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look-at-the-soul · 1 month

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Every little thing you do- Part 3

Tommy Shelby x reader

Series master list

A/N: I’m sorry I couldn’t post this past Saturday something came up, so next part will be posted on next Wednesday and so on until I go back to post each Saturday. ♥️ Thank you for reading and engaging in this little idea! It means a lot!

Word count: 3,038

After listening to the doctor assure her that the baby was fine last week, Y/N had a lot of time to think and digest all the major changes she was about to face. She couldn’t help but stay up at night and cry endlessly on her own, but after a few days Y/N had finally made a decision. It wasn’t easy, but like her grandmother had said, she didn’t have many options.

Polly had also talked to her with her heart on her sleeve. She had assured her that in the end, women did well with or without a man by their side, her own husband passed away after getting too drunk, Tommy’s father wasn’t the best example to lead a family, Y/N knew too well how their relationship ended up, Ada had married Freddy only for him passing away too soon and she had raised Karl on her own.

She was right, but there was a huge difference, regardless of the useless men in their lives, they still had their last name as support. It didn’t mean anything, but legally it granted them more rights than being a single mother. The injuries on her back had been healing, she was now able to wear her regular clothes and even though she still flinched at times from the pain, it felt nice to move around more freely.

At least she had a place to sleep and food to eat, so at the moment she got it covered. She needed to save as much money as she could though, she had to think of the future.

Staring out the window, she noticed Tommy parking outside, so she rushed downstairs.

“Tommy,” Y/N greeted him. He had been to London, but barely stayed for a night. “How was your trip?”

Tommy hesitated for an instant. Under different circumstances he would’ve shared the new business Mr. Churchill had mentioned at their meeting, but he thought Y/N already had enough in her plate to add anymore pressure. He was still deciding how to manage everything with the Russians and until he got clearer instructions he’d try to keep her out of it.

“Good. I still need to go back next week though.” He followed Y/N into the kitchen, placing a small paper bag on the table. “Brought you something.”

Y/N filled two cups of the tea she started earlier and as she was about to take them to the table, Tommy rushed to get them from her hands.

“I can walk around with them, Tom. I’m only pregnant.” Y/N chuckled at his sudden protectiveness.

“Yeah, what if you feel dizzy? You could burn yourself.” He added worryingly.

But Y/N was busy drooling over the bread Tommy brought.

“Well?” Tommy gave her a long look as he added sugar to his tea.

Y/N looked up at Tommy with her mouth full, the bread was so good!

“Oh! Right… I just wanted to ask if you’re still good with the idea of me living in Arrow House? I don’t want this to cause you troubles with someone.” She took a deep breath and stared down at her hands.

Tommy blinked a couple of times in confusion. “Problems with who? What do you mean?”

It was hard to put her feelings into words, the right words as a matter of fact. Lately she had been having lots of big feelings, lots of things to be afraid of…

Y/N moved nervously. “I’ve never been noisy about your personal affairs Tom, and I don’t want to be in the middle in case you’ve a-a you know… a woman in your life.” She admitted, her voice trailing off by the end.

He squinted his eyes, not quite believing what he just heard. Then he started laughing, a loud, genuine laugh. “This is ridiculous, you’ve nothing to worry about.”

Only then, she dared to look at him, to read his expression.

“Is this what’s keeping you from accepting? Y/N, look,” Tommy took a few steps towards her, his hands found their way to her cheeks to make her look at him. “I’m going to help you no matter what. Just tell me if you accept or not, I’ll take care of the rest.”

They have had each others back over the years, and now it wouldn’t be different.

“I do need to ask you for a favor though.” Y/N folded her arms. “I will need that job you offered me as secretary a while ago.”

“But you’re pregnant.” He protested.

She was already shaking her head. “I don’t want your pity or charity, I need to work.”

With a sigh, Tommy found himself nodding in agreement. She was stubborn and wouldn’t stay still for too long.

“Deal. Although if you feel sick…”

“I’ll take it easy, I promise.”

This time, it was Tommy who pulled her in for a hug, grateful because Y/N accepted the help he was offering genuinely.

“What made you change your mind from your initial decision?” He asked with curiosity.

Y/N took a sip of her tea, feeling grateful after noticing her stomach was taking it nicely. “My grandma helped me see it through. This is the most decent offer I’ll probably get.”

“So you’re accepting because it’s your only option?” Tommy teased.

“Shut up.” She shoved him slightly on the shoulder.

She still needed to send a letter to Lady Winchester to let her know she wouldn’t be able to return to work. Until now she had lied and said she got sick and didn’t want to risk her, but she needed to digest this upcoming change first.

Later that week, Y/N had officially moved into Arrow House. She didn’t own many things other than her clothes that her grandmother managed to take from her house, her hairbrush and a small bag that Polly gave her. So here she was, on her way to an unknown future full of uncertainty, but with a little baby growing inside her. And the incondicional support of the people who were so close to her heart.

Everyone in the Shelby family had been nothing but kind and welcoming to her, offering to help her carry whatever she had on her hands, telling her how they would welcome the baby with a peaky cap and defend her from cruel comments.

Her eyes danced around, she still gasped at the sight of the spacious foyer, the only difference she noticed is that it now had more furniture and different curtains.

“Mary.”

“Good evening Mr. Shelby, may I take your coat?” A maid welcomed them, moving fast to get the coat from him, she then pointed at the briefcase. She even had uniform!

“This is Miss YL/N, she’ll use the guest bedroom I asked you to prepare.” Then he turned to face Y/N. “Mary will help you with everything, please make yourself at home.”

“Nice to meet you.” Y/N admitted with a smile, but deep down she was in shock to see that a maid was practically guessing Tommy’s every move.

“Of course Mr. Shelby.” The maid gave her a subtle look, but didn’t ask any more questions. “Follow me Miss.”

Turning around, Tommy changed his mind. “Actually… Mary take her suitcase upstairs, Y/N come with me.”

Feeling overwhelmed, she followed him, crossing a huge room, Tommy explained her it was his office, he was holding the door open for her to walk in.

“An office! Look at this place… it’s bigger than our kitchen and living room together.” Y/N couldn’t believe this, she took her time to take everything in; the impressive desk, the endless bookshelves -some where still empty-, the fireplace. “You got a painting?!”

Tommy looked down, understanding her surprise. “Is it too much?” Sometimes it all felt surreal to him.

Y/N didn’t think it was her place to point wherever it was or not too much, he could do whatever he pleased with his wealth.

“It’s just I’m not used to all of this.” She shuddered.

There was something different sparkling in his eyes. It was like she was watching the boy with big dreams and killer smile all over again.

“Yeah… me neither.”

Tommy took a long puff of his cigarette, but Y/N wrinkled her nose.

“Are you feeling sick?” He noticed the sounds she made, she was holding her stomach with one hand.

“I think it’s the smell of the cigarette.”

“Shit.” Tommy opened the window and curtains to allow some fresh air to get in and then he stomped his almost untouched cigarette on the ashtray. “Better?”

“Thanks.” She then chuckled. “Sorry I don’t want to be a burden for you.”

“Hey it’s fine, it’s just a cigarette.” He waved at the air to keep the smell from concentrating in the room.

