Between The Devil and a Good Man

by lilylittle

The last person Tommy Shelby ever expected to see back in his life was Rose Alexander, the nurse who had treated him on the front line, and who, like him, saw the true devastation that war brought. Though she never strayed too far from his mind in the years that passed them by. Tommy/OC. [Part Two now available]

13. Part Two: Chapter One

Author's Note: Hello and welcome back to Part Two of Between The Devil and a Good Man! I'm so excited for you to read the next instalment of this story and the adventures of Tommy and Rose! I would love to know what you think! So without further ado, here it is!

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BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND A GOOD MAN
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PART TWO

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'Keeping her bright eyes focused on the coastline waiting for you
Isn't she all of us pining for that last kiss,
A permanent truth,
A means to get through?'

A Closeness by Dermot Kennedy

..

CHAPTER ONE

Rose Montgomery wouldn't usually call herself lucky.

Life had been an obstacle of sorts, with her life often hanging in the balance as she tried to navigate herself through the woes and troubles that lined her path. There had never been a moment she regretted, yet there were often moments she wished to relive over and over when the darkness began to creep into her heart, clouding her judgement and the love she had to share. The war had been an event that had shaped her into a more caring yet reserved character, and it was the war that had opened up the world to a once sheltered and naïve girl.

But when the war did penetrate every waking and unconscious thought that she had, it all led her back to the one man she never imagined would be a part of her life. And that was when she would call herself lucky. Thomas Shelby had been a man of his word whether it was a threat or a whisper of love, his intentions were always clear and his love for her knew no bounds.

The events of the past few months had been difficult to process and overcome, with the both Tommy and Rose coming to terms with what had happened. They had started to lay down stones that had been unearthed on the path that was now their future, and they truly felt as though their luck had changed for the better. The loss of Hettie had been such a shock to their system that it had taken them weeks to truly process that her departure albeit a shocking and brutal end had given them the need to make things right and do what was right for them and their future. Hettie had been such an important part of Rose's life, and she had become such an important woman in Tommy's life also, that it was almost clear to them that their life had to be lived to the fullest.

Kimber hadn't been seen around Small Heath for several months, as Tommy's threat had finally sunk in. But that didn't stop the nightmares for Rose. She relived that day over and over and, despite the exhaustion setting in and causing her mind to become cloudy with anxious thoughts, the nightmares never stopped no matter what she tried to do. As soon as she would jolt awake and Tommy would take her in his strong, protective arms and whisper words of reassurance, Kimber would always be there as soon as her tired mind drifted away. He would yank her by the hand, causing the veil of darkness to slip away and she would be on her knees begging for her life once more, but this time the sound of the horses galloping towards her and carrying her salvation would never come.

It was always the same dream.

Tommy would never come to her aid, and there was nothing she could do except fight for her life until it was taken from her by the man who had killed Hettie and tried to destroy everything that she and Tommy had built for themselves. But she knew Tommy had come for her, and she knew it was a dream, but it was an overwhelming feeling when she tried with all that she had to try and escape the nightmare.

And when she did, she vowed that it would never dream of it again. Yet it was as if Kimber was taunting her by reminding her of what could have been if Tommy had been a few minutes late.

But things had changed for Rose and Tommy. Their luck had begun to change. Tommy's business was booming, and he was working hard to fulfil the needs of his clients, as she worked shifts at the nearby hospital. The freedom she felt as soon as she walked into the hospital was comforting, her heart knowing where it belonged. And she would help patients with their needs, and she would return home to Tommy and hold him tight until dawn broke them apart once more.

The subject of marriage had come up a few times since the reign of Kimber ended and their lives were restored somewhat, and Tommy could sense immediately that Rose would be transported back to the day that should've been the best day of her life. And it angered him that the happiness and love of that day would forever be robbed from her. Rose was scared that it was going to be a signal for bad luck to upend everything they had worked hard to repair, like a moth to a flame. And despite Tommy's defiance with making the day special for them both and their families, Rose was adamant that the time wasn't right.

But sometimes you had to jump into the deep end to truly feel the world shift, and Rose knew that. Maybe she had to create her own luck by grasping her world with both hands and running with it.

..

