Sitting on her bed, with her teddy laying next to her Katherina read her book.
The Grimm fairytales. It was one of her mother's books that held certain twists to the fairytales told today.
She had read it several times to the point where she'd almost remembered various stories in the book off by heart and she still loved it.
Since Harry insisted, that she take the day off, she decided to read her book and travel to places only dreams could take her.
The only time she left her little flat was to buy the essentials, which she made sure to go early for, so she didn't bump into anyone.
Books were safe. The real world wasn't.
The Grimm was something that had intrigued her back when she was little and first discovered the book. Though it frightened and fascinated her with all the dark twists but most still had a happy end.
However, the genuine reason she adored the book so much, was for the tiny notations in her mother's neat handwriting.
She felt closer to her somehow.
When she got to the end of the page she took a sip of tea that she had placed beside her. The warm liquid warming her inside was more than a welcome comfort as she turned to the next page.
Just as she did so, she was interrupted by a knocking at her door causing her to nearly spill the tea all over herself, as she abruptly shifted her gaze away from the book and looked directly at the door in terror.
'No, he can't have found me.' She thought.
She bit her lip, hoping for whoever it was to go but the knocking came again.
Panicking she placed the tea with shaking hands back on the side and her book on the bed before standing on trembling legs. She moved ever so slowly to the door praying that the person would go away before she got there.
'I won't let him take me back, I rather die.' She thought as she got closer.
"W-Who is it?" She asked politely, trying her best to hide the trembling from her voice as the knocking increased.
"Polly Gray." The woman's voice from the other night, she thought in relief. Shaking her head, she tried to regain some composure before opening the door.
"G-Good morning, Ms Gray," Katherina said maintaining the politeness in her voice, especially when she saw Ms Gray and the other woman from the other night standing on the other side of her door. "Would you like to come in for tea?" She asked remembering her manners.
"Good morning, dear." Ms Gray replied. "Yes, that would be lovely." Katherina immediately moved to the side allowing them entry. As much as she just wanted to sit back and read, she knew that it would be sheer rudeness not to offer both the ladies any beverages. "Katherina I would like you to meet my niece Ava Shelby."
"H-Hello miss Shelby." Katherina replied shyly.
"Now, Now." Ms Gray said. "None of the formalities you can call me Polly and my niece, Ava."
"Y-Yes ma'am." She responded cautiously, still not convinced she should drop the formalities, it was rude and not proper that's what he always told her. Biting her lip again she moved over to the stove where the kettle was and began the process of making tea.
"You've cleaned the place quite nicely." Ms Gray stated.
Turning to them, she smile slightly, though she shyly looked around the flat. The flat wasn't much but it was hers, it was a flat that helped her to be free and in return, she lovingly cleaned the place in her free time, especially after work. It still had the bare minimum, but it was much cleaner than when she first entered.
"T-Thank you," Katherina replied, as she carried the tea over to the table and began to pour them into teacups before going back to the small counter near the stove to collect the milk and sugar. "D-Do you take sugar?" She asked both politely.
"No sugar m'dear." Ms Gray answered as she continued to look around Katherina's flat. Which only made Katherina feel a little embarrassed. She knew that she shouldn't but she couldn't help it.
"Two for me please." Miss Shelby spoke, for the first time since she entered the flat.
Katherina poured the milk in both cups just enough for how the both of them liked it, before passing one tea to Ms Gray.
"Thank you." Ms Gray replied thoughtfully.
Katherina then put two sugars in the other cup and stirred, before passing it to Miss Shelby.
"Thank you." Miss Shelby said with a smile.
"Y-Your welcome." Katherina returned as she walked over to her bed. She picked her tea up from the side where she placed it, before walking back to the table to take a seat.
"Aunt Poll, said you were new from Nottingham," Miss Shelby said. "And could do with some friends, I hope you don't mind me coming to meet you."
"N-No, not at all." Katherina replied thoughtfully though that wasn't strictly true.
Though she wanted friends, she craved them in fact. She just didn't know, if or when she would have to run again and she didn't want to leave anyone behind that could get hurt because of her.
"How are you finding living in small heath?" Ms Gray inquired, turning back to look at Katherina.
"U-um from what I've seen it seems very nice," Katherina replied. "I-I've been working so haven't really had the chance to go and explore." Which wasn't strictly a lie.
"That won't do at all," Miss Shelby injected almost shocked. "We should make plans for your next day off so I can show you around Small heath."
Smiling, Katherina nodded, still unsure about the whole situation that she was in.
"H-have you live in Small Heath all your lives?" Katherina asked trying to make conversation.
"Eh, ever since I can remember," Miss Shelby answered smiling as she took a sip of her tea. "Though I expect Nottingham, is much more exciting."
Perhaps but Katherina didn't really know, and with the stare that Ms Gray was giving her she felt more uncomfortable.
"I guess." She replied feeling really awkward.
000
"Three whiskeys." The familiar deep voice of Mr Thomas Shelby came from the side of her the next day and like the other day Katherina without even a word, she shifted to pour three whiskeys. Before placing them all on the same tray and carrying them to the hatch where Mr Shelby stood.
"O-On the house, Mr Shelby." Katherina repeated the words, Harry told her the other day especially as he put the money on the small window.
"Pol told me you're from Nottingham." Mr Shelby started, as if a matter of fact, taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it with the stroke of a match.
Katherine said nothing as she looked up at his icy blue eyes. He even flashed her a smirk.
"I-Is there anything else, I can get you?" Katherina asked biting back the annoyance.
"What are you doing the day after tomorrow?" Mr Shelby asked, his eyes never leaving hers.
"W-Why?" Katherina furrowed her brows at him.
"I want to show you around Small Heath." He told her.
"N-No." Katherina stuttered out, remembering what Harry told her. Yes, Mr Shelby was a very handsome man. However, she didn't want any trouble coming to her door.
Yet as soon as she spoke, she saw his brothers poke out behind him with shocked looks on their faces, which didn't her nerves one bit.
Mr Shelby on the other hand let out a small laugh.
"I-I need to get back to work." Katherina said and without a second thought, she went back to serving.