Authors Note:

Just a quick note to thank everyone for sharing their thoughts. Since I've had several comments in regards to Tommy's character I just want to say - I don't see any "cheating" going on in this story so you most likely don't need to worry about that as an issue. So I hope you continue to enjoy wherever this alternate universe takes our lovely characters.

Chapter 10

Small Heath

Garrison

Dec. 24, 1919

Tommy POV

Tommy came to slowly. He was disoriented, the light of the sun seemed bright through his lids. Why was the fuckin sun shining in his face. The room had a slight chill but he was abnormally warm. He was content, tranquil even.

Sun, the sun was up. It was up and he hadn't woken to stare out the window and hope the sun would come before the enemy broke through the wall. It was silent...the room was silent and the sun was shining.

He opened his eyes slowly and everything came back to him. London, the Bakery. Running into Aoife and bringing her back to Birmingham with him. The Fair, Danny, the taste of her lips and how she felt in his arms. Her hands on his skin.

He'd fallen asleep on his stomach and at some point during the night he'd rolled over onto his back, but he hadn't woken. At least not enough to remember doing so. He was warm because a red-headed, green eyed, surprising little minx was cuddled into his side with one of her legs laying across his waist and her hand over his heart.

Tommy felt rested for the first time in as long as he could remember. He was perfectly happy to lay there and watch Aoife breathe. Observing her as she slept, he found that her peaceful expression sent a dart of something through his chest.

He didn't know if he could completely put their position down to being her doing. His arm was wrapped around her to keep her close and he was holding her thigh. The feel of the silk of her chemise against his skin mixed in with the softness of her own was both tantalizing and comforting.

He felt her muscles start to shift against him, and watched as her long lashes began to flutter before they slowly opened to reveal those eyes of hers. In that abnormal yet perfect shade of green.

When Aoife focused on him, he made note of the drowsy smile that spread across her lips. Her voice husky with sleep, a dangerously provocative sound, "Mornin' Tommy."

His own voice was low and gravelly from sleep as well, "G' mornin' Aoife."

"Manage to get any rest?"

"Hmm...I did."

Tommy studied her face as her smile slipped into a smirk and she fuckin bit her lip again. "Well then mission accomplished, eh?"

"Hmm...Was that your plan all along?"

Aoife raised her upper body onto her elbow and leaned over his chest more comfortably.

"Not a plan per say...more of a hopeful side effect."

Aoife POV

She had to admit that this was a fine way to awaken. Tommy was wrapped around her and she was wrapped around him. She did notice that the dark circles under his eyes had lessened somewhat, though that didn't truly tell her if his rest had been peaceful. It only told her that he'd gotten some sleep.

She could feel Tommy's fingers running through the strands of her hair, it was very pleasant. As she focused in on the feeling his absentminded stroking evoked her eyelids drooped and she hummed softly in appreciation.

She felt him flex his fingers on her thigh and they slid slightly higher reaching up under the hem of her chemise. Her mind flashed with visions of lovely morning activities they could partake in, if only...

"How is your head this morning Tommy?"

"...Amazingly clear. Yours?"

"No fuzz in sight."

They seemed to move in tandem. As she straddled his hips he sat up and ran his hands up under her chemise feeling the contours of her body as he continued lifting it up and over head. She was left in her provocative lacy French scanties and matching brassiere. A guilty pleasure she pampered herself with. And honestly the scanties fit much more comfortably under her trousers. They were the epitome of sexy indulgence and Tommy seemed to appreciate them very much.

The feel of Tommy's hands strong and firm against her skin, smoothing over muscles and exploring the curves and valleys her body had to offer was exquisite. He applied the perfect amount of pressure in just the right places and lightened it to the barest ghost of a touch at just the right moments.

Aoife reveled in the feeling just long enough to lock it into her memory before she dived her own hands into the task of exploring his skin. She wanted to discover the kind of touch that made him shiver and where all his weak spots were. She felt his lips trailing across her collar bone and lightly dragged her nails up the back of his neck and across the back of his head, till the tips of her fingers felt the silky softness of his hair. It earned her a soft grunt that came from the back of his throat.

His lips started moving up her neck and back toward her ear, she tilted her head to the side to allow him more room. The moment his lips came to her weak spot he knew because her grip on his neck tightened infinitesimally and a soft moan left her mouth. She pushed her hips down into his as he used his tongue and teeth to his advantage.

He groaned in return continuing to explore her weak spot while one of his hands moved to her hip and assisted in continuing a very pleasurable rocking motion. She felt his other hand move from the back of her head down her neck and spine until he came to the hook closures of her brassiere. It was quickly joined by the other to help in the task of undoing the hook and loop clasps.

Tommy POV

While loathe to leave the sweet spot he'd found just below Aoife's ear, he had more areas to traverse. He dragged his lips down the flawless skin of her neck to explore the velvety expanse of her shoulder as he skimmed the lacy ribbon strap of her brassiere out of his way.

