Tommy returns from the war
AN: This is another new OC that I have more oneshots planned about, another love interest for Tommy. Enjoy!
Humming and swaying from side to side to soothe the baby in her arms, Charlotte frowns as the platform clears once more the now empty train pulling away, shrinking back into the crowd and making her way towards Polly who had taken one of the few free seats on a bench against the platform wall.
"Not this train either." She sighs, leaning against the wall, shifting the baby who was growing heavy in her arms.
"Let me take her." Polly says gently, reaching up for the child, Charlotte sighing reluctantly before carefully lowering her daughter into the older woman's arms.
"They've been good." Charlotte states lightly, nodding her head in the direction of the gaggle of children at their feet, Ada leant against the wall, knees pulled up to her chest, Finn and John's four little ones scribbling on the floor with a piece of chalk each that Charlotte had grabbed from the betting shop on the way to the train station earlier that morning. "The bribe of sweets clearly helped."
"Don't jinx it." Polly teases lightly, rolling her eyes towards the sky. "They'd better be on the next bloody train."
"I hope so." Charlotte sighs, dropping her head to the side, reaching a hand out towards the baby in Polly's arms, smiling as she takes her mother's finger into her chubby fist, holding tight. "I can't wait for Tommy to meet her."
"He won't want to let her go." Ada cuts in, glancing up at her sister in law with a smile. "Who wouldn't want to snuggle with a cutie like you?" She coos, reaching up to tweak the little girl's cheek, her niece squealing, hiding her face in Polly's chest.
"I just want to see him now." Charlotte breathes out, shoving her shaking hands into her coat pockets, her fingers brushing over the small picture of Tommy she kept in there. "We've waited long enough."
"Soon." Polly hums, patting the baby's back as she settles against her chest.
"What time's the next train?" Ada asks, pushing up to full height, leaning against the wall beside Charlotte.
"Should be here in an hour." Her Aunt replies, peering up at the pair. "Why don't you go and get a hot drink?"
"But what if-"
"You'll hear the train if it does come earlier," Polly cuts in, lifting her eyes to meet Charlotte's worried ones, shaking her head lightly. "Go and get a drink. There's some change in my purse."
"I've got enough, Pol." Charlotte reassures the older woman gently, laying a hand on Ada's back to guide her away from the platform and towards the small cafe at the entrance to the station.
"Oh God." Charlotte moans, leaning against Ada's side, glancing back at Polly who had risen from the bench, stepping forwards to watch the train pull slowly into the station, the children still sprawled at her feet. "I feel sick."
"Want me to take her?" Ada asks, holding her hands out for her niece who was back in Charlotte's arms, searching for a reason to move, to break away from the crowd of bustling women waiting for their loved ones.
"No." Charlotte replies softly with a shake of her head. "No. I need to hold her or I'll collapse."
"What if they're not on this train, Charlie?"
"They will be." She reassures Ada quickly, cutting off any further questions. "This is the last train of the day. They have to be on it."
"But what if-"
"They will."
"Ok." Ada sighs out, snaking a hand out to curl around Charlotte's, the older woman squeezing tightly in response. "Here we go."
And then suddenly, there he was. Her Tommy, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure his brothers were still behind him, only turning to face the crowd again when he receives a pat on the back from Arthur. He freezes then, his eyes meeting hers across the platform, John having to shove him to make his brother move again, his pace slow at first until his eyes land on the bundle in her arms, his feet moving more quickly this time, Charlotte's voice calling out his name through the string of voices around her.
"Look Annabelle, there's your daddy!" She cries, pressing her lips to the baby's hair as she watches Tommy push through the crowd, not wanting to move in fear of losing Tommy again, of not being able to find him in the throngs of women and men embracing around her. Before she knows it, he's right there. Right in front of her; within touching distance once more. And then his arms are gathering her up, the baby letting out a shocked squeak as Charlotte clutches at the back of Tommy's jacket with her free hand, tears flowing freely down her face, sobs racking her body.
"Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte." Tommy chants, his lips finding hers briefly in a crushing kiss, quickly moving to over her face in gentle, loving pecks. Beside them, gently pushing out of Arthur's crushing embrace, Ada plucks the still squealing and squirming baby from Charlotte's arms, the older woman immediately winding both arms around Tommy's neck, clinging to him for dear life.
"You're here." She sighs into his neck, her fingers finding their way to the longer strands of hair on top of his head. "You're home."
"I'm home." Tommy repeats, his own head finding its way to rest against Charlotte's neck, breathing in her familiar scent. "I'm home."
The next morning, Tommy wakes to humming at the foot of his bed; it takes him a moment to realise that he was back in Small Heath, in his own house, his own bed, with the love of his life. Prying his eyes open slowly, Tommy blinks a few times, adjusting to the light of the room and finally letting his eyes land on the figure swaying gently at the end of the bed.
