A/N: I don't know if Fanfic lets you know, but I re-uploaded Chapter 10 because I revised some stuff in it. I know it will seem kinda sudden and out of the blue. Hope you guys like them! I'm not giving much away, but you'll see.
P.S. I can't stop thinking of a TommyxRose wedding since I saw the spoilers on Tumblr.
It'd been a dream. She worried she'd awake the following morning and find herself back in the darkness with Him standing above her. She'd find out all of Tommy's words, kisses, smiles and laughs weren't real; that he'd been a figment of her imagination. Nothing in her life ever felt as surreal as being pressed against his chest on the back of that horse. Rose didn't even open her eyes when she woke. The fear boiled in her stomach, and she buried her face in her pillow. She couldn't handle it if she learned she'd only dreamed everything. When she gathered her courage, she opened her eye. She didn't see the basement. She saw her apartment. She'd never felt so relieved in her life.
Sliding off her bed, Rose began making her morning ginger tea and porridge. Her thoughts drifted back to Tommy again. He'd driven her home in his fancy black car after they reached the stables. Rose admitted she'd been nervous about riding in a car. HE always told her how dangerous they could be if mishandled. She thought she'd hid her nerves well enough until Tommy reached for her hand. She thought she must've eaten butterflies for lunch because they'd fluttered in her stomach. They held hands all the way home. The thought of it sounded so innocent. Thinking of their goodnight kiss made her blush as she sipped her tea quietly. That part of their date hadn't been innocent. They shared a long and heated kiss in his car; Tommy's hands on her back and hers in his hair. The idea of his hands sliding below her waist made her giggle. She had a feeling he wanted to do just that, but restrained himself. A part of her worried his intentions matched his elder brother's, yet something told her otherwise. HE always said some men hid their mischief very well.
Unfortunately, Rose put her thoughts aside. She had bigger things going on today, such as Ada's wedding. Ada only told her the other day when she'd visited. She couldn't tell a single soul about their marriage or that they'd be leaving for London soon. She said Freddie had business there, and that leaving for a while would be best for the couple. Rose didn't agree. A pregnant woman should avoid travel as much as possible, and marrying an anarchist on the run didn't sound safe. Yet, she wouldn't tell Ada. She'd seemed so happy talking about her potential wedding and how glad it made her having Freddie back. Rose wouldn't ruin that happiness by dragging her down. She'd hated keeping that secret from Tommy, who'd shared everything with her. He'd told her about the guns, Billy Kimber, Cheltenham, and their operations. She told him as much as she thought she should; she kept a few of the terrible things out. Yet, not telling him about Ada and Freddie made her feel guilty, but it was for the best. Rose finished her porridge and tea, getting dressed right afterwards before heading downstairs.
"Harry, I'm going to be gone for a few hours," she told the bartender. "If that's okay?"
Harry perked up from behind the bar, nodding, "Of course. What's the occasion?" he asked, seeing the peach colored dress Ada loaned her for the wedding.
"Nothing," she smiled, "Just wanted to look nice today. It's a good day for it, don't you think?" she said. She felt guilty lying to Harry, but she'd promised Ada.
"You don't need a fancy dress to look nice, Rosie," he said, wiping one of the washed beer mugs. "You're lovely all the same."
"Thank you, Harry," she smiled.
She heard the bar door open and in walked Inspector Campbell, absent his entourage of Special policemen. Her insides twisted seeing the mustachioed policeman. He smoked his pipe like he'd done when he first arrived, and looked about the room. The morning stragglers glanced at him and either glared or hid their faces. His eyes eventually landed on Rose.
"Ah, Miss Rose," he said, pipe hanging in his mouth. "You look lovely this morning."
"Thank you, Inspector," she replied. She hoped he only came for a drink, not an interrogation. "How can we help you today?" she asked.
"I had some questions for you," he said, "About a man named Freddie Thorne. Is there somewhere private we could talk?"
Rose tried holding her own, making eye contact and a firm stance by the bar. "Yes," she nodded. She turned to Harry, "Is the office empty?"
"Should be," he replied.
"We'll talk in there then," she told him before leading the Inspector away.
Campbell followed her into the small office where Harry went over numbers and inventory for the month. Slightly dusty and cramped, Rose took a seat at the small desk while the inspector stood in front of her. She expected he'd pull out some sort of notepad, but he did no such thing. He merely emptied out his pipe and tucked it back into his coat pocket. He didn't say anything right away. He only stared at her, surveying her face and the rest of her. Her skin crawled sitting so close to him, and seeing the look in his eyes.