Tommy felt her hands leave his skin as they dropped to her sides to allow the straps to fall down and off, discarding the piece of lingerie to the floor. He felt the slight calluses on her fingertips run up his arms and over his shoulders before he turned his attention to the newly revealed curves of her breasts.

He'd thought her beautiful from the first time he saw her. Here, now...with the soft glow of the morning sun washing over her, she was magnificent. The sensual look in her eyes, the fervid demand in her touch, along with the dauntless desire he felt from her was exhilarating and heartening at the same time.

Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her in tight, twisted and laid her out beneath him in one swift movement. The sheets tangling around their legs as he moved to hook the lace hugging her hips with his fingers so he could lay her bare before him. He leaned down and kissed the skin just above the lacy trimming of her barely there knickers.

As the curve of her hips were being revealed to him the hush of the room was broken by banging and the gruff voice of his brother Arthur shouting his name through the door.

"TOMMY! YA IN THERE TOMMY?"

Aoife POV

She felt Tommy's forearms hit the mattress as his forehead fell gently to her stomach. She could feel the ever so slight shake of his head as they listened to Arthur shout through the door. His voice was strained and held a note of annoyance when he answered loud enough for Arthur to hear.

"What is it Arthur?"

"Tommy, you need to come quick, there's trouble, we been done over."

"WHAT?"

Upon hearing that, Tommy was up and out of the bed, he was halfway to his clothes before he turned back to look at her with a somewhat pained and apologetic look on his face. She could see in his eyes he was trying to come up with something to say but seemed to actually be having trouble finding any words.

Aoife shook her head quickly, trying to let him know not to worry about her, "Go, Tommy!"

He gave a quick nod before turning back for his clothes. She grabbed her chemise and threw it on quickly for modesty's sake. Living on an airship, modesty had a way of going out the window, especially when the alarms are waking you from sleep and your ass is needed topside right quick. However she didn't really want Tommy's older brother to get an eye full right off the bat.

It looked like Tommy was quite practiced at being presentable in a hurry as well. He was slipping his boots on and grabbing his jacket off the chair. She watched as he headed for the door and unlocked it. Before he pulled it open he shot a quick look over his shoulder at her. His eyes scanned her body before he gave another nod and dashed out of her room.

As the door closed behind him she couldn't help but give a thought to how sweet it was of Tommy to make sure she was covered before opening the door.

She hoped whatever had transpired to send the Shelby's up in arms wasn't too serious...done over? ...No idea. She faintly heard Tommy asking Arthur what happened before their voices faded as they headed down the stairs.

Aoife fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a moment. She took a glance out the window and considered the height of the sun, which surprisingly was shining fairly brightly considering she was in Small Heath. Late morning by her guess. She still had some time to kill before she'd be able to pick up her knives. What to do? Definitely a cold shower.

Getting up, Aoife first went to the door and clicked the lock into place. She didn't need any more surprise visitors. Now to hope against hope that the only other door in the room would lead to a lavatory and not just a water closet. She really needed to cool down...or take care of things herself.

She was extremely grateful when the door led to a full lavatory/water closet, there was even a shower in the tub. Thank the gods of industry and no doubt the owner Harry for having it installed. Aoife deliberated with herself while she turned the water on. Was it to be a hot shower or a cold one? She finally decided that some things were made all the better for the wait, so a cold shower it was.

Polly POV

It was a mess. Tables upturned, chairs broken, papers everywhere. Their man Scudboat's head bleeding from where he'd been bashed and his face bruising up from the beatin' he'd taken. She and John had checked first thing, the bastards had grabbed everything worth grabbing and bloody well left one hell of a mess to cleanup.

They'd waited for the lot of them to head out before they'd struck. John was supposed to have been working on inputting the mornings take into the books. Except Ada'd received a call from him, two of the little ones had come down with fever. She and Ada had raced over as quick as they could to calm John and start taking care of the darlin's. Thankfully Finn had been out playing with his friends from the lane over. Arthur had stayed the night elsewhere.

Scudboat had called John's house as soon as he'd been able to let 'em know. Arthur had returned as they'd been talking.

John and her had left Ada to take care of his kids and hurried back to the den. Arthur informed them that Tommy hadn't returned the night before either. He made mention that the last time he'd seen Tommy had been at the Garrison with Aoife. There was only one of two places he could've stayed the night. She knew which one she'd prefer it to have been. They'd tried calling the Garrison first but according to the operator the line was down due to service. So against her better judgment she'd checked to make sure Tommy hadn't spent the night consorting with Lizzie Stark. She knew that from time to time since his return from France he'd paid for her company. He was always discreet, she didn't even think his brothers were aware, but she knew.

The relief she'd felt when Lizzie'd told her she hadn't seen him in more than 3 months was overwhelming. That meant he'd only visited her the first two months he'd been home. She'd immediately sent Arthur to the Garrison to see if Tommy was indeed there and bring him home if he was.