A knock on the door caught their attention, Y/N even jumped in her seat a little.

“Mr. Shelby, dinner will be ready shortly.” Mary announced.

He nodded and asked for a glass of water for Y/N.

“This feels so surreal if you ask me.” She made a funny face that made him laugh.

“I guess I’ll get used to it.”

Pouring some whiskey into the new glassware set he got, he thought about it.

“Look at us.” Y/N said absently, her face moving towards the ceiling. “Who would have thought you’d get a place like this and I’d be expecting a child without a male support.” She rubbed a hand on her still non-existent bump.

Tommy clicked his tongue and gave her an offended look. “What about me?”

“You know what I mean.” She added after noticing his eyes fixed on her.

“How about dinner?” He offered his hand to Y/N. “Let’s see what the chef prepared. Ey?”

Earning another chuckle from Y/N guided her towards the opposite end. A huge table set just for them.

“There’s another painting!” Y/N pointed through gritted teeth.

A huge portrait of Tommy hanged immaculately on the wall. She could barely keep up with the things going on in her life, but it seemed to be surprise after surprise with his own news.

“Just ignore it.” Tommy suggested taking his place at very end, right under the painting. “I needed to spend some money.”

Rolling her eyes at him, Y/N joined him unsure. “Where should I sit then?”

Patting the place next to him, Tommy stood up. “Right here, next to me.” And he held the chair for her, like a true gentleman. A gesture no one had ever made towards her.

“Are you sure I can’t sleep downstairs? I’ll take me forever to walk down… image how I’ll roll down once I get all heavy?”

The image of her swollen stomach invaded his mind for a second, Tommy stopped with his hand holding the glass midway, until he shook his head a little.

“You always love to exaggerate it, it’s not so big.” He added as come back.

“It’s huge and you know it.” She added just before the maids brought their plates.

Y/N was about to take a bite of her food when she noticed something.

“Tommy.” She whispered, making Tommy lean forward. “Do they have to stay there and stare? This is awkward.”

Tommy laughed freely.

“Mary, would you give us a moment?”

“What if you need-”

“I’ll call you.” He interrupted.

She was surprised to see them following Tommy’s requests in a heartbeat. They were eager to please him in every possible way.

“This is insane, they’re watching your every move.”

Tommy chuckled unsure of what to say, he was still trying to adjust to this new lifestyle, trying to be part of a select club to fit in the upper class.

“Well I’m paying them a ridiculous amount of money.”

“You know what I mean.” She stated smirking.

He did, of course he did.

This was the kind of things people like he and Y/N could only dream a few years ago.

“Just enjoy it, you’ll get used to it.”

He smiled at his friend, understanding her confusion. A major change like that in his life didn’t happen overnight, it took time and a lot of effort to built the fucking empire he now owned. It was about damn time that he started getting a small luxury like that property or the service for the place.

Y/N had to admit the food was delicious, she had never tasted anything better than that meal.

“I’m really proud of you.” She expressed as they finished. “It’s like you made your dreams come true, you made it out of Small Heath not from the back door, you made it through the main gate.”

Tommy swallowed hard, Y/N was the only person that had celebrated with him the small victories just as the big ones. He was lost for words, to realize that she felt proud of him meant more that he could express.

“Would you like dessert?” Mary asked folding her hands.

Turning to face Y/N, Tommy realized the way her eyes sparkled. “Just one for her, please.”

She groaned. “This is going to be a problem, you’re going to make me put on some weight with all of this food.”

“Well you need to feed that baby.” Tommy leaned his elbows on the table.

“You don’t even know how grateful I am to have you in my life, you’re saving our lives.” She touched his arm.

“That’s what friends do.” He chuckled as he saw her mouthwatering expression over the plate.

A few moments later, Tommy walked her towards her bedroom.

“This is insane, a small living room inside my bedroom?!” Y/N couldn’t believe how spacious it was.

“There’s the walk in closet, and this additional wardrobe, the vanity… everything you might need.” He added pacing around, slowly. Hands hiding in his pockets. “I think you will particularly enjoy this.”

He then pointed at the window seat. Y/N gasped in surprise, she hadn’t noticed it.

“Woah… Tommy.”

When she turned around, Tommy noticed the tears in her eyes.

“Hey what’s wrong?” He stepped closer.

“You’re just so good to me, I can’t thank you enough for providing a roof to sleep under.” Y/N sobbed.

Her vulnerability broke him. It tore him apart to realize how hard this was to her. His arms found their way around her immediately.

Emotions coming out in the form of tears.

“Y/N… talk to me.”

“It’s just…sad to see my own family doing this to me. The days I spent at Watery Lane, they never went to ask how I was doing.” A sudden sob interrupted her explanation. “To check if I needed something.”

He didn’t know what to say, her family’s message was clear and he could only imagine how she was feeling.

“But you’ve my family,” he offered rubbing her back, “we’ll be with you every step of the way. Try to forget about it, you need to be calm.” He then took a step back, but kept touching her arm, “Think of your baby.”

That seemed to do the trick, because his words made Y/N smile.

“You’re so right.” Y/N took a deep breath. “Scott made his choice and so did my family. From now on it will be this baby, me, Grandma, you and the Shelby family. That’s all I need.”

A half smile appeared on her face. He knew the process wouldn’t be easy, it’d take her some time to rebuild herself, but she had the determination and courage to carry on with whatever obstacle life decided to make her face.

A flash back ran through Tommy’s mind, he went back to the warehouse and he could still hear Scott’s pleads for his life. The blinders had been playing with him for a while and Tommy took his time. But when he faced him, Scott’s eyes were fully swollen, an ugly lip cut and several bruises all over his face.

“You thought you could fuck off like a rat?! Ey?!” He shouted in his face, yanking his hair so Scott could be face to face with him. “Thought it would fun to mess around with Y/N?”

A twisted smirk appeared on Scott’s lips, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Tommy so he moved his hand back and hit him hard across the face with his fist several times.

“This is for fooling Y/N.” Tommy announced and kicked him.

“And this for not taking responsibility over the baby.” He kicked Scott between his legs this time. “Fucking coward.”

Now, with Scott lying on his back groaning in pain, Tommy stepped over him, holding him by the shirt with one hand. “And this for telling me to fuck off.”

It took three blinders to make Tommy step back, he was determined to finish him. He had to take deep breaths through his mouth from the exertion and adrenaline rush. His heart was pumping so hard and fast against his ribs.

“I want you out of the city and you better never come back. Because next time I’ll fucking kill you.”

End of flashback.

“You’re safe now.” Tommy helped her gently to sit on the edge of the bed. “You can have a new beginning here with your baby. I can assure you, you’ll get everything you need.”

Tommy offered Y/N his handkerchief.

“You deserve everything good in world Tommy.”

She knew that he meant every word, and most importantly, he’d keep his promises.

“Now have some rest, you’ve been through a lot.” He groaned as he stood up.

“At what time should I be at the office?” Y/N asked when her friend reached the door.

“8:00 o’clock,” he winked, “but I’ll drive you. Good night.”

As she thanked her best friend one more time and wished him good night, Y/N stared at the spacious bedroom. It was unbelievable, a dream she was afraid to wake up from.

