Chapter 6: I bow to no man

Tell me why you gotta look at me that way
You know what it does to me

'You can tell bloody Kimber to go fuck himself!' Marie's eyes widen when John storms in, a muttering Thomas behind him. 'It was one of the conditions he set, John!' Thomas sighs, sitting down at the table and lighting up a cigarette.

'So you are willing to protect that Grace woman, who you barely know, but my own wife should open her legs for him? I don't bloody think so!'

Marie and Polly, who has just joined her in the living room, exchange a worried look, not sure what exactly is going on.

'You can go tell Kimber to fuck himself! He's not touching my wife, do ya hear me, Tom? I'll fucking blind him if he even looks at her the wrong way!' John shouts, storming past Marie and into the kitchen, the door flying shut with a resounding bang.

The girl in question blinks, her gaze falling onto the door. 'What the hell is going on, Thomas?' Aunt Polly asks, her disapproving silence telling enough.

'Kimber only wants to work with us under one new condition.' The Shelby's gaze falls on Marie. 'He wants you to...' Marie snorts, raising an eyebrow. 'What? To be his whore? You are joking, right?!'

The blonde haired girl asks, her smile dying down when her brother-in-law does not answer. 'Thomas? Tell me you are joking.'

'No, little sister.' Arthur breaks the silence, giving her a pitiful look. 'Are you serious?!' Marie sputters, taking a step back and crossing her arms in front of her chest. 'What did John say? Does he even agree to this?!'

'No, I didn't. I told Tom it was your decision.' Her husband says, shaking his head as he comes to stand next to her, his cap wrinkled in his hands. She only now can see how hard he is gripping it, and anger, there is definitely anger in his eyes.

'With all due respect, Thomas. I barely open my legs for my own husband...' John snorts as Arthur chokes on his drink, Polly giving her an approving smile, eyes twinkling with mirth. 'So there's no way I am going to be the whore of some idiot gang leader I don't even know!'

'Marie...' The 22 year old's eyes grow hard, her gaze boring into Thomas'. 'It is my body and my choice. I may not have chosen my husband, since I had no choice there, ...-'

'I don't see you complaining.' Thomas mutters underneath his breath. 'I am not.' Marie bristles, a small smile appearing on her lips when John winks at her. 'But let me be very clear with you, Thomas. It is my body and my decision. I am not one of your blinders, and I do not take orders from you.' Marie bites out, her lips pulling back into a sneer.

'My answer is no, and that is final.' She mutters something under her breath in her native language, marching out of the door, the front door flying shut with another bang moments later.

'I told ya, didn't I?' John shrugs, shaking his head.

Oh, why'd you have to be so cute?
It's impossible to ignore you, ah
Why must you make me laugh so much?
It's bad enough we get along so well

'Earth to Marie?' Reinke asks, as both girls sit at the Cut, Finn and Eva running around and screaming a bit further ahead of them. 'I can't believe he would even ask you that.' Reinke whispers, the disbelief clear in her voice.

Her friend shrugs, sighing as she looks up to the sky, the darkening clouds announcing another deluge. 'I don't think he had much of a choice. And you can say whatever you want, Thomas has accepted my answer. Though I hope that is not the reason they are going to war with the Kimbers.'

Reinke squeezes her shoulder. 'I think they would have clashed sooner or later. I know crazy when I see it. And Kimber does not seem to be completely right in the head.' Marie hums in agreement, swinging her feet back and forth.

'And how are you and John doing?' Peter's niece asks, her voice taking on a teasing tone. Marie blushes and pushes at her friend playfully when Reinke teases her she is blushing, but it is a fair question.

'I would not call it love just yet, but...' 'But?' Her fair-haired friend asks, eyebrows raising in curiosity. 'There is certainly an attraction there. I have grown to care for him and the kids as well.' 'With time...' Reinke says, Marie humming once more, their conversation interrupted by Eva and Finn.

Just say goodnight and go
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Just say goodnight and go
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Just say goodnight and go

She cannot call it love quite yet, Marie muses. But there is definitely something there. A friendship and a connection. She is starting to care for John and the kids, that she can admit to herself.

And who knows, with time, maybe it will grow into love.

A few days later, the sun starts to peek through the curtains. Marie groans, shutting her eyes more tightly at the rapidly brightening room. 'Good morning.' A voice gruff with sleep grunts from above her.

