Screams. Even from the other side of the door, Tommy's painful screams sent a shudder up Eileen's spine.
Sat on one of the stools at the bar in the Garrison, Eileen's fingers traced over one of the purpling bruises on her arm as she relived the horrors of the afternoon. She still felt numb, as though her feet were yet to touch the ground.
Hearing another cry of pain, the brunette shifted in her seat.
"He's fine."
Across the room, Polly was already on her third (or perhaps forth) glass of whiskey. She needed it after the stresses of the day.
"Just digging the bullet out," She added before taking another sip of liquor. "Nothing he hasn't done before."
There was bitterness in the woman's words, supported by years of worrying and cursing the recklessness of her nephews. So far, the three boys had been lucky in life and yet she feared that one day that luck might run out. Perhaps one day the bullet wouldn't miss.
"I should go see him-"
"-He'll come to you when he's ready." The woman harshly interrupted Eileen, putting her now empty class down and preparing to refill it. "Come have a drink with me."
Eileen's head looked from Polly, to the door into the backroom. After all of the commotion with Kimber, Tommy had been whisked away by his brothers before she had even had the chance to speak to him. There was so much she wanted to say.
"Come on." Polly stated again, prompting Eileen to look away from the door.
The niceties from the woman were unnerving and the brunette pondered for a moment before getting to her feet.
"I'll sit with you," She stated. "But I can't drink."
Refilling her own glass, Polly merely raised her eyebrows in response. "I know."
Brow furrowed in thought, Eileen cautiously sat down opposite the woman. The pair had never been alone together and it was certainly no secret that they didn't get along.
"What do you mean you know?" The brunette queried, wincing slightly as she leant back against the wooden chair. Whilst she tried to act strong, the bruising was testing her pain tolerance. Her body had been running on pure adrenaline for the past few hours, it was only now that she had time to stop and think that the pain was starting to sink in.
Rolling her eyes, Polly replied. "You're pregnant. Tommy told me."
Eileen stared back to the woman in surprise. How did she know? Or more importantly, how did Tommy know? Putting a hand to her head, Eileen sighed softly. She had never intended for them to find out. After all, how could she ever bring a child into this world?
"He wants you to keep it." Polly filled the silence that had washed over the pair, continuing to drink her whiskey a little too quickly. "I told him there was someone I could call but he fucking insisted."
Eileen didn't know what to think and she looked to the floor as the words sunk in. "He wants me to keep it?" She repeated, finding herself in pure disbelief at the sentiment. A baby didn't fit into Thomas Shelby's world and probably never would. Yet, the man wanted her to keep it? The prospect messed with the girl's head.
"God knows why," Polly scoffed from behind her glass. The woman could hardly believe the mess her family had fallen into ever since the Campbell's had arrived in Birmingham - she was relieved that it all finally seemed to be coming to an end.
Eileen was also relieved. But with that relief, there was still uncertainty. The last time the brunette had seen Tommy, the pair had hardly left their relationship on good terms. She had been prepared to leave this city, this life and him all behind. Now, she was being forced to make that decision all over again.
With the screams from the other room finally quieting, Eileen felt butterflies twitching in her stomach. She had no control over herself when she was around Thomas Shelby - even when he looked at her, it felt like he was looking straight into her soul. She loved him and probably always would.
"You know I'm sorry for everything, Polly." Eileen mumbled, eventually finding the words that she wanted to say. She knew that the apology was only a small sentiment but if she was going to begin trying to repair the damage done, she had to start somewhere. "I never intended for any of this to happen."
Polly surveyed the girl from where she was sat, legs elegantly crossed as she sat back proudly in her chair. She didn't like the girl and probably never would, but she knew that she couldn't keep going with this toxicity, for Tommy and the baby's sake. Perhaps the woman did have a sentimental side.
"I know." She offered as a simple response. Though the words technically meant little, they were enough to show Eileen that she was offering an olive branch. The Shelby family had suffered enough loss and hardship, it was time they found peace or atleast attempted to.
Fighting a smile from turning up the corners of her lips, Eileen pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and gave Polly a nod in return. She'd somehow tackled the first, and probably most problematic, aspect of her return to Birmingham life. Now, she just had to worry about Tommy.