Her heart still felt heavy for not having her family’s support, but in some way she felt secure and protected under Tommy’s wing.

And for now, that was enough.

Part 4

Master list

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#that’s what Cill said #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby x fem!reader #tommy shelby x y/n #tommy shelby x you #peaky blinders fan fiction #peaky blinders x reader #thomas shelby x reader

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padfootdaredmetoo · 11 months

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Hi! How are you doing?

I've never made inquiries before. Could you write about the Thomas' daughter's allergy to tobacco? A strong cough and watery eyes when someone nearby smokes, which began from the first days of her life

I hope it won't bother you. Love your writing💗

Dear Anon,

You could never bother me love! Thank you for saying you love my stuff <3 hopefully, you enjoy this too! Thanks for writing in and for waiting!

Warnings: Mentions of difficult birth, Lizzie being ill, lots of tension, happy ending peaky related themes.

Allergies

He looked down at the little bundle of blankets. A small pudgy ball protruded from the top of it and Thomas wondered how something could look so new and yet so old at the same time. She was a darling little girl who had a shocking resemblance to a red, puffy, Whinston Churchill. Then he remembered what John, Ada, and Finn had looked like when they were born. Just as small and wrinkled. Thinking of where she had just come from it made sense.

Panic shot through him as he thought about Lizzie. He pushed those emotions down and tried to focus on his daughter. Again the fear of knowing she might be the only thing left of his family caused his stomach to lurch. Her eyes opened and she glared up at him.

“You look squished, but you're still the prettiest girl I have ever seen.” He whispered. She seemed to take comfort in his voice and he realized he should probably pick her up and hold her. Poor thing should be stuck to her mother’s side. He picked her up and enjoyed the way she wiggled against him.

She had no idea who her father was, only that he was her father and that she was safe there. For a moment Thomas was grateful he had been one of the older boys in the family. Being with children was not difficult for him.

He walked over the windows and looked out at the dark sky.

“Your mum is a tough lady, eh? Don't have to worry, she’ll come back.” He said in a low voice, was it to comfort the baby or himself, he wasn't sure. Feeling the heaviness in his heart threaten to take over he reached into his pocket and lit a cigarette with his free hand.

He took a long drag feeling the smoke pull him together. He blew the smoke over his shoulder away from the baby.

Looking back outside he heard a little cough. He looked down at her and was engulfed with that mixed feeling of pity and the urge to laugh.

Her little red face was even redder and her eyes were glassy as she started to cough. Thomas wasn't sure what had caused it for a half second till he brought the cigarette back to his lips to hold her with both hands.

“Fuck.” He said in a defeated tone. To confirm his suspicion he blew a small puff closer to her only for her to erupt into a coughing fit which she started to fight to breathe. Panic shot through him knowing all too well what that feeling felt like. Before flashes of the war could break into his mind he quickly put the cigarette out and brought her over to the window opening it. He rocked her back and forth and eventually, she settled against his chest.

No smoke. He thought about how often a cloud of smoke followed him. It was as apart of him as his own shadow. How on earth was he to manage this? Remembering how scary the sound of her breathing was he have to figure it out.

He’d promised Lizzie and Pol no more liquor but now he’d have to ditch smoking too. A flare of frustration ran through him. The whole situation was a big mess from day one. His thoughts became harsh and only broke when he looked down at the center of all his problems.

The center of all his problems, and his entire universe. Guilt poured over him like cold water. It had been a long and uncertain birth, and now Lizzie was somewhere broken.

Broken and unreachable. She was in the hands of the doctors now. He held his little daughter closely and watched her eyes flutter as he said a prayer for his new wife.

______________________

Polly was irritated. She wasn't asked to attend the birth which was fine, but she wasn't sure how much support Lizzie would have gotten from Thomas and the hospital staff.

Hospitals were places for death and sickness, not for bringing life into the world. Too many lost souls wandering around. She sighed and gave up waiting. Picking up the phone she dialed the hospital.

The news she expected came through clearly over the receiver. Close family was now able to come and visit, except they clearly didn't think to call her to tell her everyone was okay.

Polly threw on her coat and stepped out in the brisk early morning air. Arriving at the room and looking around she could see that everything was certainly not okay.

Thomas’s hair was striking up from his fingers running through it. He was pacing the messy room with a small bundle attached to his shoulder. Coming into the room she walked up behind him and saw the dark blue eyes of her niece peering over his shoulder.

Thomas turned and almost walked right into her jumping out of his skin. No one had ever been able to sneak up on him before. She wasn't sure what to say till she realized that Lizzie, nor her things, were in the room. Her heart wrenched but seeing the fright in Tom’s eyes she pulled herself together.

“Fuck sake scared the life out of me.” He grumbled quietly.

“Sorry, love.” She said kindly, in a tone she hadn't used since he was small. “Do you want me to take her for a moment? Have you eaten?” She started fussing over him and was grateful that he had accepted her help.

She took her niece and tears prickled in her eyes.

“Lizzie is going to be alright.” His voice was tight. “She’s going to be in recovery for a few days though. When she wakes up we can take her over.” He looked out the window to avoid Polly’s gaze.

“Are you alright?” She asked hesitantly not wanting him to snap in front of the baby.

“She’s too small, she won't take a bottle but she’s hungry, and she’s allergic to smoke.” The last part caused the edges of her mouth to curl. The image of Thomas being up all night without drinking or smoking was not something she thought would ever be a reality.

“Pol Im serious she gets really ill - her lungs just” His voice caught again and he went back to staring out the window.

“I’m not laughing.” She said calmly. “I’ll have some people go the house to air the place out.” This seemed to make him relax a little.

Just then she started to cry out, Thomas automatically reached out for her and then relaxed when Polly waved him off. Poor thing was hungry and Pol was grateful she came out as round as she did. She had enough on her to wait a while for Lizzie’s milk to come in.

She brought the bottle to her lip and laughed as she stopped crying to glare up at her.

“You look just like your da.” The baby’s face stayed just as stony when a nurse came through to tell them that Lizzie was up and requesting them.

She followed Thomas anxious to look over Lizzie and make sure they had done a good job with her.

Her dark eyes greeted them. Her face was puckered from an argument and Thomas had never been happier to see someone in his life, this Polly was sure of.

She looked shocked, eyes wide as Thomas bent down to hold her tightly. She gave Polly a look and it took a lot to keep from laughing again.

“Here she is now.” Pol brought the babe over and moved to the chair in the far corner of the room. She said a prayer thankful that their little family had made it through the night. Her prayer was interrupted by Lizzie's voice.

“What do you mean I can’t smoke?!” Lizzie hissed at Thomas and Pol got worried they would scare the babe. “Bring the doctor in I’m going to cut him myself.”

“It’s not you, it’s her. She’s allergic. Gets really sick - Her lungs - You can’t - she just-” His voice was wavering again and Pol was relieved that Lizzie registered that he was scared for the little girl.

“Oh, she was ill?” Now Lizzie’s voice was worried.

“Yeah, but I caught it quickly.” He reassured her. “Pol is going to get people to clean the house and air it out.”

“Oh, no. Tom.” Her voice got high and she clutched the little girl tightly. “It must have been a horrible night.”

