trigger warning cause it's the kimber scene. Also, an extra long chapter to make up for the hiatus.


A loud bang echoed throughout the small bakery and flour flew into the air, a white haze soon coating the air. A grunt left Cora's lips as she shoved the heel of her hand into the stiff dough. There was a light sheen of perspiration that had formed on her forehead but she didn't bother to wipe it up, her mind too focused on the events of last Saturday and the blood rushing through her ears was enough to block out the noise around her. It had been four days since Tommy and her had a conversation, since she allowed Thomas to speak to her. Cora had made sure to close the bakery early, turn the lights out in her room above to make it look as though she were asleep, meet with Ada in the clothing stores or the library, and converse with Pol at the markets. The moment Cora sense that Tommy was near, she would excuse herself and rush back to the safety of her bakery.

"Tommy, you can't just trade her like that," Cora said, her eyes never leaving Grace's frozen form. Cora honestly couldn't believe what Tommy was doing. Sure, she knew that he wanted to make a good trade with Kimber, but trading Grace… that wasn't okay in her book. She knew Kimber and what he could do to women, and Cora wasn't about to let that slide.

"This isn't your problem, Cora," Tommy muttered as he tried to steer her out of the house, hoping that Kimber hadn't heard what she had said.

But, of course, he had.

"You're quite right, Mrs. Shelby." Billy's nasally voice cut through the crowd, causing Tommy to stop walking, the sudden halt jerking Cora back a little. "You see, Mr. Shelby, now that I've thought about it. It isn't quite fair to have this lovely lady," Cora noticed Grace flinch as Kimber drawled out the word lady, "Stay with me when she has no idea what's going on. No, no, this can't be. How about you let your wife stay with me for a while, Mr. Shelby."

Cora looked at Tommy, fear evident in her eyes as she gripped his hand tighter. She watched his eyes flutter between the two women, Grace to Cora, Cora to Grace. Cora couldn't believe what he was doing, she was his wife. There should be no need for any hesitation.

"You…"

An angry cry escaped Cora's lips as she felt the overwhelming wave of ire and betrayal roll over her and she reared back her hand, punching the dough and ignoring the ache when her hand hit the table. Her chest heaved, but it was not from exhaustion, and she blew a strand of gold hair out of her face. The soft creak of the door opening caught Cora's attention and she turned her head sharply to see who it was, her body relaxing when Pol entered.

"What are you doing here, Pol?" She asked, leaning her arm on the counter and resting her head on the palm of her hand, not caring that flour and dough were getting stuck to her hair or her face. She stared lazily at Pol before a dark flicker from beside the window caught her attention and her expression turned sour, "Leave, please."

"That's quite a rude way to greet a family member." Pol hummed, and she stalked closer to the counter, taking note of the dark purple bags that rested under Cora's eyes and how her face seemed years older. She had seen that look twice in her life: when her children got taken away and when Arthur Sr. left Mary at the announcement of her pregnancy with Finn.

Cora gave a 'humph' in response before turning her attention back to the dough in front of her, not giving Pol any attention. Pol raised her eyebrows at this and watched Cora cautiously for a moment, taking note that, while her movements were elegant, the force behind each knead was one that could knock a man cold.

"I'd give you a nicer one if he wasn't here," Cora stated, motioning her head towards the window where Tommy Shelby stood, not bothering to hide where he stood. His cold blue eyes stared heatedly at Cora and Pol had to give the woman credit for not flinching under the gaze.

"Cora," Pol hissed, her hands slamming onto the counter in front of the young woman and Cora looked up, her eyes hard as they met the older woman's dark blue ones. The two held the gaze, neither backing down as their glares remained cold and unyielding. "Now, I don't know what happened that day at the Kimber's, but what I do know is that your attitude is having an effect on the family business and that's not acceptable."

"That sounds more like Tommy's problem than mine," Cora snarled, and she watched annoyance flash through Pol's eyes. Pol stood still for a moment, her face unreadable, and Cora watched her carefully.

