Just a heads-up, I've just set up a Twitter account for this (and other fanfics coming soon) and I'll be able to talk a lot more easily on there with you guys and keep you more up to date with my update schedules/directions, etc. Follow me at you_haventmetmeyet . There's a link in my profile too. Promo over :)

Tessa was embarrassed. She had woken up on the couch, wondering how she got there, then remembered and felt like gouging her eyes out. She had made such a fucking fuss, and in front of her dad too. She'd been weak.

The house was thankfully empty - Polly was in the bath upstairs - which allowed Tessa to escape without question. She kept her head down, hat pulled low over her eyes in case she bumped into any Blinders on the way to Jack's house. There was one person she recognised stationed outside.

"Let me through," Tessa pushed past him and opened the door.

Jack was sat on the stairs, expressionless.

"I've been waiting for you," he said.

Tessa let the door close slowly behind her.

"I… Is he alright?" Tessa asked.

Jack nodded up to the second floor.

"He's in Carrie's room. She hasn't left his side."

Tessa waited, holding her breath.

"They say he's gonna make it."

She released it, closing her eyes briefly. Jack's face didn't give anything away. He seemed so different, so stoic and flat. He was usually buzzing with energy.

"That's good."

"He has to go."

Tessa nodded, "It's for the best. Where are you going?"

"He's going to Surrey. We've got family down there."

"And you?"

"I'm staying here," he said resolutely.

Tessa frowned, "And the rest of your family?"

"Carrie's going with dad. Mum's staying. They're breaking up…" he grimaced. "Mum says she can't live with it anymore. With him. I can't leave her round here on own."

"I'm sorry, Jack."

There wasn't anything else to say, was there?

"You're the reason Dad's alive," he said bluntly. "He'd be rotting now."

"Eddie and Richie helped. Pol too."

"You shouldn't have done it," Jack said. "I shouldn't have asked you. Richie said you were out of it."

"Richie should keep his fucking mouth shut. You were right to

ask me. He's your dad. If our roles were reversed, I'd have no problem asking you to do something dangerous to help my dad. Family's more important than anything, Jack. Me and you have always seen eye-to-eye on that."

Jack stood up and stepped down to Tessa's level. Too quickly, his arms were around her. She froze, staying as still as possible as he hugged her. He pulled back.

"Thanks, Tessa."

She just stood there, completely confused and uncomfortable. But she knew why he had done it. It was a thing normal friends did, but were they friends? Richie, Eddie, and Jack weren't her friends, were they? Were all the people who worked with her family, friends?

"I'm gonna go," she said, clearing her throat. "Let me know if anything happens."

Jack nodded, "I might not be around for a bit. Just need some time together before we split up."

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I'll wait for you to find us."

It took an ashamedly long time of hovering outside the back door before Tessa had the courage to walk into the house, knowing at least some people would be there.

Polly and Scudboat were in the shop and stopped what they were doing at the sight of her. Tessa restrained the urge to walk back out. Instead, she held her head up and sat at the desk.

"Have you counted this lot?" Tessa asked Scudboat.

"Uh, no."

"Okay," and began counting.

"How are you feeling?" Polly asked.

"Completely fine."

That was the end of the conversation, thankfully. Polly was intuitive like that. Tommy was less so.

"It's a good day," Polly said as he entered, but he ignored her and went straight to Tessa.

"Are you alright?" he asked, sitting beside her at the desk.

"Fine," she said without looking from the stack of coins. "Busy."

"Stanley Chapman - "

"Yeah I know he's okay. I went to see Jack. His parents are splitting up and Stanley's taking his sister down to Surrey. Shit to be him at the minute."

Tessa's tone didn't deviate from base, not a drop of emotion there. He pursed his lips in frustration, a frustration Tessa shared. What did he want from her? Did he want her to turn to him and pour her heart out? But that wasn't something they did, not something anyone had taught her to do.

Anyway, there was nothing to tell.

"Where's John?" Tommy asked, his voice tight.

"John's in The Garrison," Polly said, grabbing her coat from the back of her chair and pulling it on. "We were waiting for you."

Tommy groaned.

"He says he wants a meeting about a family matter," Polly rolled her eyes at Tommy's expression. "After he's said his piece, he'll come back and take his place with Scudboat."

Tessa got up and followed them as Polly fixed her hat on.

"Scudboat," she called. "John will be here in ten minutes."

"Alright."

"Five," Tommy corrected as he passed.

Tessa walked just a little away from them on the way to The Garrison to avoid conversation. She kept thinking back to the previous night and cringing. She tried so had to be treated as an equal, as capable and indomitable, then she goes and does something like that. Now she didn't know how to act to get her reputation back. Embarrassment was fucking awful.