“No, no it was nice. She’s excellent company. Just glad you are alright.” He put on a brave face and Pol had hope that this experience would only bring them closer.

She had cleaners go through the house and brought them food. Surprised that Thomas took the time off work to stay by Lizzie for her recovery. The family struggled at first but adapted to smoking outside.

It was a curse till she was a teenager, in which Tommy rejoiced knowing it kept her far away from pubs, parties, and nightlife. Not to mention if she had friends over to play or for sleepovers they had to come to their smoke-free house. If a boy wanted to take her out for dinner, they ended up eating alone in the kitchen at the house as restaurants were no better than pubs.

(Unfortunately, the only boy in all of England that didn’t smoke happened to be the son of Alfie Solomons)

(Hehehehe can’t help but sneak that pairing into everything I write)

Hope you enjoyed it love! <3

#peaky blinders #tommy shelby #peaky blinders imagine #thomas shelby imagine #tommy shelby imagine #thomas shelby #lizzie stark #lizzie shelby #peaky bliners #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders fic #peaky blinders request #Shelby family

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divinekangaroo · 2 months

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Read one analysis, and im confused. Is Lizzie to be blamed for Graces death? Is she to be blamed for Tommy sleeping with her soon after?

Lizzie x Angel can be considered the precipitating event, but Lizzie had zero influence or control on the long decision tree which followed which led more directly to Grace's death.

Based on the attribution analysis we frequently apply to, for example, working backwards from deaths at our workplace to determine points to target for change, for example,

If the Shelbys ignored L x A (took no action), would Vicente have hired an assassin to shoot Tommy and accidentally hit Grace? No.

If L x A hadn't happened, would Vicente have hired an assassin to shoot Tommy and accidentally hit Grace? No.

And because both of these if/then scenarios immediately before and immediately after what is seen as the 'precipitating event' result in a "no the death would not have happened", the analysis re attribution actually commences at this first step:

What was the first decision 'fork in the road' after this apparent precipitating event (of LxA hook up) which started the path down towards Grace being shot? (because it's actually this first decision that starts the cascade, NOT the 'precipitating event'. Remember: if the precipitating event is ignored, the death does not happen. It's the response to the precipitating event which actually starts the cascade towards the death.)

In my mind it was John (and maybe Arthur) deciding to take the path of violence and firebomb Angel's restaurant. Note: they had not even spoken to Lizzie at that point. She only found out there was an issue with Angel at the wedding!

At every point along the decision tree, John (and Arthur) made the choice to apply more violence. Vicente then chose to respond by matching their violence. John (and Arthur) then stepped up the violence another notch. Vicente then matched that higher violence. All the way to Angel being murdered, so Vicente hired an assassin.

That said, there *were* other contributing factors influencing the overall context, which may have led to influencing John (and Arthur and Vicente) to believe violence was the only possible decision at each decision point:

-Tommy has no tolerance for unrest, likely part pressures of both his rapid territory expansion + the deadly Russian scheme, and when everyone is part-way down this path of violence, gives a speech to his family where he makes it clear things have gone too far for apology, and outlines force/violence as necessary because he cannot have anyone stepping out of line right now. It is unclear in my memory if Tommy ever expressly told John/Arthur to kill Angel, but whether or not he did, this speech alone set a frame in John for further violent response as the appropriate action.

-Churchill keeps Tommy so busy/stressed out of his mind with seriously high risk, life threatening illegal activities such that Tommy couldn’t pay attention to brewing turf wars/friction, enabling a space where John escalated matters without Tommy's oversight (and what was Arthur doing? why didn't Polly know? Why did John and Arthur act without consulting Polly? So even with Tommy's distraction, what was John and Arthur doing to not establish this was appropriate?)

-Hughes keeps Tommy from actually attending the Vicente 'truce' meeting, leaving a space where John and Arthur go to town with humiliation and mockery. Tommy would *not* have approached this meeting this way; he is particularly businesslike even with his enemies, and even when he does mock (eg the IRA 'Chosen One' scene) it's more sardonic and contextual and not as...personally, racially, weirdly childishly targetted in the way John and Arthur did

-Something shifty *is* going on with Angel. He is a shifty dude. I have a detailed theory but it's a tangent to this point.

-Vicente is well aware of the humiliation/destruction of Sabini and highly sensitised to being treated in the same way. There's also a range of ethnic and racist factors in here too which further sensitise Vicente to not take it (Sabini says swallow, I say spit)

-(and you can go further back to frame their daily lives and also the war as a contextual contributing factor: these boys are all primed for violence being seen 'as the answer' because frequently, it was the answer. And in fact was integral to several of their successes, too.)

Then we go all the way down the other end of the decision tree and ask:

2. What was the final decision "fork in the road" just prior to Grace's shooting which resulted in Grace being shot?

For me, this was (offscreen!) Vicente hiring an assassin BUT SPECIFICALLY deciding the best place to assassinate Tommy was at a public charity event *held* by Tommy. One reason might have been access, but we also have to consider the way Vicente was at the point of really wanting to destroy Tommy by now. Assassinating a gangster like Tommy publically at a major 'stepping into' legitimate society milestone would have destroyed the Shelby family name in so many spheres, both criminal and society. It would have left the family after Tommy's death battling to hold their territories and without ability to leverage Tommy's financial legacy all that well. Ultimately it was a decision for maximum humiliation of Tommy Shelby and hurt of the Shelbys, to kill Tommy at his 'triumph' moment, instead of sniping him, ambushing him in his car, doing it in an alley or at his house. But because this decision of public assassination venue was made, this meant Grace (and many other people!) was present and at risk of being shot by accident, which is what happened.

I also think a little on motive: between Angel, John, Vicente, Tommy, Arthur, Lizzie is the only one in the 'people involved' chain leading to Grace's death who did not have ‘violence or harmful intent to others’ in her motivation. She never influenced or directed steps towards violence, whereas all the others did. If you apply a 'violence begets violence' / 'eye for an eye' approach it wasn't Lizzie's fault either, she never turned it towards violence diretcly or indirectly, that was all with John (& Arthur) and Vicente, with framing from Tommy influencing John.

Or you could consider a legal culpability angle too, if you like: Vicente and the assassin are culpable for Grace's murder. John (maybe Arthur) are culpable for Angel's murder. John and Arthur are culpable for property damage, arson and assault (causing permanent blinding). Angel *might* be culpable for fraud (false identities/false representations) but given there were no direct or consequential flow-on damages (financial or otherwise) from his fraud it's hard to say (and he's dead anyway!). But what did Lizzie do? Date a guy - who probably approached her, given the mores of the day - and invite him to a wedding? There's no legal culpability there.

It just really gets to whether you believe the precipitating event (Lizzie hooking up with Angel) is the sole source of blame or whether it was the - call it at least - eight decision points along the chain, mostly in John (and Arthur) and Vicente's control, where each time the decision was taken to *increase* the violence to the point of murder and retribution. Based on having to work with lawyers and specialists unfortunately frequently to analyse deaths on sites and work out how they could have been avoided, it is often misapplied to blame the 'precipitating event' which appears the obvious problem - as above, it is frequently the first decision in response to an otherwise *ordinary* and low/no risk precipitating event, and the subsequent cascade, where the failures that lead to the death occur.