Tommy had left the ring on his pillow when he slipped out of bed for work that morning, leaving it there for Rose to wake up to. He had watched her sleep for a moment, as tiredness still clung to him like the night being dragged away from the earth as daylight claimed its territory. He watched the rise and fall of her chest, the way her hand – now empty of a ring – was placed upon her stomach and the other had moved to the warmth of where he had laid just a few moments before, as if searching for him in the night.

He stood up from his seated position at the end of the bed and gently grazed his thumb across her jaw before brushing his lips against hers. She reacted a moment later, but he had moved away from her, watching as her exhausted mind tried to catch up with reality, and only cool air caught her kiss. Tommy smiled at that, knowing that she was finally resting, the nightmares she was having about Kimber now at bay.

He dressed quickly, the chilly autumn air causing a shiver to escape his body. He watched from the mirror above the fireplace as she turned over, her face moving from his view. Once he was dressed, he closed the gap between him and Rose and reluctantly trailed his hand down her back.

"Wake up, love," Tommy whispered and chuckled as he received a moan in response to his wake-up call.

"No…" she groaned into the pillow, sleep still holding her despite the tingles radiating across her back as his hand stroked her back.

"I know," Tommy whispered into the darkened room with the only light illuminating the room being that of the sun battling with the moon. "We've got to get up, sweetheart. Or you'll be late for work."

"No…" she groaned once more as she grabbed his hand and pulled it to her front. She wrapped her arms around it as it rested against her chest, which had caused Tommy to change positions with a chuckle. As he rested on his knees beside the bed with most of his body reaching over a snoozing Rose and his arm taken hostage, he pressed his face against her back and grazed his lips against the delicate softness of her back.

With a slight pull, he was able to retrieve his arm from her and stand up with a smile playing on his lips. He bent down slightly and kissed her cheek before opening the door to leave. He had only made it to the stairs when he heard the curse escape her mouth and he knew she'd woken to see the ring upon his pillow.

..

She played with the ring and felt the weight of the world on her shoulders at that moment. The sheer panic she had felt overwhelm her was like a wildfire burning through her entire body and engulfing her in such a heat that was unsettling. She couldn't understand why she had such a reaction to finding a ring upon his pillow when she woke fully, because there was nothing in the world stopping her from marrying Tommy. But in that moment, she knew there was everything stopping her from marrying him and she couldn't pinpoint where to begin.

Her wedding – the wedding that she and Tommy had planned together – had been tainted in such a way that she truly believed she wasn't destined to ever experience good things happening to her. Tommy would always be by her side or she hoped he would be, that she had to question whether marriage was meant for them or not. They were happy as they were, but she knew she wanted Tommy to be her husband. The struggles they had faced in the past few months were remarkable and they had fought them together, side by side.

The engagement ring was her original one, and it was one that only felt right when it was on her finger. Her love for Tommy had never changed, and in fact, it only grew stronger with each day. The troubles they had endured were ones that would've broken a normal person, and she wondered if Tommy was as scared about it as she was.

There was no denying the fact that Tommy was the man who had her heart, she just didn't know what she could do to rid those demons that haunted her when silence surrounded her.

She knew there was one thing she could do to almost shock herself and taking that leap of faith. She wanted nothing more than to be Tommy's wife, and she knew she had to jump into the deep end and feel the cold water encase her entire body. She had to trust her faith and do what she always wanted to do ever since Tommy came into her life.

..

The sound of Rose descending the narrow staircase caused Tommy Shelby to turn his attention from his cup of tea and breakfast and onto the woman he gave his all too. She was dressed in a simple brown gingham dress and had her long hair styled neatly and delicately in a bobbed hairstyle. He noticed her eyes light up as soon as she saw him, their eyes fixed onto one another as she met the bottom of the stairs. She offered him a mischievous smirk to which he furrowed his brow in reaction.

She lifted her left hand up and he felt his heart swell at the acknowledgement of the engagement ring he had proposed with was back where it belonged. He stood from his seat and wordlessly closed the gap between them. His lips met hers urgently and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Can you please take this somewhere else, like your bedroom?"

The two of them broke apart quickly at the sound of Aunt Pol's voice. They smiled coyly at each other as the older woman moved into the room. Tommy pulled Rose close to him and kissed her atop of the head. Aunt Pol turned to them as she pulled a cigarette out of her holder. Her eyes immediately fell on the ring on Rose's hand, and a huge smile etched across her face.

"It's so great to see that back on your hand," Aunt Pol beamed at them. "It's about time too! We'll head to the Garrison this evening and celebrate. Make sure that brother of yours behaves!"