Knowing where John would be, Tessa headed straight for the snug in the pub and sat in one of the first chairs.

"Okay, Tessa?" he asked.

"I'm fine, fuck off," she spat back before she could stop herself.

He raised his eyebrows at Arthur, who sat opposite him. She knew what they were thinking. That she was fragile. It made her sick.

Polly sat beside Tessa, while Tommy stood by the door.

"Alright John, there's only one man - no," Tommy said as Arthur handed him a whiskey. "Give it to Tess."

Tessa accepted the drink in surprise and downed it.

"There's only one man guarding the house. What's troubling you?"

John cleared his throat, "Well, um… Polly, you know what it's been like since Martha died."

"God takes the best first," Polly said, touching John's hand in comfort.

"Truth is, my kids have been running bloody rings around me. Running barefoot with the dogs until all hours."

"Pol, give him ten bob for some shoes. Is that it, John?" Tommy said.

"Tommy, it would be better to do this without you," Pol snapped.

"You don't know what it's like, Tommy. You've only got Tess and she doesn't do anything."

Tessa folded her arms, "Sorry, what?"

"Beg to differ," Tommy muttered.

"No, I mean you've got your head on straight," John amended. "You don't need looking after. We can all rely on you. My kids are too young to do any of that. Someone needs to watch them all the time."

Tessa's brief anger dissipated. We can rely on you. Maybe she was overreacting.

"What the kids need… is a mum," he visibly steeled himself. "So that's why I'm getting married."

Tessa blinked, "What?"

"Does this poor girl know you're gonna marry her or are you gonna spring it on her all of a sudden?"

"I've already proposed. And she said yes."

Tessa grinned and clapped her uncle on the shoulder.

"Nice one!"

"Hold off, Tess," Tommy said, taking out two cigarettes and handing her one. "I think there's a shell about to land, and go bang."

"It's uh… It's Lizzie Stark."

Tessa's smile faded as Arthur, Pol, and Tommy snorted with laughter. Tessa had to repress a tiny giggle but then composed herself at John's expression.

"John, Lizzie Stark is a strong woman and I'm sure she provides a fine service for her customers - " Pol said.

"I WON'T… hear the word," John said, in a voice that was usually reserved for whoever was on the receiving end of one of his beatings. "Understand? Do not use that word."

"What word is that John?" Tommy asked, knowing full well.

"You know what word it is."

"Everybody bloody knows," Arthur chuckled.

"Everybody, can go to hell," John snapped back.

Tessa heard her dad sigh from behind her, and knew he was getting fed up.

"Whore?" he said. "That word? Or… prostitute - how about that one?"

"Right," John said, his anger making his face red. "I want it known that if anyone calls her a whore again, I will push the barrel of my revolver down their throats, and blow the word back down into their hearts."

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me," Pol exclaimed. "John, Lizzie Stark's never done a day's work vertical."

"She's changed! All right! People change!" he slammed his hand down onto the table. "Like with religion!"

"So Lizzie Stark's got religion?"

"No, she hasn't got religion. But she loves me…" he looked around at the room and Tessa suddenly felt desperately sorry for him.

"Well, that's all that fucking matters, isn't it?" Tessa said, not sarcastically. "What'd you think I'd be doing if I wasn't born into this family?"

"Not that."

"It's enterprising," Tessa shrugged. "At least she's making her own money unlike a lot of women these days."

"See, exactly," John said. "She's independent! Now listen, Tommy. I won't do it without your blessing. But of all the people in the world, I want you to see it as brave."

"It's brave, alright," Arthur said.

"Brave is… going where no man has gone before," Polly began to giggle. "And with Lizzie Stark, John, that is not what you'll be doing."

Arthur choked on his drink.

"Just means she's practiced. That's a good thing, right?" Tessa said.

"Alright, Tessa," Tommy said, looking uncomfortable.

"Listen, Tommy," John said, holding his brother's arm. "Welcome her to the family. As someone who's had a hard life, hm? Because I need someone. Alright? The kids need someone."

Tessa raised an eyebrow when Tommy glanced at her. He looked back at John and seemed about to give his reply when the snug door burst open. Finn all but fell into the room, panting.

"Tommy! We've been done over!"

Everyone jumped to their feet.

"Tess, go," Tommy said as they hurried from the pub.

Tessa nodded and set off at a sprint, leaving the others behind. She skidded into the shop and collided with a bleeding Scudboat. The room was completely trashed. They'd even upturned furniture as well as taking the funds.

"What happened?" she demanded.

"There were a load of them," Scudboat muttered, holding his bleeding head. "Couldn't do nothing."

"It's alright," Tessa said. "Sit down and I'll get you some whiskey."

She was just pouring it when the others arrived, looking around the devastated room in fury. They split up, inspecting different areas for the damage.