With a sudden start forward, Cora watched Pol jerked back out of her daze, her eyes narrowing dangerously and her face pinching together at Cora. Cora's eyes widened as Pol stalked behind the counter and grabbed her arm, the young woman letting out a yelp at the tight grasp before an endless stream of curses left her lips. The result was not what Cora had hoped for; rather, Pol tightened her grip on Cora's wrist as she yanked her towards the door.

"John has called a family meeting and, as we both know, will not start until the entire family is there," Pol informed her as she tugged the door open and dragged Cora out, Cora immediately squinting at the sudden light that hit her face. "You're free to continue this childish behavior after the meeting."

Cora wriggled in Pol's grasp as she tried to get out, occasionally shooting glares towards Tommy's figure that radiated arrogance as he walked behind the two women, but the woman had a steel grip. It was only when Pol gave Cora's arm a sharp yank, one that left a sharp pain to quickly radiate up her arm, did she stop trying to escape and, instead, focused on sulking. With her head looking at the ground and her lips in a small pout, Cora allowed Pol to pull her into The Garrison and into the private meeting room, rubbing her wrist when the older woman finally let go of her.

Cora stood in the center of the room, as she glanced around and, for a moment, she had forgotten that Thomas had been walking behind the two of them. It was only when she felt a presence creeping up behind her and saw the arm reaching for her waist did she twist away from him and head towards Arthur. Cora smiled cheerfully at the auburn-haired man as she sat down next to him, her hand reaching for the shot glass that was placed in front of her before freezing.

She wanted to forget, she really did, but she didn't want to end up a broken woman.

No, she was stronger than that.

"All right," Tommy's voice called, drawing Cora out of her trance and she glanced at his pale face, a silent rage filling her veins at the mask of tranquility that rested there, "There's only one man guarding the house. What's troubling you?"

Slumping her head against her hand, Cora lazily drew patterns onto the oak wood that rested beneath her as John cleared his throat, "Aunt Polly, you know what it's like since Martha died."

"God takes the best first," Pol said, her eyes briefly looking up as she reached out and gently touched John's hand.

"Truth is, my kids have been running bloody rings around me. Running barefoot with the dogs until all hours, and I know that Cora's," Cora perked up at the sound of her name and she looked at the youngest male in the room, his eyes holding a soft gratitude in it as they stared at her, "Been trying her best to help with them."

"Of course, John." Cora smiled, confusion race through her as John returned hers with a weak one. It really was no trouble for her to watch her nieces and nephews. They were well-behaved—well, as well-behaved as a Shelby could be—and they were more than happy to help her in her bakery.

"Pol," Tommy interrupted, a bored sigh escaping him as he stared lazily at his brother, "Give him ten bob for some new shoes. Is that it, John?"

"Tommy, it would be better to do this without you." Pol snapped, and Cora eagerly nodded in agreement, hoping that Pol would kick him out and shortening her time with him.

"I couldn't agree more with you, Pol," Cora said, mockingly smiling at Tommy and brushing off his glare as though they were spare crumbs. She knew how much he loathed her defiance and, while he allowed her to be independent, how he demanded respect in front of others.

"Now, what's your point?" Pol asked, ignoring the tension in the room that Cora had managed to create with a simple phrase. Cora knew by the sharp glare Pol sent her that the older woman was getting fed up by the childish behavior from the two.

"What the kids need is a mother," John said, his voice quiet as he fidgeted in his seat. His fingers twisted around the shot glass in his hands anxiously and Cora noticed that he refused to meet Tommy's gaze, "So that's why I'm getting married."

The word flashed through Cora's mind and she felt as though all the air had left her body. John, the man she considered her little brother, was getting married? And he hadn't mentioned it until now? A surge of emotions rushed through Cora and she sat there in a daze, her mouth slightly parted and her head cocked to the side as she stared at John questioningly.

"Does this poor girl know you're going to marry her, or are you just going to spring it on her all of a sudden?" Pol pressed, her tone short as she stared her nephew as though he had grown a third head.

