she carried slung to the side of her body had been ideal for storing what was left of the cheese she said she would give to her two brothers. The two friends were walking through the outskirts of London. Alfie was allowed one day off in the week and that was the day he decided to spend with his friend. It was a beautiful day, to tell the truth, and they both spent much of it walking. Alfie had even cut a rose from a garden and gave it to her who put it in her hair.

"So? how does it look on me?" asked the girl.

"You look beautiful."

She couldn't help but get a smile on her face. Alfie was complimenting her all the time lately and that, whether she wanted it to or not, was giving her butterflies in her tummy. Something was starting to change between them and she knew it. At least, as far as she was concerned. She used to not care what she looked like, but in the last few months if she knew Alfie was coming to her house or they were spending time together like that day, she used to pay attention to her clothes and hairstyle. She would check that her shoes were clean and apply some perfume that belonged to her mother. Her brother Samuel, five years younger than her, used to tease her. The boy was more aware of what was happening to his sister than she was herself. Her mother couldn't help but smile. That inevitable thing, it was happening.

"Thank you, Alfie," she replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

It was evening when they both returned to Camden Town. The older they got the less time they had together, so those moments were precious. But Alfie didn't want to go back to the house just yet. It had to be that night. But how was it done? Of course he had seen people kiss, it happened all the time and from what he saw it was easy. The man would approach the woman and put his lips on hers. And that was it. But what happenes the moment before the kiss? It's not like Alfie was going to pounce on Rose and kiss her. He'd probably scare her off. No, he had to think hard about what to do. He'd look at her and tell her he loved her. No, not that either, it was too soon. Hold her hand? Yes, that could be it. Holding her hand was a good plan, that's what he would do. He didn't know what to do next, though. He'd never kissed anyone before and in the end, it happens, that kissing the girl he liked wasn't as simple as the adults made it seem.

"Alfie, are you okay?" she asked, looking up at him. Her friend was thinking in the middle of the street.

"Huh? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Let's go home?"

Fucking idiot. Alfie chided himself. Of all the things he could say, he said the one thing he didn't want to do. He didn't want to go home, he wanted to kiss the girl.

"Let's go home, yes," she replied.

At that hour, the number of people walking was few. Most had already returned home and were in the company of their families. Those who were out at that hour were men who usually went to the taverns to drink until they lost control. Rose, looking at them and seeing that more than one was watching her, suddenly felt conscious of her womanhood, even though she was still a child. Alfie gave her reassurance and against all his odds, it was she who took his hand first. He intertwined his fingers with hers.

The safety of being on the street where their houses were located gave them peace of mind. There was nothing there but familiar faces.

They were barely four houses away from reaching hers when, still holding her hand, Alfie stopped and Rose could go no further.

"Something happened, Al?" she asked.

It was now or never.

"Yes," he replied. 'You can do it, Alfie,' he told himself.

Concerned, she walked over to him and put her still free hand on his shoulder. "What happened?"

"I'm fucking in love with ya. I love ya, Rosie."

'No, stupid! Ya didn't have to tell her you love her. Ya fucking idiot. Ya've ruined everything!'

But any thoughts were interrupted by her lips on his. Neither of them knew much what to do, but they tried. He put a hand on her waist and she took his face between hers. In the far distant future that same face would be covered with a very full beard, but at fourteen he was as smooth as her face.

"I love you too, Alfie" she said with the biggest smile she had ever had in her short life.

Alfie kissed her again.

--------

1926.

"I was scared like fucking chicken," Alfie said looking at her. "I thought you were never going to correspond my feelings."

"That's stupid, Alfie," she smiled "before that moment, I kept thinking whether it would happen or not. I never had eyes for anyone else."

"Neither did I. I chose you from that moment, even before."

"Why do you still choose me?"

"Because I love you," Alfie looked into her eyes and kissed her. "Ya never failed me as a wife, you know that, right? I don't need a son to know I wouldn't trade you for anyone, sweetheart." Rose nodded. "And we have Cyril."

She chuckled. "We have Cyril," she repeated.

Alfie looked at her and carefully sat her on the side of the mattress as he stood up, then reached out his hand to her. "Come, dance with your husband, sweetheart."

"And your back?"

"I can still dance with my wife. I'll survive, love," Alfie smiled at her again and she took his hand, then rested her head on his chest. In the bedroom, they both moved to the rhythm of a tune that no one but them heard.

And Alfie was right, with them together, they didn't need anything else.

#alfie solomons x ofc #alfie solomons #peaky blinders

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