"Arthur will be just fine… he's been courting a lady recently," Tommy smiled. "She's been keeping him in line."

"About time for that, too!" Aunt Pol exclaimed with a smirk. Her gaze fell upon the shelf in front of her and acknowledged the letter that had been plaguing her for a couple of days. She had been meaning to bring it up in conversation, but she was scared of how Rose and Tommy would react to both the letter and her keeping it from them. Tommy seemed to notice the worried expression on her face and furrowed his brow.

"Pol?"

Tommy's voice snapped her back down to reality, and she shared a look with Tommy. "A letter came through the other day… and I was worried it was too soon, what with… Kimber and what he did to you…"

At the mere mention of Kimber's name, Tommy felt Rose tense up completely. "You think it's Kimber?" Tommy asked, aware of the nervous shake to Rose's body.

Aunt Pol shrugged and bit her lip. "I don't know, Tommy. It could be."

"Arthur and John are on the lookout for him," Tommy explained to the two women. "It seems since the other week that he's not been seen."

"Arthur could've…" Aunt Pol began but was stopped by the shake of Tommy's head.

"No… Arthur said he couldn't run away from him quick enough," Tommy explained further. "And anyway, he knows what will happen to him if he steps foot back into Small Heath."

The threat in Tommy's voice hung heavy in the air, and both women were stunned into silence. Though the bruises were fading from Rose's face and body, the fear and sheer panic still clung to her desperately.

"Who's it addressed to?" Rose asked, her voice failing her in that moment.

"You," Aunt Pol told her quietly. She took it from its secret place and stood with it in both hands as the watchful eyes of Tommy and Rose stared at it. Tommy had returned to Rose's side, and placed a reassuring hand upon the back of her neck, his calloused thumb grazing the delicate skin, warm from the panic she was experiencing. Rose moved away from Tommy and retrieved the letter from Aunt Pol. The handwritten scrawl was unknown to her, but they knew to address it to Tommy's address which hadn't been her formal address which caused all the hair on her body to stand on end.

She tore it open quickly, wanting the worry and stress of the situation to be over quickly. She wasn't aware of the worried exchange that both Aunt Pol and Tommy shared, but she felt the trepidation in the air. As her eyes scanned the words printed on the paper, she felt a lump form in her throat.

"It's… Hettie's solicitor," Rose announced. "He's called me back to London for a formal meeting regarding Hettie and her estate."

Relief washed over them all, but that relief was replaced with the sadness that they had tried to keep at bay. The situation that they had endured for the last few weeks had been overwhelming for them all, and even though the threat was out there against Kimber, they still felt the need to watch their backs just in case Kimber decided to return with all guns blazing. Tommy had tried to keep them all out of his plans, and only confiding in his brothers and the rest of the Peaky Blinders, but the anonymity was killing Aunt Pol and she had ways of making Arthur and John to speak. A good glass of rum or whiskey was all that she needed in exchange, and within a few sips and a few questions asked had given her enough information and enough of an insight of Tommy's plans.

"That's good… that's better than another outcome," Aunt Pol allowed her words to sit with them for a while. They both nodded and glanced at each other, knowing that she was right.

"I'll come with you," Tommy reassured Rose as calmly as he could, but he was worried that the letter was a rouse and done by the hand of Kimber. He knew that it was unlikely, but every little thing worried him. Kimber was not the sort of man to be trusted to just disappear, and in part, Rose understood that.

London had been her home for a while, and she had always loved coming back to it after her time away with Tommy. It was mostly the atmosphere and the warmth that filled her heart knowing the lights and sounds would always be there. But there had been one other reason as to why she always enjoyed being home in London, and she was gone now. Taken from her in the blink of an eye, and London had been tainted for her.

..

London was everything she remembered and more. But as she stood on the platform, her heart began to race with both excitement and apprehension. London had always been her home ever since she stepped foot in it after the war, but it was almost tainted for her now, with all the vibrant colours that it once offered her becoming dull tones of grey. It felt different, she felt different from the last time she was there. The last few times she had been in London had been their engagement party, finding Hettie broken in the home they shared, Hettie's funeral and wake, which all seemed to mold into one for Rose. Time had been a blur for her, and all events within those few weeks had been masked with darkness and pain.