"I've already proposed and she said yes," John informed them, and Cora's mouth dropped open. Anger and betrayal flooded her senses yet again and her mouth snapped closed, her eyes narrowing on the youngest Shelby in the room.

"John, what the fuck," Cora hissed the same time a scoff escaped Tommy's throat. Glancing at him, she watched as he struck a match against its package, the cigarette resting between loosely between his lips as amusement twinkled in his eyes, "I think there's a shell about to land and go bang."

"Oh, fuck off, Tommy," Cora groaned as she rolled her eyes, not noticing the raised eyebrows she got from Arthur and John. While Cora and Tommy did not have a perfect relationship, their relationship was built off respect for one another and they never, not once, have heard or seen Cora directly defy or curse Tommy in the presence of others.

It made them question what had really happened last Saturday for if it were as nonchalant as Tommy said it had been, Cora wouldn't be acting this way.

"It's, um, it's Lizzie Stark." John swallowed the last of his drink and Cora brows shot up, almost blending in with her hair.

John had to be joking, there was no other explanation. Last Saturday was just a big old prank the boys were pulling on her. Looking around, Cora tried to find some sense that this was a joke but the laughter that left Tommy, Arthur, and Pol was enough to confirm her uttermost fear. None of this was a joke.

"John, Lizzie Stark is a strong woman, and I am sure she provides a fine service for her customers." Pol giggled before clearing her throat, not thinking that her nephew was serious and Cora realized that she was the only one in the room who realized that John was.

"I won't hear the word!" Cora jumped at the sudden shout that echoed through the room, her body subconsciously twisting to get closer to Tommy's and not noticing Tommy reaching for his gun at her sudden movement, his eyes never leaving John's. John, however, seemed to have calmed down from his sudden outburst and let out a long sigh, "Understand? Do not use that word."

"What word is that, John?" Tommy sighed, his head drifting away from the weapon as he looked towards the ceiling, annoyance and disappointment radiating off of him. Cora looked towards her husband and her brows furrowed as she realized their sudden closeness before she slid away from him.

"You know what word that is," John muttered, his eyes dark.

"Everybody bloody knows," Arthur laughed, still not believing that his brother was serious and ignoring the warning glances Pol and Cora shot him.

"Everybody can go to hell," John shot back and Tommy rolled his eyes at the immaturity of the situation.

"Whore. That word?" Tommy asked mockingly, "Or prostitute? How about that one?"

"Right. I want it known, 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." John snarled, and Cora felt her eyes widen. It surprised her how protective John was being about Lizzie… he'd never been this protective over anyone besides Martha, the kids, and the family.

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me." Pol stated as she looked at John in amazement, "John, Lizzie Stark never did a day's work vertical—"

"She's changed. All right. People change." John interrupted Pol, standing up and looking around the room for any sign of support, "Like with religion."

"Lizzie Stark has got religion, eh?" Tommy snipped, and Cora's eyes flashed dangerously at Tommy's words. She hated this part of him. The part that always seemed to have the need to drag people down and make them doubt themselves. She hadn't even known this part of him until he returned home from war.

"Tommy, leave him alone," Cora snapped before turning her attention to John, who looked at her as though she were a saint. She could feel Tommy's burning gaze on her, but she ignored him. She didn't fear him, "Listen, John, as long as Lizzie respects you and the kids, and will do her best to help them grow, I'm okay with it. Sure, I don't like her personally, but if she makes you happy, then… I understand."

She really did.

"You can't be serious, Cora." Tommy scoffed from behind her and Cora turned to look at him, her brow cocked. She was daring him to defy her, to assert his 'dominance' over her after the stunt he pulled Saturday. She knew he wouldn't.

"She loves me." John confirmed, but Cora felt as though he were trying to confirm it more for himself than for the other people in the room, "Now, 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 all right," Arthur grumbled as he took a swig of his drink.

"'Brave' is going where no man has gone before. And with Lizzie Stark, John, that is really not what you'll be doing." Pol laughed and Cora had to cover her mouth with her hand to stop the snicker from slipping out.