I have seen a reading that Lizzie got with Angel just to get back at Tommy, but...really? She is so invested in the Shelbys; there is no hint or undercurrent that she was intending to betray Tommy's business information. Even if she knew who Angel was, so what? He didn't fit in the definition of "foreigner" - he was born in England! And, let's not forget, no one told her that Angel was a risk to the business until after the restaurant was firebombed and Lizzie was at the wedding wondering where the hell her boyfriend was. John could have told Lizzie before choosing violence to break it off with Angel, and she probably would have, such is her investment in the Shelbys.

I do think Lizzie was primed to fall for/be vulnerable to someone like Angel, following her humiliation at Epsom where Tommy 1) did not acknowledge her faltering expression of love/care, 2) asked her to play the prostitute, 3) set her up for assault/rape and 4) probably came into work within the week after this happened to Lizzie and announced he was getting married and had a kid on the way. Imagine her looking for someone with the same kind of 'air' as Tommy (danger/intelligence/power) in order to clear out her head of any remaining longing for Tommy. But I certainly don't think she ever thought her association with Angel would *hurt* Tommy or the business in any way - Lizzie was just trying to move on.

Depending on how you consider the hints about Angel, he could have been deliberately honey-trapping Lizzie to spy on Tommy, but I don't think she was aware of this at that S3-E1 point (and again -- John and Arthur didn't tell her anything before they destroyed the restaurant!)

[I do like to consider how symbolic both Grace and Angel's names are, though: how Angel being murdered leads to Grace being murdered. There is no salvation for this family is there. And, the symbolic parallel in their names and deaths made me wonder if there is also that symbolic in their roles: Grace was initially a honeytrap for Tommy, so...was Angel a honeytrap for Lizzie? But that's drifting from the point of your question sorry...]

---

Ah, Tommy and sex again. So I’m always intrigued at takes that make Tommy (who has ALL the power) deciding to sleep with Lizzie somehow Lizzie’s fault?

They made it clear in the show TxL only have sex ‘when Tommy wants’. How she says it makes it clear he’s not doing it out of want for her…sex for him appears to be some kind of release/anxiety thing too, like having sex is a momentary way to feel better, even if briefly.

And really, I do think about the power imbalance: Lizzie’s job/money and personal dignity is now dependent on Tommy being able to hold his shit together and keep doing what he does. She *could* say no to him, but why would she? She is infatuated/in love with him, she’s financially dependent on him, her social status is dependent on him, and she does also *care* for him as a person and very much probably a friend. She’d know better than anyone how Tommy uses sex as that kind of anti-anxiety release. She would accommodate his needs no matter her own hurt at doing so, in the hope he hurts less / hurts himself less, which is a pattern she demonstrates again and again.

So if they have sex ‘too soon’ after Grace dies, well, it’s probably Tommy’s fault as the initiator and the holder of power, and only minorly Lizzie's fault for not saying no (dear god when can we stop blaming women for not saying no), but really, why is there any fault to consider at all? Grace is dead, there’s no infidelity or broken promise — and remember the sheer pressure Tommy is under in S3. And we're upset the guy has uncomplicated 'take me out of my head for a moment please' sex with a once lover/prostitute for a bit of relief? Such a terrible judgement to apply to him (and Lizzie) for someting that doesn't matter and which is effectively consensual and hurts no one else, given all the other actually bad things Tommy does that would merit such judgement.

IDEK man. By the time T x L are having sex again, Lizzie is also much more aware of how delicate the whole Russian situation is than she was at start of S3; any desire she might have to say no out of personal dignity/pride probably dissolves when she realises she might be one of the few slender threads Tommy’s got to actually get some uncomplicated relief/release from the disaster of, and immense grief and threat of, S3, and maybe stay a little sane for her being able to give him that brief human comfort and care. I mean, he could be going to prostitutes for anxiety release, but given the issues with possible leaks/risks, as well as the way he actually needs care and comfort in his grief not just release, I just. Yeah.

Why are we blaming Lizzie again? I've confused myself lol. She can't be blamed for the S3 sex Tommy has with her. (- edits to add: on the point of 'so soon after grace's death', Tommy's also under massive time pressure. He knows he has to sleep with Tatiana very soon to make his whole ploy successful and keep the wheels in motion; take this 'headcanon' however you will, but I like to imagine he didn't want the first time he had sex after Grace to be with the mad Russian duchess who actually propositioned him for sex on the night Grace died in his arms....I mean, really, what would have been better, Tommy being disaster-fucked by Tatiana first and maybe having a worse breakdown than he did have (that little one in his study), or Tommy having off-screen comfort sex with Lizzie and being able to just keep on keeping on...?)

#Tommy: lies back and thinks of the Shelby Company Ltd Annual Report net value increase and his whole family *not* being hung as criminals

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peakypolly · 1 year

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All Is Forgiven | Tommy Shelby x Reader

Request: @runnning-outof-time

Summary: Tommy seeks comfort from Y/N after a job for Campbell results in the murder of an innocent man.

Content Warning: talks of violence, talks of murder.

Word Count: 1,002

A/N: Thank you to K for the request! This is my first imagine and I had a lot of fun thinking up this story, I hope it does Fluff! Tommy the justice he deserves <3

The house had been quieter than ever before, Shelby Company Limited was in full swing and you were left to your own devices while Tommy was out on business. He was always somewhere else, he left early and came home late. What bothered you the most was how distant you had become to him, he was never truly there anymore. You had heard stories from Polly about how he used to be, long before you had ever met Tommy, long before France. How his smile used to light up the room and how his laugh could be heard from miles away. You thought you were beginning to bring him back to life, to how things used to be. You accepted him long before you were wed, you knew what you were getting into.

The clock read a quarter past midnight, with nothing else left to do it was time for another drink. You moved towards the makeshift bar Tommy had installed in the living room, grabbed a glass from the wooden shelf, and poured the whiskey.

“To you Tommy” you mutter as you toast to the empty room.

Another night and another drink without him. You thought it odd that you were never invited to the Garrison for a drink with your husbands family. You had heard stories from Esme about how loud and rowdy the boys could get, Tommy always kept his composure. You wondered if he ever joined in on these nights without you. Whenever your absence at these family events was a topic of conversation, Tommy’s only excuse was that it was for your own good, as if being purposefully excluded was best for anyone. Esme went to family meetings, you didnt, that thought alone was enough to prickle your eyes with tears. Your spirits lifted however when you saw him. He had entered so quietly, you didnt hear his boots pound against the wooden floors. You were about to tell him how you felt about being left alone every hour of the day until you noticed there was something different about him. The way his eyes sunk into his face, how his head tilted slightly towards the floor, his shoulders slouched.

“Tom?” You spoke softly, gripping the arms of the chair and raising yourself up, walking over towards him. He brushed his fingers over his chin as if he were thinking hard about his next words.

“(Y/N) I need you” He murmured as he held his arms out for you, then wrapping them around your waist pulling you into him. In return you threw your arms up around his neck, kissing his cheek lightly. Holding him, you felt his muscles which were tensed seconds earlier loosen around you.