"Rose," Tommy called for her, snapping her back down to reality. He was stood in front of her, his hand holding hers and his eyes watching her carefully.

"I'm okay," she whispered, taking a deep breath and anxiously rubbing at her neck. "I just… I'm just warm…"

"Let's get you out of the station and out in the open," Tommy advised, leading Rose out of the station carefully and aware of the people milling around them. He kept a close hold on her hand, and moved behind her, one hand in hers and one hand upon her waist guiding her out. Her hold on him was just as tight, but more for panic than anything. He wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms and take her back to Small Heath, but he knew today was an important date for them. After a few exchanges with the lawyer, a date had been confirmed and it was set for them to return to London.

They decided to walk to the house. The streets led them on the familiar paths that they had walked down before, with the both of them remembering the ghosts of themselves in a very different stage of their life. One full of hope and love, and though there was still love and hope within their relationship and themselves, they were mature than before. Naïve lovers had turned into a mature couple who had seen things neither one of them ever expected. But one thing that remained the same was that they were together, standing side by side.

As they reached the house, Rose halted to a stop. Her heeled feet ceasing the clapping against the concrete beneath her shoes. Tommy turned to her and observed her for a moment. He remembered the nights where he held her as she sobbed, mourning the death of Hettie. He remembered the nights he would hold her as the pain from her attack overwhelmed her. He remembered all the nights where they laid in each other's arms, legs and arms entwined as they spoke into the darkness. She had changed before his very eyes from the woman he had first met back on the frontline, but one thing was for sure, and one thing that remained the same, was his love for her.

"You have been so strong," Tommy whispered as he came to stand in front of her, obscuring her view of the house. He gently placed his hands on either side of her face and stared deeply into her eyes. He watched as she moved her gaze to him. "And things are still so raw for you, for me, for all of us. But you… can do this. Hettie wouldn't want you to fear walking through those doors or stepping inside that room. She wouldn't want you to be scared of coming home."

Rose nodded against his hands, and felt her eyes begin to water. "She's gone, and I can't…"

Tommy brushed a tear that had dared to fall from her cheek. "She's gone, but she's still in here," he whispered as he moved a hand from her face and placed it upon her chest above her heart. He felt her heart quicken under his touch and smiled. "And she walks alongside you. Remember that."

Rose nodded tearfully and allowed Tommy to pull her close to him. She breathed in his scent, feeling the sense of panic and sadness begin to ebb away from her. It was slow at first, but with every deep breath, the worry began to lessen and move away from her.

Tommy took the lead and unlocked the door to the townhouse, allowing them to gain entrance into the beloved home that held so many happy memories for them both separately that, that one bad memory was being swallowed by happiness. They allowed the door to open and show the familiar hallway to them as they stood on the doorstep.

"It still smells like her," Rose whispered remembering the fond memories that would never leave her of her returning home to the house smelling of freshly baked biscuits, floral perfume, and the soft hint of tobacco. Rose was stood closely behind Tommy, her hands holding his coat tightly. Her head rested upon his shoulder as she stared into the hallway. A pile of letters

"It does," Tommy whispered with a smile. He turned his head and gently brushed his lips against her forehead. "Come on, let's go in."

The house had been cleaned from top to bottom and whilst Rose avoided the living room where Hettie's body had been found, Tommy inspected the room. The blood had been washed from the wall and Kimber's blood-stained threat was just a mere memory; the blood from the floor had been scrubbed out, and the chair that was bloodstained had been removed and replaced.

As Tommy went to find Rose, the doorbell rang. He heard the clatter of pans in the kitchen go silent as Rose stopped what she was doing and met him in the hallway. The figure of a tall man could be seen through the glass on the heavy door. Tommy moved to the door and pulled it open to reveal a man dressed from head to toe in a formal suit and coat. He held a briefcase in one hand and an umbrella in the other.

"Hello, I'm George Winters," the man introduced himself. "I am Henrietta Miller's solicitor."

Tommy introduced himself and Rose to the man and welcomed him into the house. Rose showed him into the kitchen and made tea for them all as a means to keep herself calm. As Tommy spoke with George about little things, filling in the conversation before they started talking about what they were all there for, Rose struggled with the fact that they were all there to talk about Hettie without her being there. It was hard for her to comprehend that the woman who had taken the role of her mother, guiding her and showing her love, was no longer there. Tommy sensed the pain in the way Rose moved around the kitchen; everything seemed the same yet there was a missing piece.