"Listen, Tommy." John spoke, ignoring her and Arthur as they quietly giggled to themselves, "Welcome her to the family. As someone who's had a hard life. All right? Because I need someone. The kids need someone."

Cora's eyes were on the door the second she heard the wood scrap against itself, her body tense as Tommy, Arthur, and John reached for their guns. She let out a sigh of relief, however, when she saw Finn enter the room, panting.

"Tommy! We've been done over!" The young boy cried and Cora felt the atmosphere change drastically in the room as the boys tensed at Finn's words.

"What?" Cora heard Arthur growl as she rushed she watched the boys gather their bearings before heading out the door, Pol and Cora following after them. As they left, Cora paused before turning to look at the bar, her eyes fixating on Grace as the young woman stared back at her, wincing. From the moment she met Cora, all that woman seemed to radiate was warmth but now, now all she seemed to radiate was hatred and taciturnity, and Cora knew something wasn't right.

"No… Tommy, you can't be serious." Cora gasped as Billy walked over to her and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her tightly to his side, her heart pounding in her chest as the sound around her was muffled by the blood rushing in her ears. Cora could only watch as Tommy clenched his jaw before grabbing Grace and Mrs. Kimber by the arm and leading them towards the door.

Cora lunged forward, trying to break out of Billy's grasp as she felt invisible hands creep around her throat and tighten, but the man only intensified his grip and pulled her closer. Still struggling, Cora felt her heart drop and bile creep up her throat at his next words.

"Now, how can we entertain ourselves for the next few hours?"

The place had been ransacked and Cora couldn't seem to shake off a feeling of uneasiness as she walked around the room, carefully eying the mess. Scudboat sat at the table, clutching a cloth to his bleeding arm, and Cora daintily rifled through a stack of papers that rested near him.

"Jesus Christ!" John uttered, and Cora watched as he kicked the chest that rested in front of him. The bang echoed around the silent room, no one really knowing what to say. Cora pursed her lips before continuing to explore the house, heading towards the kitchen where Tommy stood. Stopping next to him, Cora's brows furrowed at the object in his hand, not understanding why those were in the office.

When she realized that he wasn't going to answer her unspoken question, Cora moved away from him and continued to search the kitchen. Her mind was racing as she thought over the possibilities of who could do this but with Thomas Shelby, it could've been anyone. Trailing her finger against the side of the wall, Cora left the room and frowned as she realized that she and Tommy had somehow ended up side-by-side.

"They've taken anything they can lay their hands on." Pol stated, glancing around the room before heading towards and empty chest, "Four cash boxes."

"They left these," Tommy said and Cora turned to see him holding up the object he had found in the kitchen. She could see the hidden panic in his eyes and, if she squinted, she swore she saw a flicker of fear. Cora's blood stilled at that new factor and didn't bother to resist Tommy when he pulled her flush against him, the smell of gunpowder and cigarette smoke flooding her senses.

"Wire cutters." Pol stated, a look of confusion crossing her face as she stared at the others and Cora followed her gaze to where Arthur and John had gone deathly still, not bothering to comment on how uncomfortable Tommy's tight grip had become at Pol's words. It was almost as though the fact that she had spoken the name had caused the situation to become reality, "Why would they leave wire cutters?"

"Nobody move." Arthur ignored his aunt, his eyes roaming the room before the three brothers looked at each other. With her face wrinkled in confusion as she shared a look with Pol, neither understanding what was going on or why the boys weren't answering them.

Tommy's hand tightened around her waist and Cora finally squirmed in discomfort, worried that the next morning there would be harsh, purple bruises on her waist… one's that matched the ones on her wrist. Her action did nothing, though, for Tommy only kept his grip on her, "I think our friends are playing the game."

Cora looked up at him, her body freezing at his words as she allowed a small shiver of terror to take over her body. She had no idea, really, about what Tommy was talking about and the fact that not only he was worried, concerned her. She had never seen the boys so cautious before about a situation. Even when things got to their worst, they always seemed to hold an air of confidence around them—confidence that she now couldn't sense.