“The plans were wrong” He whispered defeatedly

“What plans Tom? What happened tonight?” you asked softly, you knew better than to ask such personal questions about his business, the business which he kept so closely to him and so far away from you. Tonight was different, the air drier, the walls around you closer, and the atmosphere heavier. You looked up at him, his face red and wet with tears.

“I killed a boy, a young boy- couldnt have been older than twenty. He wasnt supposed to be there, the plans were wrong we had the wrong man, Campbell told me it was the right place he said-” He recounted.

“Campell?” You interuppted “Inspector Campell? The copper sent from Mr. Churchill? I thought his business here was done?”

“He weasled his way back into my life like the rat he is, told me to go to this address at this time and kill a man that Mr. Churchill needs dead” He spoke rapidly “I did what he asked and now an innocent man is dead”

You brushed your fingers across his face wiping away his tears, you had seen him cry before albeit on very rare occasions but not like this, never like this. You felt your heart shatter for him, you knew your husband had killed before but it always had a purpose for the betterment of the family. This time was unlike any other you had seen before.

“Oh Tommy” you mutter, as he sobbed silently into your shoulder. “It will all be sorted out, this blood isnt on your hands, it’s on Campbells he must have sent you there on purpose, i’d kill him if I could”.

“I pulled the trigger (Y/N) not Campell, this is my fault” he sobbed

“He sent you out there, this is his fault darling not yours” you grabbed his hand

“I’m the devil (Y/N) you married the devil himself” he whimpered

“No, I married you, you are the strongest, smartest, and kindest man I know. Thats why I married you, thats why I love you. You have never made me think otherwise, and nothing,not even what happened tonight could change that”

You lead him over to the couch and sat him down, handing him a glass and pouring his favorite Irish Whiskey into it. “Drink this my love, this too shall pass, and tonight we will honor this man together, we will toast to him and you can let me take care of you Tom” you spoke gently, taking your seat next to him on the couch.

Tommy nodded, taking a swig of his whiskey and sinking down into the couch. You wrapped your arms around him, kissing him gently.

“I’d quite like that, i dont know what would come of me if I didnt have you my beautiful girl” he spoke, his eyes held less darkness than before.

“There wouldnt be a me without you, and with time you will be okay and I promise Tommy, you are forgiven” you smiled.

This was the first but not the last of many midnight conversations between you and Thomas, he stopped hiding things from you because he knew you could take it. He knew you would love him no matter what he did because you knew he did it all for you.

#peaky blinder imagine #peaky blinders x y/n #tommy shelby #tommy shelby fanfic #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby imagine #tommy shelby x you #Tommy Shelby x wife! reader

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redrikki · 4 months

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Miscellaneous Literature Masterpost

Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

The Start of a Long Summer - Azula steps through a wardrobe to find a kidnapping faun and a wintry kingdom ripe for regime change. (Chronicles of Narnia/Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover) Azula, Tumnus.

Earth’s Children - Jean M. Auel

Only a Motion Away - The mother and child reunion is only a motion away. (Druc, Nezzie)

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

An Odd Place For It - Southern California is an odd place to find a horcrux but there are stranger things in the Sunnydale High School library. (Harry Potter/Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossover) Harry, Hermione, Ron, Scoopy Gang

Have to Start Somewhere (The Words to Rebuild Remix) - This diary belongs to Ginevra Molly Weasley and no one else. (Ginny)

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Panem and Circuses: A look at the woman who made the Games - As Panem prepares to celebrate the Third Quarter Quell, Games Gab takes a look back at the brilliant innovator who almost single-handedly transformed the Hunger Games from a rather tedious affair mandated by the Treaty of Treason into the entertainment juggernaut they are today. (written before A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke

Requiescat in pace - In which Jonathan Strange discovers that returning the dead to their natural state is more difficult than he would imagine. (Jonathan Strange)

Oxford Time Travel Universe - Connie Willis

Primary Sources - In the dark years when the net won’t open, Colin has a lot of growing up to do. (Colin Templer, Kivrin Engle)

Not the Last Goodbye - Polly isn't ready to let Eileen go without saying one last goodbye. (Polly Churchill, Eileen Reilly, Colin Templer)

Temeraire - Naomi Novik

Epistolary - Dear Lady Allendale….yours, etc., Emily Roland

The Broken Earth Series - N.K. Jemisin

Seismic Shift - Schaffa tells himself he will stop if Eitz says no. This one will be allowed to say no. The boy says nothing at all. (Schaffa, Eitz) Warning: Child Sexual Abuse

Tortall - Tamora Pierce

Hole in the Sea - The whales say there is a hole in the ocean and a monster stirring in the deep. (Tortall/Pacific Rim crossover) Daine, Kaiju.

Young Wizards - Diane Duane

So You Want to Be a (Space) Wizard - Finn finds a mysterious book, takes an Oath, and starts one hell of an Ordeal. (Young Wizards/Star Wars Sequels fusion) Finn, Rey, Poe Dameron

#my fic #fic masterpost #fic masterlist #chronicles of narnia #earth's children #hunger games #jonathan strange and mr norrell #oxford time travel universe #the broken earth #tortall #young wizards

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deadendtracks · 7 months

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"John starts a gang war, and Arthur either eggs him on or doesn't do anything to stop him."

Great write up but a clarification - Isn't Tommy the one started the war with the Changrettas by burning Angels restaurant in the first place, a gang that has been at peace for 2 years? What other outcome/message that entails between gangsters? John aggravated the situation for sure, but Tommy is the one that made the need for a sit down in the first place. Tommy handled the Angel debacle poorly, inflated ego I think. For a man who is knee deep in strategies and 10 steps ahead of everyone, this was just pure miscalculation especially during this crucial time dealing with Churchill/Russians? Isn't that why he never blamed anyone but himself for how it turned out?

I've posted about it before, but in that post I wasn't specific enough about the initial meeting with Changretta and also didn't talk about the restaurant fire. So I'll dig into it a bit more here.

It got very long.

In 3.01, there's a scene between Arthur, Michael and Lizzie at Arrow House during Tommy 's wedding. Michael talks about how Lizzie was told with all the other office girls about the rule against fraternizing with foreigners and that Angel Changretta has had a bunch of aliases and runs with the "Naples boys" which I guess means he's in the rival gang, as reasons he's off limits, because of Lizzie's important position in the company. This is often framed as Tommy trying to personally control who Lizzie dates, but that's really not what's going on here -- he's knee deep in espionage with the Russian business by then, and rather than tip anyone off by ordering them all to stay away from Russians, he's just banned dating 'foreigners.'

The discussion of the fire never is explicit about who gave the order: Lizzie tells Arthur "You set the fire." Which is probably a collective 'you' meaning the Peaky Blinders. So it's possible Tommy himself ordered it, but it's also possible this was something Arthur and John did on their own to enforce the 'no fraternizing' rule (or because of John's jealousy, see below). It's ambiguous, because at that point Tommy wasn't necessarily micromanaging everything they did -- in season 2 for example they go burn the pub where Isiah was accosted on their own. They like burning pubs.

But let's say Tommy did order the fire. The purpose of the meeting with Vincente Changretta would have been to restore peace, negotiate, not escalate things into an outright gang war. The fire itself wouldn't have been enough to do that, or Vincente wouldn't be accepting a meeting to talk about it. He would have retaliated. He didn't; he was still willing to talk.