'Marie?' John asks a few moments later, letting out a sleepy laugh when his wife burrows deeper into the blankets and deeper into his arms, an unintelligible string of words leaving her lips.

'Five more minutes, please.' She groans again, dragging the blankets over her head. 'Allright.' John sighs, settling down once more, sleep slowly dragging him back under as well.

'Dad, Katie wet the bed again!' George shouts through the door, a groan leaving both Marie and John. 'I'll be there in a minute, mate.' John calls out in answer, a giggle leaving Marie at that.

'Well, I guess it is time to get up.' Marie smiles, starting to crawl out of John's arms. A shriek leaves her when the door effectively flies open, John pushing her down into the mattress, sitting up with a gun pointed at whoever stands in the door frame, Marie lying behind him.

'Tommy? Really?' John swears, lowering his gun as Marie burrowes further underneath the blankets. 'I told you to keep the doors locked. It could have been anyone.'

Her brother-in-law's eyes fall on Marie's blushing face. 'I am sorry for the intrusion, Marie. But we have business to attend to.' Marie shakes her head, sitting up with the blankets still wrapped around her.

'That's allright, Thomas. See you in a bit, yeah?'

The Shelby nods, turning around and closing the door behind him, the laughing that follows him out of the house making him roll his eyes.

'Be careful out there.' John nods, putting on his cap with a sigh. His shock registers barely as Marie pecks him quickly on the lips, grabbing Artie in her arms and running out of the door mere moments later.

One of these days
You'll miss your train and come stay with me
(It's always say goodnight and go)

Marie has never taken herself to be brave, but when Ada asks to come with her, to make a stand, dressed in all black, she cannot refuse. If only to see the smirk falling from Kimber's face.

She takes a deep breath as Ada pushes through the Kimber gang, Karl starting to cry as his mother steps between the two gangs. 'Ada!' Freddy calls out, his wife giving him a angry look. 'Shut up and listen.'

Marie sees it all playing out, a grin appearing on her lips as Billy Kimber gives his men an incredulous look. 'Am I too late?' A voice pipes up next to Marie, Reinke giving her a grin as she joins her friend. 'No, I...I think you are right on time.'

Marie grabs Reinke's hand and pushes through the gang, a snort leaving the leader of the Kimber gang. 'And you will do what? Here, alone?' Reinke coughs as Marie marches forward, a furious look on her face.

'She is not alone.' Marie says, her gaze falling on John, whose eyes are blazing. Marie takes up one side of Ada, Reinke the other. 'Did no one tell you to never interfere in men's business, girl?'

Marie gives him a restrained smile, Reinke's smirk growing as her friend geares up for something big. 'Where I come from, women bow to no men. And as I am not opening my legs for you, I am certainly not taking any orders from you, Billy boy.'

Reinke cackles, as Marie flips her hair. 'Think about it. Ada and that baby are not moving, nor am I or my friend. If you want innocent blood on your hands, go ahead. I dare you.'

Marie sneers, her eyes boring into the leader's. There are a few beats of silence, and before she knows it, everything erupts into chaos, as Arthur, John and Freddy dive for the three women.

John grabs Marie by the arms, pushing her behind him. A single gunshot stops the mayhem at once. Marie peeks over John's shoulder, her gaze falling on Kimber's dead body.

'Talk about a quick win.' Reinke mutters, giving Arthur a thankful smile.

John is fuming, Marie can tell. He has said nothing, out of respect for Danny, who was lying dead on the table. 'You are bloody stupid, Marie! I told you to stay safe!' John roars, throwing his cap on the table.

'So did I.' Marie answers, a silence falling over them. 'But did you see the look on Kimber's face?' His wife laughs at once, a forgiving grin appearing on John's lips. 'Yeah, he looked like a complete idiot. Come 'ere, you.'

Marie gladly wraps her arms around John's frame, her nerves finally settling down. 'I was scared something would happen to you.' John whisps, putting his forehead against her.

'So was I.' Marie murmurs, tightening her hold. 'I guess it means we are quite suited for each other.' John grins, closing his eyes as Marie agrees with a warm smile. 'The best.'

We'll have drinks and talk about things
And any excuse to stay awake with you
And you'd sleep here, and I'd sleep there
But then the heating may be down again
(At my convenience)
We'd be good, we'd be great together

'The very best.'

We'd be good, we'd be great together

Want to say goodnight
Want to say goodnight and go
Want to say goodnight
Baby, say goodnight and go
Want to say goodnight
Say goodnight and go