"What game?" Cora heard Pol asked, and she looked over to see the older woman's face marred by a concerned—yet exasperated—frown. Moving to step forward, Pol stopped as John shot out his hand.

"Aunt Pol, don't touch anything," He hissed, and she stilled.

"What's going on?" Cora probed, not only aggravated at the boys' sudden secretiveness, but also the fact that Tommy was holding her as though if he were to let go, she'd die. While Cora would normally find that gesture sweet, his actions and decisions were still fresh in her mind and she still felt hesitant towards him, scared that he'd do something to hurt her in the end.

"Erasmus Lee was in France," Tommy breathed, almost as though with those five words Cora's questions were answered. She frowned, they were not.

"Shit," Scudboat muttered, the sound of his chair scraping against the floor the only indication that he had finally risen from the table. Cora looked over to him and furrowed her brows at the panicked look covering Scudboat's face as his eyes rapidly searched the room. It seemed as though he were looking for something non-existent.

"Whenever we gave up ground to the Germans," Cora watched Tommy's Adam's-apple bob as he swallowed heavily, "We'd leave behind booby traps, set up with wires. We'd leave wire cutters as part of the joke."

Cora's breath caught in her throat as Tommy's confession rang through her ears, a million thoughts rushing through her mind. Her heart pounded in her chest and for a moment, she wondered if Tommy could feel in. The soft squeeze he gave her was enough to tell her that he could. At the moment, Cora envied Tommy. How could he be so calm in a situation like this? Not once did she feel his heart rate pick up or hear a stutter in his breath.

She didn't understand.

"Somewhere in here, there's a hand grenade." John continued, looking at each person in the room, his voice heavy and foreboding. Cora suppressed a nervous shudder, she had never heard him talk so sternly in years. Not since Martha's death.

"Holy Jesus," Pol breathed, her face paling and Cora wondered if she looked as scared as Pol did; if her skin was translucent or tinted green.

"Somewhere in here, there's a grenade attached to a wire," Arthur informed them, his eyes hard and distant as he looked around the room, "Don't move any chairs or open any doors. Go easy, John Boy, go easy."

Cora's mind was racing. None of this made sense to her. They had already entered the house, opened doors, walked around the rooms, moved furniture, John even kicked a box for goodness sake. None of the men in the room were gentle by nature, their movements always harsh and demanding. If there was a grenade in the room, it should have gone off by now. Unless… unless the Lee's targeted an object in which they knew only Tommy would touch.

But what could it be?

A horrified gasp tore through Cora's throat, her eyes widening in realization, "Finn!"

Ripping herself out of Tommy's grip, she raced down the stairs, hiking her skirt up past her knees to ensure to would get to the landing as quickly as possible without tripping or slipping. She knew Tommy was hot on her trail, she could practically feel him breathing down her neck as she made her way outside and she cursed herself as she stumbled on an uneven set of cobblestone.

The sight of Finn alive in the car was enough for the weight of the world to be lifted off her shoulders. He was okay. She started forward, ready to get him out of the car as safely as she could and not caring if she would get hurt in the process, when a hand wrapped around her arm and yanked her back, her back colliding with Tommy's firm chest.

"Stay back, Cora," Tommy whispered in her ear and Cora tried her best to suppress a shudder at his closeness, listening to Tommy's command without a second thought. She was still angry at him, but now wasn't the proper time to let her emotions get in the way, not when someone was in danger.

For a moment, Cora wondered if this was how Tommy felt when he left her with Kimber. Did he feel helpless, as though he could only watch and wait for the outcome? Did his heart race in his chest and did his hands get clammy with sweat? Did he replay the situation in his head, wondering why the hell he agreed to Kimber's deal? Cora shook the thoughts from her mind. This situation was different. Tommy had the choice to leave her with Kimber, and that's the path he decided to take.

