Merry Christmas all! I won't be updating now until the 27th or possibly the new year as I have a busy few days coming up! I hope you all have a fab christfrmas and new year! - S

The world seems to spin around her as she stumbles down the road, grasping at the damp brick walls to keep herself upright. Irene's whole body shakes when she reaches her destination, realisation of her actions taking over her. "Help," She whispers as she slumps against the door. Her arms feel heavy as she brings her right hand up to knock weakly on the door.

"Jesus Christ," A shrill voice cuts through her motionlessness. Irene looks to her left to see Polly Grey giving her a close once-over. She gives her a tired smile before trying to stand up straight, Polly quickly opens the door for her and guides her inside. Sitting her down at the dining table she screams for her nephews.

Tommy suddenly appears in front of her, his face panic-stricken. His ice blue eyes dart around her face categorising her injuries. "What happened?" Tommy demands as his eyes wander down her body to her stomach. Irene's once night dress was supposed to be white. Instead, it is soaked bright red with blood.

"He came back," Irene whispers, her eyes pointed to the floor. "He was going to kill me." Irene's whole body shakes with sickness as her body doubles over, vomit erupting from her mouth like a water fountain.

Polly pulls her back up, grabbing her face. "Is he dead?" She snarls, Irene doesn't need to answer as the tears spring to her sky blue eyes. "Arthur, go check." Polly hisses over her shoulder. "I'll find Ada."

The enormity of what she had done crashed over her at the mention of Ada's name. Not only had she stabbed her brother but she had left a child fatherless. "How did this happen," Irene whispers. They had never been close, not since Freddie had returned from war but she loved him, he was the only family she had left, and this was how she had treated him? By sleeping with his enemy and flaunting it for the whole world to say. No wonder he had hit her, she would have too if she could.

"Your safe now," Tommy mistakes her tears for fear instead of the regret that is thrashing throughout her body. Irene flinches away from his touch, but still, he wraps his arms arm around her and holds her. Despite her anger and disgust, she takes comfort in his warmth.

Tommy watches her carefully, what has done to this poor girl? She had once been so strong and formidable, but he had driven her to the point of committing murder. They sit in silence for what feels like hours, Tommy stroking her arm and Irene avoiding his eyes.

"He said you laughed." She whispers finally, the questions burning in her brain. "When you told him" Irene finally looks at him, Tommy pulls away from her slowly and purses his lips.

"Yep" He breathes, Tommy wasn't sure how she did it, but she always manages to give him a look that makes his whole body tense up from being so uncomfortable. Irene scoffs, her strength finally coming back in the form of red-hot anger.

"Is this a game to you?"

"You are not a game to me, Irene." Tommy sighs as he sees her sky blue eyes narrowed into slits. "but we are playing a game and you know it." Irene Isn't sure what he means, but she knows that she doesn't like it. "As I said to him, He gets my sister pregnant and I fuck his." Tommy shrugs his shoulders, as though Irene should have known this all along. Irene's head begins to spin again, had he been using her this whole time in order to one-up Freddie?

Tommy deflects her gaze back to her, Irene had tried to play him and tease him this whole time and he wouldn't stand for it. Just as the words begin to form in her mouth the living room door flies open, and Arthur marches in, covered in enough blood to match Irene. "He's not dead," Arthur looks directly at Tommy as he speaks. Irene releases a breath that she hadn't realised she was holding in.

Irene doesn't waste any more time sitting and waiting for answers. She quickly stands for the first time in what feels like hours and makes her way towards the door. As her hand touches the old wooden door her right arm is pulled back and his lips are on hers. Irene welcomes the kiss, despite her anger and heartbreak, his lips still melt her. Eventually, Tommy pulls away from her, there foreheads still touching as she drinks in his breath.

"We have to stop now," Irene whispers, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm tired, Tommy." She isn't sure if he understands what she means when she says she is tired but at this point, she is past caring.

"I will give you time," Irene sighs at his words, he just couldn't take no for an answer. He releases her then and allows her to leave his home.

As he closes the door behind her he curses, what was he playing at? Tommy wasn't sure if he had any real interest in Irene outside of the bedroom, and sure it helped that matters that it drove Freddie Thorne mad that he was with her, but did he really see a future with her? He wasn't sure.

Irene slowly enters her home and carefully steps over the drying blood in the hallway, she looks at it for a moment, pondering how on earth she would get the stain out but that would be tomorrows problem. Slowly she makes her way up to her bedroom and begins to boil the kettle ready for her bath.

Once the water is just over halfway she strips out of her now bloodstained nightgown, and steps into the piping hot water. Irene leans her head back and allows to hot water to seep into her pores, and draw the dried blood out. As the steam rises her mind begins to swirl with the events of the day. It was only 11am in the morning and already she felt like she was ready for bed. Irene groans as she realises she should have been in work today, how on earth would she explain this?

Irene ponders her options, making a pros and cons list of being with the great Thomas Shelby. On one hand, he made her weak at the knees and was very bloody good in the bedroom. On the other hand, he was obnoxious and had complete disregard for her feelings, and overall wellbeing. Irene sighs, no matter what she chose she was going to be in the wrong. Her sky blue eyes begin to wander around the room for her soap as she realises its not in the metal tub with her. As her eyes land on her dressing table her breath hitches, her sanitary belt sits on the corner.

"No," Irene whispers, counting on her fingers, how long had it been since her last period?