As though able to read the brunette's mind, the door to the back parlour suddenly swung open and a sombre Arthur exited with the rest of the men in co. Amongst the joy of victory it was easy to forget about poor Danny Whizz-Bang. Though Eileen had never met the man formally, she had heard good things. Tommy said the man was troubled by war but golden in heart. A wave of sadness hit the girl as she thought of Danny's family on that awful day. She knew what it was like to lose someone you loved.
"He's asking for you." Arthur spoke up, head jutting in the direction of the backroom. There was a cool silence amongst the men as they looked towards the girl - nerves fluttered in her stomach.
After a moments hesitation, Eileen forced herself to her feet and walked in their direction. She couldn't avoid the man forever. Hand gripping the door handle, the brunette took a second to compose herself. Her mind raced to try and find the right words to say, or any words for that matter. Where would she even begin?
Then, before she could be unconvinced, she firmly pulled the door open.
The room was still - filled with the stench of smoke, whiskey and faintly blood.
The brunette's eyes wandered her surroundings, taking in the red stained tabletops and whiskey glass filled with a floating bullet. It was a gruesome sight but one that she found herself used to by now. As a girl who had arrived in Small Heath innocent and unsure, Eileen now found herself hardened and bold. Birmingham had changed her - it seemed to change everyone.
"You'll have to look at me eventually."
The voice was warm, husky and seductively familiar. Even hearing just a few words sent the brunette's stomach in a spin.
It was true though, even though they were the only two in the room, Eileen somehow couldn't bring herself to look at the man sat opposite her. Part of her seemed to know that once she saw him, there was no going back.
"Are you alright, ey?" The voice prompted again, tempting the girl to look up.
"I'm fine." She quickly bit back, before hastily adding, "Are you?"
A half laugh filled the room and Eileen felt her heart beat a bit faster. What was wrong with her?
"Yeah I'm alright." The man responded, lifting the bullet filled glass from the table to inspect. "Fucking missed again."
Missed. It was beginning to become suspicious how many times the man had managed to evade death. First he'd survived the war and atrocities that should have left him buried alive. Then, he'd escaped the grasps of the Chief Inspector not once but twice. And now here he was, still standing - he only wished Danny Whizz-Bang could have been as lucky.
Wincing slightly, Tommy pushed himself to his feet and shrugged into his suit jacket. There was a cool silence in the room as he slowly closed the distance between himself and Eileen.
"Look at me." He repeated again, fingers brushing against the brunette's jawline as he tempted her eyes to look up and meet his own. It seemed that all the pair ever needed to do was look at each other - he could lose himself in the familiar sea of blue. "What did he do to you, ey?"
Staring back at the man, Eileen willingly let him turn her head to the side to look at the bruising on her face. As embarrassed as she felt by the marks, Tommy's touch somehow immediately put her at ease. Even though there was still so much tension between the pair, the feeling of his fingers brushing against her cheek somehow reassured her that they would be okay. Perhaps, for once, everything would be okay.
"It's fine," She tried again. "It's my fault anyway."
A slight laugh left Tommy's lips again and he shook his head, looking away from the brunette momentarily. "You really think this is your fucking fault?" He seemed pained by the notion, "None of this is your fault."
Eileen's eyes fell from Tommy's to the bandages wrapped around his chest - they were matching now. Matching bullet holes - what a narcissistic romance. Letting the room fall quiet, Eileen wasn't sure what to say. The air felt heavy between them, like the first day they'd met all those weeks ago down in Charlie's Yard.
"But it is, Tommy." She finally answered, "You were right. Ever since I came here, all that's happened is pain and-"
"Stop." The word was forceful and Eileen's lips immediately sealed themselves again. Putting his hands on the girls shoulders, he shook his head softly. "This is my fault and it's always been my fault." Trying to read the girl's expression he continued, "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."
Tommy meant the words and Eileen could practically feel them as he spoke. It seemed both of them were sick with guilt. Searching his face, the brunette couldn't quite believe everything they had been through since that fateful day down in Charlie's stable. Even from a first glance she'd always known Thomas Shelby was going to be trouble - how much trouble that would be she never could have anticipated.