They had started to try and put things back to rights. She piled all the papers into stacks to be sorted later while John righted the tables and chairs. He'd just started on the discard pile when Arthur came back through the door with Tommy.

"They took anything they could lay their hands on. Four cash boxes."

Tommy POV

The room was destroyed though it looked like they'd already started to try and put things back together. He walked a slow careful circuit to see if they were missing anything else. He could hear Arthur asking Scudboat to tell him exactly what happened again.

"The Lee's. All of them. Cousins, nephews even their bastards..."

Tommy's eyes landed on the odd item laying in the rubble of a side drawer. He crouched down carefully and examined it closely before gingerly picking it up. "Scudboat, looks like you took a hit to the head there...were you unconscious at all?"

"Aye, they walloped me good with a bat, when I came to they were gone."

Tommy nodded his head and raised the wire cutters he'd found up for the others to see. "They left these."

John and Arthur were staring apprehensively at the cutters but it was Aunt Polly's voice asking why they would leave wire cutters that seemed to bring them all back. John murmured under his breath and Arthur ordered everyone not to move. He heard Aunt Polly again, "Will someone explain to me what the bloody hell, wire cutters mean?"

He found himself answering her though he felt like he was talking through water. "I think our friends are playing the game."

Aunt Pol went to move when John held his arm out, "Aunt Pol, don't move."

"Erasmus Lee was in France. Whenever we gave up ground to the Germans, we'd leave behind booby traps, set with wires. We left wire cutters as part of the joke."

Tommy watched as what he said sank in and Aunt Polly crossed herself before taking the lords name in vain.

John finished alerting Aunt Pol to the danger they were in as he told her that there was a hand grenade somewhere in the den.

Arthur, Scudboat and John started to slowly survey the room and everything in it. Something wasn't right though, if it were in here, it would have had to have gone off by now. They'd already started to pick the room up, had moved things about and nothing had happened. Erasmus Lee had a problem with him, it had been because of him that the Lee's had come after them at the fair. It had been him that had left him with a reminder that he'd see every time he looked in the mirror.

"No. Boys no, it's not here. If it were it would have gone off by now. This is personal, he's set a trap but it's for me. You check the rest of the house, I'm going to see if the garage has been tampered with."

****************0***************

The garage had been locked up tight, the motorcar untouched, he'd scoured the entire space. So where was it, maybe, it had been at the house. Tommy quickly made his way back home. When he walked in the door Polly and his brothers looked up at him expectantly. "Nothin'... here?"

Arthur and John both shook their heads as Arthur assured him it was all clear. John's voice came out uncertain in the quiet of the room. "I called home, Ada and the kids are fine. Finn came home for lunch an he's upstairs in his room. Maybe they didn't leave a booby trap. Only wanted us to think they did?"

"No. After the fair, tearing up this place and taking what was on hand wouldn't have been enough for Erasmus..."

He began to pace trying to figure it out when he heard Aunt Polly's voice come out just above a whisper with a slight tremor catching in her tone. "Tommy...you don't think they'd go after Aoife do you?" Before he could even contemplate the implication of her question Arthur pulled him from his thoughts.

"Why would they bother Aoife? She was only with us at the fair. If they'd asked anyone, they'd tell 'em they didn't know nothin bout her."

John boy shook his head before replying, "That's true... but it was Aoife that took down Erasmus' brother. She said herself that men like him just get their noses bent especially when it comes to a woman. It would be like two birds with one stone wouldn't it Tommy? Revenge on her for humiliating his brother, and on you, cause anyone at the fair could a told him you were sweet on her."

John was right, it wouldn't matter that Aoife was a woman for the fact alone she'd proven better than them. He barely heard Aunt Polly when she mentioned that when they'd tried to call earlier to find him. They'd been told the line was down for service. Fuckin Hell.

He didn't even remember moving but he was out the door and running for the Garrison. He dimly heard his brothers following behind him. He rounded the corner and could see the pub down the road. He kept moving forward. Images running through his head. Aoife smiling sleepily up at him, saying good morning. Aoife whispering in his ear that she wasn't afraid of him. Asking him if he could handle all of her. Kissing her. And the last time he'd seen her, sitting on the bed telling him to go with a reassuring look in those mesmerizing green orbs of hers, she understood...

He felt his brothers grab him and try and slow him down, trying to remind him of the need to be cautious. While they were trying to get him to hear them a deafening roar and a blast of heat knocked them clear off their legs, throwing them back into the mud of the street. Glass and debris falling all around them. For a moment he saw the tunnel collapsing around him and he couldn't breath as the dirt and mud buried him alive. In the next moment he felt hands on his shoulders pulling him up from the ground and he was staring at the burning shell of what once had been the Garrison Pub.

Please forgive me for the cliffhanger ending and the shortness of this chapter I hope you enjoy it anyway!

As always I look forward to reading your thoughts and comments...let me have 'em!