"Stay away from me, Kimber," Cora warned, wincing as her voice cracked as she backed away from the older man. Kimber merely looked at her as though she were his prey and no matter what she tried, she couldn't get away from him. He stalked towards her, a sick smile twisting onto his face as lust clouded his eyes and Cora felt her heart accelerate in her chest, her stomach churning as she tried not to gag.

She hated that she felt weak. She hated that she couldn't do anything. She hated that Kimber made her feel this way and that she couldn't be stronger.

She hated that she felt helpless.

She hated that Tommy picked Grace over her, his own wife.

She hated Tommy.

"Not a chance, my dear," Billy whispered in her ear, and Cora couldn't stop the shiver of disgust that took control, nearly crying when Kimber took as it as a shudder of yearning.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Cora felt Billy reach for the zipper on the back of her dress. The dress that Tommy had bought her, the dress that she thought signaled everything was alright. She nearly whimpered at the thought, cursing herself for being so naïve—so foolish. With a sharp gasp, she ripped herself from his grasp and grabbed a metal teapot that was in the room. Cora held it up defensively in front of her, using it as a weapon and a shield, an action which made Kimber laugh mockingly.

He knew she couldn't stop him.

"We both know that that's not gonna protect you, love." Kimber cackled, before lunging forward and grabbing her arm, pulling her against his chest. A shrill scream ripped through Cora's throat as Kimber yanked the zipper down.

"Tommy!" She couldn't help but scream for him as she struggled to get out of Kimber's grip. His Grip only tightened on her wrist and she squirmed harder, her blood running cold when she felt something hard press against her back. She could tell the struggle was starting to infuriate him and she gasped, a sharp pain radiating from her left cheek.

"Will you shut your mouth you fucking whore," Billy roared, pushing her chest against the wall as he tried to rip the dress off her body. Cora could tell that he wanted the dress off, not because he wanted to see her bare, no, but because he thought if Tommy didn't see any harm to the dress, he wouldn't know what Kimber had done.

But Tommy knew Kimber's plans even before he agreed to leave Cora.

"Tommy!" Cora screamed again, her heart racing as she felt the familiar burning behind her eyes, momentarily forgetting about the pain radiating from her cheek and the urge to throw up. She wasn't going to stop fighting. No matter what happened, she wasn't going to stop fighting.

A loud boom echoed throughout the room, catching Billy's attention long enough for Cora to escape his grasp and run to the other side of the room, pulling up the sleeves of her dress. She pressed her hands pressed against her chest to hold the dress up. Tears filled her eyes and Cora couldn't stop the wave of utter revolution take over. Utter revolution to herself.

Standing in the doorway was Tommy, his eyes burning with rage as they flickered from Cora's appearance to Kimber's annoyed face, and his cheeks coated in a soft flush. Cora couldn't have cared that his mask of stillness had broke, her mind too busy replaying the events that had just occurred as a small voice in the back of her head mocked her for being too weak… for letting this happen.

If she were stronger, it wouldn't have occurred.

"Just wait. Listen to me." Tommy held up his hand as he made his way towards Cora. She saw his jaw clench as his hand flexed at the sight of her, her shuddering breaths the only sound in the room as he took in her appearance… his damage, "Just listen to me. I can't let you do this. She's my wife."

Cora barely noticed the protective stance that Tommy took, his body shielding her from Kimber's gaze and she felt the heat radiating off of him. She glanced up and noticed small beads of sweat collecting on his neck and the side of his face. Had he run here? Cora shuddered, she didn't care.

And, just like that, Cora suddenly felt nothing. It was almost as though she were floating, the noise around her suddenly disappearing and she hugged herself tighter, her head lolling to the side as she stared at Tommy's jacket. The only protection between her and the monsters in the room.

A flash of heat brought Cora out of her thoughts, and she immediately covered her face as the explosion rang throughout the street. She didn't wait to see if everyone was okay, nor did she wait to make sure that it was safe to leave. The unyielding urge to vomit flooded her system and Cora turned, making her way towards her house as quickly and as calmly as she could. She wanted to feel safe, she needed to feel safe. And right now, that wasn't with Tommy.