"Jesus Christ," John muttered, kicking at a chair.

"What the bloody hell happened here?" Arthur asked.

"It was the Lees," Scudboat said, accepting the whiskey from Tessa. "Cheers. It was all of them. Cousins, nephews, even their bastards."

Tessa moved from the shop to the parlour, which was also a mess. They'd ripped down photographs and broken frames, as well as taking anything of value. She frowned, however, as she picked up a pair of wire cutters. She didn't recognise them. Surely they wouldn't leave something behind?

"They've taken anything they can lay their hands on," Polly fumed, pulling open now empty drawers.

Tommy stood in the opening of his office, his expression blank but his eyes simmering with anger.

"Hey, are these ours? I don't recognise them," Tessa said, stepping into the shop and holding up the cutters.

John, Arthur, and Tommy stiffened at the sight.

"What?"

Tommy slowly walked over to her and took the cutters from her hands. He stayed by her side, frowning down at them.

"Wire cutters," Polly said. "Why would they leave wire cutters?"

"Nobody move," Arthur said urgently.

Tommy nodded, "I think our friends are playing the game."

"What game?" Pol said, heading for one of the offices.

John stopped her in her tracks.

"Aunt Pol, don't touch anything."

"Erasmus Lee was in France," Tommy said.

"Shit," Scudboat whispered, getting to his feet.

"Dad?" Tessa said, aware that whatever this was, it was bad. "What's happening?"

"Whenever we gave up ground to the Germans, we'd leave behind booby traps, set up with wires. And we'd leave wire cutters, as part of the joke."

"Somewhere in here, there's a hand grenade," John said gravely.

Tessa let out a breath.

"Holy Jesus," Polly breathed.

"Attached to a wire," Arthur said, slowly beginning to survey the room with John. "Don't move any chairs or open any doors… Go easy, John Boy. Go easy."

Tommy shook his head.

"No. Boys, no. It's not in here. If it was in here, it would blown by now. It was my name on the bullet Erasmus sent. He set up a trap, alright. But he set it up just for me."

Suddenly, he was moving. Tessa chased after him as he headed to the door, managing to pull him back as he reached the road.

"Wait!"

"Tessa, go back inside," Tommy said, shaking her hand off him. "Go help clean up."

"Where are you going?"

"It's none - "

"To do something ridiculous," she corrected. "You can't just go chasing down a grenade on your own."

"I'll be fine. Go."

"Dad!" she yelled.

At the same time, he yelled.

"Arthur."

Tessa growled as she felt Arthur grab her shoulder. This had happened before. Tessa would push the boundaries and Tommy would send Arthur to keep her straight until he got back from whatever 'ridiculous stunt' he was pulling. She knew there was no option but to wait and do what he wanted.

One day she was going to punch him in the face. As hard as she fucking could.

"Come on," Arthur said as he steered her back into the house.

"He's gonna get himself killed," Tessa spat, kicking at one of the cashboxes on the floor.

"We dealt with more than one grenade in France," Arthur reminded her.

She didn't like to be reminded.

Tommy found the grenade in his car. Right beneath Finn's feet. After that, Polly went into overprotective mother mode and Tommy skulked back off to his car, telling everyone he'd be back later. Tessa left him, she too subdued by the day's events.

After checking in with the boys and Daisy's family, she headed to The Garrison. Arthur and John were, surprisingly, not there so Tessa sat at the bar. It was quiet, and Tessa found company in Grace, the barmaid everyone kept telling her her dad was sweet on.

Tessa wondered if it possibly had something to do with her admittedly beautiful Irish accent.

They made amiable conversation but Tessa was careful not too mention who she was to Tommy, not knowing if her dad had mentioned him having a child previously. She wasn't going to be the one to endanger the possibility of Tommy having a relationship with someone. He deserved to be happy, no matter how much he infuriated her.

"I actually read it to one of my nieces one night I was babysitting," Grace said, leaning her elbows on the bar.

"I mean, I hate Wendy. If a random guy walked up to me and said 'hey, will you be a mother to me and my six friends here?' I'd be a bit more hesitant, you know? But I liked Peter. And Nana."

"Did you read it when you were young?"

"My aunt read it to me. She used to read me all sorts. It's probably why I love reading now."

Ada had instilled the importance of reading in her from a young age. She had tried to turn Tessa into a little protege of hers, Tessa being younger and the only other girl. She was grateful for the hours her aunt had spent telling her stories.

"Anyway," Tessa said, finishing off her drink. "I'd better get back. My family will be wondering where I am."

"Do they not mind you drinking in here? Alone?" Grace asked, and Tessa could tell she'd been wanting to ask from the moment she walked in. "How come no one bothers you?"