That's the important thing, to me, when I talk about John starting the war -- everything that follows, which I'm going to get into detail about, because I think it tends to be glossed over or forgotten.

Unfortunately, Tommy was called away literally at the last minute and had to catch the early train to London to meet the Russian duke. I imagine he may not have given Arthur and John super specific instructions, just to smooth things over with Changretta in a way that lets him save face but maintains Peaky Blinder power, as Polly mentions later.

That's definitely not what happens.

Go back and watch the scene: Arthur and John start out the meeting in an insulting attitude immediately. If you look at how things are set up, they've left a bunch of horse manure on the side of the table the Italians are to sit on, and the side Arthur and John are standing on is clear. Arthur mentions the fine scent of shit. Both of them take a mocking tone with Changretta, showing him little respect, and John is constantly smirking. This is absolutely not how Tommy would have handled it.

Vincente says there's been peace between them for 2 years. Before he can continue, John interrupts and asks if he wants tea. It's obviously not meant to be polite, but to be further disrespectful. This provokes Vincente. He mentions the restaurant being burnt, Arthur and John joke further about Angel and continue to act disrespectfully.

Vincente: But you tell him from me that my son will walk with any woman in this city. Any woman he chooses. Even if that woman works for the Emperor, Thomas Shelby. My son is in love--

At this point, John starts laughing really insultingly.

Vincente: And if he wishes, he will walk with the woman he loves.

John: OK. You know, it'd be hard for your son to walk anywhere with a bullet in each knee, wouldn't it?

Immediately, the tone changes. Arthur gets serious finally. John looks at Vincente with a dangerous expression rather than mocking. He's making a specific threat on Angel Changretta.

John laughs as the Italians walk away in fury, but Arthur knows shit has hit the fan. He tells Isiah to put extra men in their pubs and tells John not to tell Tommy about the Italians breaking a chair (I read this as "don't tell Tommy we fucked this meeting up and they left angry").

Note: Tommy is still in London and has no idea this has happened.

The next scene Polly walks in to confront John. She says she doesn't want him to do anything about the situation :

Polly: Well, [Angel] heard you threatened him directly to shoot him in the knees and now he's going around Nechells telling everybody he's going to kill you. This is Lizzie's fault to start with, Tommy's for leaving it up to you.

John (acting really juvenile the entire time, look at his body language): What are you talking about? We run London. We run the north, we run the whole fucking country. What do we care about some fucking Nechells Green Eyeties?

Polly: We don't need to be getting involved in all these little piss pots. ...We own the city. But we don't need to rub everbody's noses in it. If the old man decides to make a stand, he might get Sabini feeling sentimental-

John: Sabini's done.

Polly: They're all done. And they all pay up. But we don't want rebellions.

I've quoted this at length because it's important to putting what John did in context, why it was so dangerous. By threatening Angel Changretta and treating Vincente so insultingly, John (and Arthur) have made things worse rather than settling them.

Polly goes on with her 'compromise' which is that Lizzie meets Angel and breaks up with him, saying it was all her fault. Setting aside the way Polly frames John and Arthur's fuckup as Tommy and Lizzie's responsibility both here and above, take note of John's reaction!

It's violent. He sweeps things from his desk and gets up, yelling, then starts talking about how this is all Linda's fault for her Christian talk (referring to Arthur wanting to apologize). Ask yourself why he's reacting violently now, at this point -- when Polly mentions Lizzie talking to Angel Changretta.

Notice that John only threatened Angel in the scene with Vincente when Vincente talked about his son being in love with Lizzie.

In both of these cases, John has an outsized reaction to mention of Lizzie being with Angel Changretta -- he's the one who is jealous, he's the one who is angry about the whole thing.

Polly tells John not to do anything, and 'it'll all calm down and nobody will lose face.' Again, an important line, because she's talking about dialing down tension with the Changretta family.

John's response? "I'll take his fucking face. How about that?"

In London, Tommy is only just now meeting with the Russian duke!

Next scene: Angel Changretta is picking up a suit from the tailor. John is there, assaults him, shouts at him to "stay away from Lizzie" and then cuts his face with a razor, disfiguring him.

Only then does Tommy get back from London. By the time he gets back the war has already started. It hadn't started with the restaurant fire, because Vincente didn't retaliate then, he'd only come to talk. The war starts because John deliberately starts it by attacking Angel Changretta!

When Tommy walks into the situation, it's too late for "apologize" and "compromise" because of John, specifically. Possibly if he'd gone to Vincente Changretta at that point and spoken to him, there would have been a way out of the war, but from Tommy's reaction, I think his stance is that once things have escalated that far they'd look weak and open themselves up to more 'rebellions' from other gangs if they didn't react swiftly and harshly.

You mentioned Tommy's flaw being inflated ego here; I don't think that's it at all. I think if you look at the context of the day Tommy had -- meeting the priest, the insinuations about the priest abusing children at Grace's school, being ordered to take the meeting in London, the whole way he's been coerced into this business in the first place -- I do think this contributed to him ordering them to basically squash the "rebellion" by extreme force.

He says the line about "if we lift our heel off their necks now, they'll just come at us." -- It's a wartime reaction, and he's feeling besieged on all sides at this point. This is something he can control and so that's the tactic he takes.

You can argue about whether or not it was a good decision, and it does end tragically, of course.

But he wouldn't have been put in that position if not for John!

The matter of Tommy blaming himself is a complex one -- and I've already written way too much tonight. But to me, he blames himself because he wasn't there at that first meeting, and Polly outright blames him for not being at the meeting. He blames himself because he sees himself in a way as the superior officer who is ultimately responsible for the actions of his soldiers, and because he escalated things when he got back from London. I also think he has a pattern of taking responsibility for the things his brothers do onto himself and tends to never articulate out loud his feelings about some of this but that's a whole other meta.

Of course a lot of this is up to interpretation; but I don't think the fact that John's the one responsible for starting the war with the Changrettas is one of them. That's just factually what happened.

#peaky blinders #meta

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irenethewoman · 6 months

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Mrs. Shelby - Chapter 20 - Gangster

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@vanhelsingsbigtoe

@ell0ra-br3kk3r June 1924, Warwickshire

Tommy simply cleaned up and drove away. He had to complete the final deal. I sat on Charlie's bed, staring out the window absentmindedly. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I just really disliked that Russian woman. Maybe it's because I didn't know how to handle her, and I don't like things slipping out of control. Plus, she was too fearless, too crazy, and her gaze towards Tommy seemed too naked, as if my husband could be used as a bargaining chip. I dare say she wouldn't mind making love to Tommy right in front of me. God knows what goes on in the minds of these Russians!

Fortunately, I won't have to see her again after today. The sky gradually brightened, and I listened to the birds outside and the sound of cars passing by, feeling tired. Wrapped in a cashmere shawl, I leaned back on the sofa and closed my eyes. My eyes were just a bit tired…

"Mrs."

I opened my eyes and saw Jenny with apologetic eyes. "Sorry to disturb your rest, but Mr. Mos called, looking for Mr. Shelby."