"I knew Henrietta for a good few years," George explained as Rose brought the tea tray over and placed it upon the dining table. "She was a formidable woman. Always making me chuckle until my sides hurt."

"She really was the life and soul of this house," Rose agreed with a smile. She started pouring out the tea from the pot into three cups.

"She spoke highly of you, Rose," George began as Rose sat down. The man noticed the look of surprise on her face. "It's true. She came to me about two months before her sudden… death, and told me that her will was to be changed. The amount of times it had been changed in the last ten years had been shocking, but it was no surprise as to why she wanted it to change."

Tommy furrowed his brow. "She had it changed?"

"Yes," George confirmed. "She had no family for many years, and after her husband passed away, she had changed her will to ensure that his family had an equal share. And when she came to be nearly three months ago, she was adamant that she didn't want it going to family who she didn't know by name and that she had one person who had become like family to her. And that was you, Rose."

Rose felt her eyes sting with tears. George offered her a sympathetic smile.

"She told me that though you were not biologically related to her, she thought and saw you as the daughter she never got to have," George continued with a soft smile. "She put your name on everything. The house, her money, everything. And she gave me this for when it was to be that time."

George handed Rose a letter. She took with a soft smile and opened it carefully. She saw the familiar scrawl of Hettie's handwriting marking the paper inside, and as she pulled it out of the envelope, she allowed herself to take a deep breath as her eyes read the words of a woman who she had held in such high regard.

To Rose,

Do not be sad about my departure from this world for I have returned to my husband. The matters surrounding my death – I'm hoping for sleep to take me one night – is something I have no clue about, but one thing I know to be of much importance is the fact that I am leaving you behind.

I am so happy that you answered my newspaper advertisement regarding a lodger because I got to know such a lovely, kind-hearted and strong woman. And though you do not believe that yourself, I just want you to know that I have a strong judge of character. I want you to be happy. And I understand you aspire to become a doctor that I know with a little funding that you will be able to do that. From an older woman, I believe that you are more than capable of achieving those dreams of helping those in need.

And that speaks louder than anything else in this world. I believe in you. And that good man of yours does too.

So, live your life with love and grace on your side. And though I'm not there to cheer you on, I will always know that the time that we had gave me so much of everything I didn't realise I needed. I had lost myself when I lost my husband, and you had given me a reason to wake up in the morning. I believed life for me had ended but I want you to live without worry and travel wherever the wind blows. And I'm hoping this will help you make your future as bright as the sun.

I wish you so much love in the world, and I'll be celebrating your victories from above.

With love and kind regards,
Henrietta 'Hettie' Miller

P.S. When life gets tough for you, just remember, you are so much stronger than you know.

"I just need you to sign this and then everything is yours," George said as she placed the letter upon the table. He placed the document in front of her and handed her a ballpoint pen. She took the pen and scanned the document despite her mind whirring with the new reality she would be experiencing in a matter of seconds. She allowed her mind to take over and the pen traced her signature in thick ink upon the document. "And there we have it, the legacy of Henrietta continues just as she wanted it to."

"Thank you for meeting with us today," Tommy said, watching as Rose handed the document back.

"It's my pleasure," George responded with a nod. "Everything will be transferred from her account into the one she made for you. Here are the details for that."

George handed her a small box and noticed the look of bewilderment on her face. He offered her a genuine smile. "I know this is overwhelming," he began. "And I understand you'd much rather have Hettie back than all of this, but this is what she wanted you to have. You have a home, you have the funds to make a great future for yourself, and she can see you achieving everything you want to."

"Thank you," Rose whispered, shaking George's hand.

"Again, my pleasure," George said as he packed up his belongings. "If you have any enquiries then please do not hesitate to contact me."

They showed him to the door and bid goodbye to him. They watched him disappear around the corner of the street before closing the door and locking the world outside. Tommy turned to Rose and ran a hand through his hair.

"She left me everything, Tommy," Rose whispered in shock.

Tommy closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. They held each other for a while and Rose rested her head against Tommy's chest and listened to his heartbeat. He gently held her close to him as his mind wandered back to the heartbreak they had felt when they had returned that evening to find Hettie broken and laid upon the floor. He closed his eyes and placed a kiss upon the top of her head, and for a fleeting moment, all was well in the world.