"I'm sorry too." Eileen eventually answered, watching as a flash of confusion crossed the man's face. "I should have told you about the baby," she added as a quick explanation.
Baby. The word still felt wrong to Tommy and the idea seemed even more ludicrous. Could he really fool himself into believing he could be a father?
Eileen almost regretted brining up the topic at Tommy's reaction. He seemed nervous - a personality trait she had never associated with the usually confident man. Though, she had learnt, that these kind of conversations were Thomas Shelby's greatest weakness. Guns, death, business - none of that bothered him. Feelings. Feelings were what made Tommy shut people out.
Hands falling from the brunette's shoulders, Tommy's hands sunk into his trouser pockets. Eileen closed her eyes for a moment out of regret. Just as they were beginning to make amends, the man found a way to put his barriers back up. She should have known the reconciliation was too good to be true.
"You want to keep it?"
Opening her eyes again, Eileen looked to the man with uncertainty.
"Do you want me to keep it?" She challenged.
It was a question Tommy honestly didn't know the answer to anymore. Of course part of him wanted to say yes. A woman, a baby, a family - it was everything he was supposed to have and yet it still felt like an illusion. The world he lived in wasn't made for illusions. That's why the other part of him wanted to say no. It would be selfish to bring another Shelby into this life.
"I don't know…" Tommy answered, words trailing off slightly as he thought. "I just want you to be happy."
Happiness was something Eileen could hardly remember. The last time she had truly been happy was in that hotel room - ironic considering the consequences of that night. "I don't know if I know how to be happy anymore, Tommy." The brunette shook her head as she looked to the floor.
A cold silence washed over the room, neither party knowing what to say next. Eileen was beginning to think that they were broken beyond the point of repair.
"You know I came to the train station."
At the words, Eileen's chin lifted and her eyes levelled with Tommy's out of confusion.
"You'd already fucking left." He continued, patting his pockets to find a loose cigarette to light. The brunette waited patiently as the man struck a match and took in a long drag of smoke. Tommy had decided he needed the familiar comfort if he was going to say what came next.
Clearing his throat he finally continued, "You'd left." He repeated, "But if I'd caught you, I was going to I tell you I love you."
The three words were said so quickly that Eileen almost could have missed them. But she didn't. Standing in shock, the girl let the words sink in.
Thomas Shelby loved her.
Perhaps it was something that she had always known deep down but to finally hear the words said aloud made all of the difference. Hearing those three, small, stupid words suddenly made everything real. It made everything worth it and Eileen couldn't fight the smirk that was beginning to tug at the corners of her lips.
"You're a fucking bastard, Thomas Shelby." She quipped, eyes locked on his. Her body suddenly felt electric - butterflies in a flurry at the pit of her stomach.
The man half smirked in response, pressing the cigarette to his lips for one last drag.
"I know."
The words were blunt as always but served their purpose. Hesitating for only a brief second, the pair seemed to meet each other half way across the room and their lips met.
The kiss was heated and sensual, lips eagerly meeting as though it was something they had both been waiting for. Being careful not to press on the fresh bandages, the brunette's arms loosely draped around Tommy's neck. Firmly pulling the brunette closer, the man's hands found their place around the small of her waist. It was a frenzy but intimate at the same time - broken bodies desperately finding one another.
Perhaps it was foolish but those three words were enough for Eileen. To finally hear what she had been feeling for so long, made every hardship worth it. The world of the Peaky Blinders was wrong and corrupt - yet, it was the only place the brunette found she belonged. She would go anywhere if it meant being by Tommy's side. She was all in.
Letting out a soft moan, Eileen giggled as she was lifted onto one of the pub tables. "Tommy, stop." She mumbled between kisses, trying and failing to ignore the hand that was tracing lines up her back. "They can probably hear us," she laughed. Amongst the heat of the moment it was easy to forget that there was a room full of people waiting on the other side of the door.
Lips tracing down the girl's jaw and neck, Tommy was blunt in his response.
"Let them listen."
Pausing for a moment to catch their breath, Eileen's eyes locked with Tommy's. It was no longer curiosity or lust between them - it was love.