"Char?" He mumbles gruffly, voice still heavy and laced with sleep. Turning suddenly at the voice calling out to her, Charlotte smiles widely as her eyes meet Tommy's sleep filled ones.
"Good morning." She calls softly, still gently swaying the baby in her arms. "We didn't wake you, did we?" Shaking his head in response Tommy drops his eyes to the bundle in her arms.
"Is she awake?" He asks, nodding towards the baby.
"She is." Charlotte replies softly, turning the baby in her arms to face Tommy. "We've been up for hours." At Tommy's raised eyebrows, Charlotte laughs, moving to perch on the edge of the bed beside Tommy. "I fed her, we had a cuddle and watched the sunrise. Then we laid with you for a while, watched you sleep…" Trailing off, Charlotte smooths her finger tips gently over Tommy's face, his eyes fluttering closed at her touch, an amused scoff leaving his lips at her words. "You look so peaceful when you sleep."
"You watched me sleep, eh?" Tommy teases, reaching his own hand out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I missed you." Charlotte replies in offer of an explanation. "Gotta get to know this face again. You've changed, Tom."
"You have too." He states gently, cupping her cheek, letting his thumb rub over her cheekbone.
"Yeah, well, pregnancy will do that to you." Charlotte jokes, nudging Tommy's hip with her own until he shifted along the bed, leaving room for her to slip under the covers beside him, the baby resting against her chest. "We need to get a bigger bed now you're back. How we ever slept together in this bed before you went away, I don't know! You were like a bloody oven last night! I even considered sleeping in the crib!"
"And where would the baby have slept?" Tommy jokes, pinching Charlotte's side playfully.
"In a drawer. Like we did." Charlotte states, holding her mock seriousness until her eyes lift to meet Tommy's, laughter breaking free from her chest, startling the half asleep baby on her chest, wincing with a muttered apology on the top of her daughter's head.
"This bed has served us well, we made said baby here." Tommy jokes, curling his arm around Charlotte's shoulders and pulling her closer.
"How would you know!" Charlotte giggles, slapping Tommy's chest lightly. "You were insatiable on your break! She could have been conceived down by the Cut for all we know!"
"True." Tommy mutters, his eyes searching Charlotte's as he cups her cheek again, his face pulled in a serious frown. "I'm sorry I missed it."
"Missed what?" Charlotte whispers, her eyebrows knitting together in a frown.
"Everything." Tommy sighs, ducking his head to place a kiss on his daughter's forehead, leaving his nose to linger, pressed against her head, breathing in her scent. "Everything, Char. I'm so sorry."
"Stop." Charlotte states firmly yet kindly, shaking her head as tears prick behind her eyes. "Don't you dare apologise. There was nothing you could do. It's over now. You're back with us, alright?" Tommy nods slowly in response, using his thumb to catch the falling tear from her eye, leaning forward to gently press his lips against hers.
"Can I get a cuddle with the little one at some point, or are you going to hog her all day?" He teases playfully, finally giving Charlotte one of his rare genuine smiles as she scoffs at his words, rolling her eyes at him.
"You can have her whenever you want!" She laughs, playfully depositing the baby into Tommy's arms. "Maybe I can finally get five minutes peace now, eh?" She gasps playfully, rolling onto her back, ignoring the way Tommy rolls his eyes mockingly at her dramatics. "Maybe…maybe I can have a nice, long, hot bath! Oooh that would be heavenly!" Letting her head loll to the side, Charlotte giggles at Tommy's teasing expression, his eyebrows raised high.
"A nice, long, hot bath, eh?" He repeats, winking at her. "Need some company?"
"A nice, long, hot bath, all by myself!" Charlotte rephrased, pointing her finger in Tommy's face. "Because you, Mr Shelby, will hog all the room!"
"We can share." Tommy replies coyly, wiggling his eyebrows at Charlotte who lets out a playful shriek, covering her face with her hands as she laughs.
"You really are insatiable!" She laughs, shrieking again as Tommy reaches his hand out towards her, fingers dancing over her ribs. "I tell you what…" she whispers conspiratorially, leaning in close to whisper in Tommy's ear, her lips brushing over his earlobe. "Get the baby down for a nap by the time the bath is ready, and I'll consider letting you join me."
"Consider, eh?" Tommy repeats with a scoff, raising his eyebrows again. "What can I do to seal the deal?"
"Hmm…" Charlotte hums, tapping her chin again. "Throw a cup of tea into the deal and I'll shake on it."
"Deal." Tommy states quickly, holding his hand out to Charlotte who giggles, sliding her palm against his.
"Better get to work, Mr Shelby." She whispers, brushing her lips against Tommy's as she pushes herself out of bed, swaying her way to the bedroom door. "I'll be waiting!"