"You had questions for me, sir?" she asked, breaking their silence.
"Um, yes," he said. "Freddie Thorne. Do you know him?"
"I know of him, sir," she replied. "He comes in here occasionally with some of the other factory workers."
"So, you've never spoken or been around him?"
"No, sir."
"Even though you are close friends with Ada Shelby?" he asked.
"Yes. I don't see what that has to do with-"
"-When we raided Mr. Thorne's home," he interrupted, "We found a prescription for iron tablets for Ada Shelby."
She thought carefully. She couldn't give Ada away so easily. "What does Miss Shelby's prescription have to do with whether I know him or not?"
"If I know women," he said, "Then I know that when one of them has a secret man in her life, she normally shares it with her best friend. According to some witnesses, you and Ms. Shelby are very close. You've been seen around town together, shopping together, and walking together."
"I mean, I know Freddie and Ada are together, but that doesn't mean I know any details of their relationship," she said. "It's inappropriate to ask about such things."
"Inappropriate?" he smirked, "Charming." He looked her over once more before saying, "Are you then also aware your best friend is dating a communist? And that said communist could've stolen a shipment of guns for a revolution?"
"A communist?" Rose heard the word before. She hadn't been entirely sure what it meant, but Ada explained that Freddie often got in trouble for speaking at the factories about wanting fair wages for such grueling hours. "No. I didn't know."
Campbell seemed unconvinced. "Miss Rose," he said, "If the communists were to get their hands on such dangerous guns, and distributed those guns to their followers and sympathizers, The Crown would suffer a revolution. Now, as a good subject of this great country, surely you'd tell me if you knew anything about those guns?"
"Inspector Campbell," she said a bit more firmly, "As I told you when you and your men ransacked my flat, I know nothing about these guns you're speaking of. It's horrible that someone would steal them, but I doubt I would know anybody who'd steal them."
He chuckled, "That's where you're wrong, Miss Rose. You happen to be very acquainted with my two of my suspects: Arthur and Thomas Shelby. You're also close to a few of their relatives."
"Just because I know them doesn't mean they tell me things. I'm just a barmaid to them."
"Well, the fact you'd been seen riding through town on horseback with Thomas, and you'd been spotted kissing in his car," he said, "Tells me otherwise." When she didn't answer, he said, "You seem like a good, Catholic girl, Miss Rose. I don't think you'd lie to me, would you?"
"N-no, sir," she shook her head. "I have no reason for lying."
He nodded, "A word of advice: Stay away from the Peaky Blinders. It might get you into trouble one day."
With that, Campbell walked out of the office. Rose shuddered. The way he talked, the way he stood, the tobacco smoke lingering in the air around her, made her think of HIM. HE hadn't smoked as often as he'd have liked, but when he did, it stunk up everything. The scent would stick to him like glue. Campbell spoke in such a condescending tone she wished she'd slapped him. He knew nothing about her and he never would. She hated it.
When she was certain he'd left, she came out of the office. "Are you alright?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine. He just had some questions for me," she answered. "I'm going to head out now. I'll be back later."
"Alright."
She waved him goodbye as she left. Rose continued thinking over his peculiar questions about the guns and Freddie. He turned his suspicions from Tommy to Freddie when none of his evidence pointed towards Tommy. Perhaps he and Ada should leave the city for a while. It clearly wasn't safe for them. She'd hoped she hadn't done more damage by answering his questions. She hadn't told him about their wedding or their plans in London. She said nothing about the baby either. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason for Ada's or Freddie's arrest.
She walked all the way to a bridge that Ada said she and Freddie met in secret. When she reached the steps, she found Ada waiting there with two bouquets of flowers. The women beamed at one another before hugging tightly.
"How do I look?" Ada asked spinning around in her ivory dress and pale pink coat.
"You look wonderful," Rose said. "A dress fit for a bride."
"A secret one anyways," Ada chuckled. She sighed, handing Rose her bouquet, "I'm so nervous, Rose."
"Don't be," she said. "You're doing the right thing for the baby and for you. Freddie loves you and wants to marry you."
"Don't be," she said. "You're doing the right thing for the baby and for you. Freddie loves you and wants to marry you."
"I know, I know, but it's all happened so quick," she replied. "Just like some other things I've heard about recently."
Rose recognized the knowing smile on Ada's face. She blushed. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh yes you do," she said. "A certain somebody I know was seen riding through town on my brother's horse…with my brother sitting on the same saddle."
"It didn't mean anything," Rose said, "It was just a picnic. That's all."