"My dad's a pretty scary guy."

She slipped off the stool and grabbed her coat from the bar.

"See you later, Grace."

"Wait, I didn't catch your name."

Tessa paused.

"I'm Tess. You can call me Tess."

Everyone in Small Heath knew about Tessa's tendency to break the rules, and not just those of the law. Social rules, for one, dressing and acting the way she did. Her not-giving-a-shit-attitude gave that away immediately. But of all of her indiscretions, there was one that was somewhat surprising.

The dog she'd fed peanuts to as she walked Daisy home, and somehow managed to figure out Tessa's location at all times. It waited for her outside The Garrison, followed her down to the docks, even right to her door on Watery Lane.

Instead of kicking it away like others would, Tessa did what she did best, and chose the most unlikely course of action. She fed it. Ham or chicken pieces were luxuries but most of the time she only managed bread and jam. After that, there was no separating them.

The dog was male, and huge. Tessa guessed it was an English sheepdog crossed with something close to a retriever or Alsatian - and whatever else. He had golden-brown eyes, shaggy hair, and a drooling problem. He was also very fond of barrelling into the back Tessa's knees, and licking fingers.

The dog stuck to her heels for the next two days. Things were still tense at the house, so the dog and the boys were a source of company. Richie wasn't fond it, which Tessa found hilarious.

It was a comfort having the animal walk next to her after leaving the boys, even if it was just to lay outside the back yard.

Though she knew it was a 'girl's' name - whatever that meant - Tessa had taken to calling the dog Nana, her conversation with Grace reminding her of her love of Peter Pan.

Sure enough, as Tessa stepped out of The Garrison after dropping off some money for Harry, Nana gravitated to her side. She stooped and brushed the dog's hair from his eyes.

"Alright, lad?" she said, scrubbing his scruffy forehead.

She stood up and threw him a piece of cheese from her pocket. He missed it and had to eat it off the floor.

"C'mon."

She found herself slowing down for the dog. Being so large and hairy, he overheated easily and only liked going slow. She guessed he might be getting on in years too. He touched his nose to her fingers as they walked and she subtly tickled him in return.

She knew what her dad would say in that moment.

If I'd known all it would take is a dog to make you soft, I would've got one years ago.

Tessa stopped, the smile she wasn't aware she was wearing, disappearing. Nana stopped too.

Kimber's car was outside her house.

"Go on, Nana," Tessa said, trying to push the dog away. "Shoo."

Nana looked up at her. If that wasn't defiance in his eyes…

"Nana, fuck off!"

The dog stood perfectly still.

"Fine," Tessa huffed. "But you're staying in the back."

Tessa led Nana round to the backyard, making sure to leave the gate open for her. The dog seemed content to be left, curling up beneath some sheets Polly had hung on the line.

Tessa meanwhile snuck back to the front of the house and waited. Kimber and his assistant emerged in no time at all, climbed in their car, and drove up through the main road. Hopefully for the last time.

She hurried into the house, through the parlour, and into the shop.

To applause.

Everyone had turned to Tommy, who was stood on the raised platform, brandishing a piece of paper. They were clapping with vigour, a few even hugging each other. Polly wrapped her arms around Tommy as Arthur spotted Tessa.

"Tess!" he called.

He dragged her into the bullring before tackling her in a hug.

"What's the occasion?" she asked, slapping his back and pulling away.

"We're fucking legit!" John yelled, picking her up and spinning her in a circle.

Tessa untangled herself and backed away in shock.

"You mean… the books…?"

She looked up to Tommy, who was smiling at her. She hurried up to him, feeling Polly's hand squeezing her arm. Her aunt's smile was so bright.

He handed Tessa the paper.

"The Shelby family has its first legal racetrack pitch," he said, barely able to contain his excitement.

Tessa grinned up at him. It had been a long, long time since she'd seen him smile like that.

She threw her arms around his neck and he hugged her back tightly.

"Fucking hell, Dad," she laughed. "We're actually… legit. Holy shit!"

He let go of her but kept one arm around her shoulders, his other going around John. Polly went to Tessa's free side and gave her a half-hug, kissing her cheek.

"We did it," Polly said, smiling up at Tommy.

He nodded, "We did it. And this is just the beginning."

If possible, Tessa's grin widened.

Yes it was. It was just the beginning. And Tessa was so fucking excited to get her teeth into whatever was coming next.

Check out the Twitter! Also if any of you guys are Marvel/Supernatural/Criminal Minds/Doctor Who fans, I might have some stuff in the works.

These stories are also now on AO3 and Wattpad under youhaventmetme, so you can read on your preferred medium. If there's some other way you prefer to read, let me know and I'll try make that happen. I'm just trying to be as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Until the next time, lovelies.

-A