I felt a bit dizzy when I stood up, thankfully Jenny supported me. "Mrs., would you like to have something to eat first?"

I smiled and shook my head at her, picking up the receiver. "Good morning, Officer Mos. I'm Diana Shelby. My husband is not at home. You can tell me what you need, and I'll relay it to him word for word."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Shelby."

As I hung up the phone, I almost stumbled to the ground. Luckily, Tommy caught me in time and carried me back to the bedroom. "What did Mos say?" Tommy skillfully massaged my legs.

"Birmingham Police issued arrest warrants. Arthur, John, Polly, Michael, none of them can escape." I looked at my husband with a heavy heart. It was Churchill's blatant threat: he knew Tommy's weakness was his blood ties, but not arresting me and Charlie was to avoid Tommy causing chaos. Not arresting Tommy was to keep him obedient and working for him.

Churchill's problems are easy to solve, but I can already imagine the resentment the Shelbys will have towards Tommy after today.

Tommy kissed my lips. "You should rest, Diana. You're carrying a child." He looked at my slightly bulging belly, touched it, and said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

"And then what? Are you going to handle everything on your own?"

"Diana, you're pregnant." He finally looked up. "I don't want anything to happen to you and our child."

"Then what? Are you going to bear everything on your own?"

"Diana, you're pregnant." He finally looked up. "I don't want anything to happen to you and our child."

"……"

I was awakened by the noise downstairs.

I got up from the bed. My head was still dizzy, and I felt confused. I turned the doorknob, wanting to see what was happening outside, but found that the door was locked.

Then I remembered Mos's call this morning.

It began.

I sat back on the bed, closed my eyes, and waited for the commotion to pass.

I heard someone fiddling with the doorknob of our bedroom, trying to open the door.

I heard Tommy's angry questioning, suppressing his anger. "If you have any dissatisfaction, you can say it out loud. What are you doing sneaking around my wife's door?"

… It was Linda.

They were arguing, and I couldn't hear it clearly through the door, but I knew Ada, Esme, and Lizzy Stark had also joined in. Advice and arguments mixed into a mess.

In fact, Linda couldn't argue with me. In fact, among the people I know, there are few who can win in a verbal dispute with me. And as a sister-in-law, as the wife of the head of the family, I have absolute confidence in handling Linda and Esme's dissatisfaction and soothing their emotions. But Tommy is too cautious and worried. He's afraid they'll impulsively hurt me and my unborn child, so he locked me in the bedroom.

Finally, at the cost of a slap, the noise outside returned to calm.

I was awakened by the noise downstairs.

I got up from the bed. My head was still dizzy, and I felt confused. I turned the doorknob, wanting to see what was happening outside, but found that the door was locked.

Then I remembered Mos's call this morning.

It began.

I sat back on the bed, closed my eyes, and waited for the commotion to pass.

I heard someone fiddling with the doorknob of our bedroom, trying to open the door.

I heard Tommy's angry questioning, suppressing his anger. "If you have any dissatisfaction, you can say it out loud. What are you doing sneaking around my wife's door?"

… It was Linda.

They were arguing, and I couldn't hear it clearly through the door, but I knew Ada, Esme, and Lizzy Stark had also joined in. Advice and arguments mixed into a mess.

Finally, at the cost of a slap, the noise outside returned to calm.

Quiet.

The whole house was quiet.

These big houses are like monsters, devouring the worldly atmosphere, silently watching the joys and sorrows inside. When the house is quiet, like now, every piece of tile, every inch of wooden furniture is chilling to the bone. The sun is so big, but it can't illuminate every corner of the house. I can't tell if this kind of emptiness is glory or curse.

After a while, the door rang, and Tommy walked in. There were still handprints on his face. When he came in, he was lighting a cigarette, and when he saw me awake, he quickly hid the cigarette behind him. "How did you sleep?"

"Quite well." I walked up to him, took the lit cigarette from his hand, and put it in his mouth. "I'll allow you to break the rules once."

He smiled and let me press him on the bed gently. "You should rest too, Mrs. Shelby."

Tommy slept beside me, and I lay beside him. Even though he was asleep, he still furrowed his brows slightly. What could he be worrying about in his dreams? I helplessly smiled.

Actually, if he was willing, I could go back to London and deal with things. My father was a conservative, and I used to be a patron of the conservatives. Since Solomon could reconcile with Tommy, businessmen and politicians should be no problem. Tommy seemed to hear my thoughts in his dreams. He raised his head, "You're pregnant."

"Then what? Are you going to bear everything on your own?"

"Diana,

you're pregnant." He finally looked up. "I don't want anything to happen to you and our child."

"What's next? Are you going to handle everything on your own?"

"Diana, you're pregnant." He finally looked up. "I don't want anything to happen to you and our child."

"……"

Mrs. Shelby 21 Gang - Vanessa's Poplar Tree

After a while of rest, Tommy started his early departures and late returns, busy with Churchill's orders.

Ada was the only Shelby who still wanted to associate with us. She would bring Carl to accompany Charlie when I attended Shelby Charity Foundation events.

Tommy originally disagreed with me traveling around with a big belly. He hoped I could stay at home and rest peacefully. "The foundation's matters can wait until after you give birth."

"But you know, Tommy, you can leave me at home, but you can't keep me from worrying about you. I have to find something to do to distract my attention."

Tommy glanced at me, hesitated, and finally spoke, "You know those people won't allow us to enter their halls."

"Oh, whatever." I certainly knew that those aristocrats looked down on the Shelby family. The flattery of those noble ladies was only because of my title. But it didn't matter. My goal was not to please them.

I want the people of Birmingham to feel the grace of the Shelby family and build a good reputation for the Shelby family in Birmingham. With both grace and authority, we will establish our own system on our land. We are no longer street thugs but businessmen wandering in the gray area. I don't care about how those aristocratic ladies perceive us; what matters is how we handle ourselves.

They may want to erase us insignificant little people, but I won't let them have their way.

Actually, both of us didn't know exactly what we were busy with. But Tommy remembered my due date even more clearly than I did.

Since December, he began to nervously watch my bulging belly, forbidding Charlie from playing around me, and often supporting me on walks in the garden.

Tommy's efforts were not in vain. Arthur and the others were released before Christmas, and Tommy also received an OBE medal. Tommy, who just got the medal, looked like a kid who just bought the Mona Lisa, proud even without saying a word. Until he found that I had almost no reaction to it.

"There are still Commander medals below OBE, and above that are Knight Commander medals and Knight Grand Cross medals. Only citizens awarded the top two grades of honors are considered to have received a knighthood, and they can add the title of Sir before their surname." I explained to him like reciting a textbook.

Tommy fell silent after hearing this.

Today is Christmas, and I don't want my little prince to feel unhappy. I quickly put on a smiling face. "But this is a leap from zero to hero, isn't it?"

He shook his head and smiled self-deprecatingly. "I thought… the weight of those things would be heavy enough."

Maybe in their hearts, we who hold those things are not important enough.

But these are not things we need to care about now.

I felt a warm flow between my legs and pain in my lower abdomen. I curled up, hoping to alleviate the pain as much as possible.

"Tommy… the amniotic fluid broke…"

Bloody Gang - Mrs. Shelby - Tommy Shelby