"Well, you two looked pretty cozy on that horse," she said. "You know, he never takes girls on his horses. They've always been his personal thing."
"He told me," she replied.
"He never even took Grace on his horses," she added. "He'd drive her around in his car instead."
"Grace? Who's Grace?"
"His old girlfriend," she answered. "He didn't tell you about her?"
Rose shook her head. She wondered why Tommy never mentioned her their entire afternoon together. She'd thought he told her everything. She supposed there must be a reason. She hadn't told him everything either. Rose wasn't sure if she truly wanted Tommy knowing all that happened. She understood if he didn't want her knowing about this Grace woman. Some wounds cut too deeply to be talked about out loud.
"Ada, Rose," Freddie came rushing down the stairs leading under the bridge. He wore a suit matching his hat, looking like a proper groom. "We gotta get going. The Vicar is waiting for us."
He grabbed Ada's hand, but she stopped him. "How do I look?" she asked him.
Freddie looked her over. Rose saw a smile grow on his narrow face. This smile beamed love and admiration for her. Rose wished Tommy looked at her in such a way. "Like an angel," he said.
Ada beamed. The two of them walked ahead of her. Rose felt indecent; being in the presence of such love made her feel awkward suddenly. She felt as if she watching them through glass. They held hands the entire way there. They smiled and giggled like two lovesick teenagers. They reminded her of the lovers in her books, head-over-heels and risking everything for each other. Tommy said Freddie wanted Ada for the guns he thought Tommy possessed. He wanted a glorious revolution with machine guns and pistols, taking down the oh-so-oppressive system. Being married to Ada would ensure that for him. Rose told him that wasn't true. She saw it now as she watched them enter the church. Freddie looked at Ada as if she were the most wonderful thing to ever happen to him.
They stood at the altar, the vicar reading from the Bible and asking each of them whether they would take the other for better or worse. Rose stood on the side, watching them with her flowers. She remembered the picture HE kept on the mantelpiece. It was the only other picture of her mother in their house. It'd been a painting of her mother and father in their wedding outfits. Her mother told her it'd been before cameras advanced as they'd done. They didn't smile. They stood side by side in front of a garden backdrop, her mother in a glorious white dress and her father well dressed in a cheap suit. Her mother kept one hand on her father's chest, and he had his hand on her waist. They faced one another rather than the artist. Even without the smiles, she knew they loved each other.
She'd never attended a wedding before. She couldn't think of any family members who would get married. She knew HIS family had been farmers and stablehands living rather poorly in the countryside. HE always complained about how young he'd been when he started working on farms and in fields. Her mother never talked about her family. Whenever Rose asked, her mother tensed up and changed the subject. She assumed her mother must've not had any family, hence the lack of weddings, funerals, communions, baptisms, and holiday gatherings.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the vicar finally said. "You may kiss your bride."
Rose clapped when they kissed. Ada turned to her after, squealing and beaming. She hugged and congratulated each of them. As far as secret weddings went, she was glad theirs was her first.
"You'll come visit us before we leave, right?" Ada asked as they left the church. "Say you will."
Freddie chuckled, "She won't know where to find us, love."
"Well, if we tell her she will."
Freddie's smile faltered slightly. He looked between his new wife and Rose. "I'm sorry, Rose," he said. "You're Tommy's now. I can't risk him knowing about us."
"I wouldn't tell him," she said. "I'd keep it between us."
Freddie gave a quick laugh, "Tommy will find out, and then he'll know that you knew about us. He'll ask you. I can't ask you to lie for us, Rose. You'll get into enough trouble coming here."
"And I won't tell him," Rose said. She hated this idea that Tommy suddenly owned her. She wasn't an object to be owned or given away or taken. She was her own person, damnit. She'd fought for that freedom. She'd left everything she knew for this freedom. "Tommy doesn't own me. If I don't want to tell him something, then I don't tell him."
Freddie stared, and then said, "A comrade of mine is giving us a place to stay. Ada will tell you later when we've settled."
She smiled gratefully at him. Ada kissed her goodbye and watched them take off alone. They were happy. She was happy for them. Ada deserved all the happiness in the world.
She walked back home on her own. She could hear her father in her head, no matter how much she tried ignoring it.
'God doesn't allow no-good, lying sinners into heaven!'
Rose thought maybe if she prayed, God would understand. She couldn't tell Tommy she knew about their wedding and that she'd know where they were staying. She already knew he wouldn't approve or be happy she lied. It wouldn't be lying, per se. It wasn't lying if she didn't talk about it, right?