"I take it you have nowhere to stay?"

Elizabeth walked down the street slowly with Tommy by her side. Her hands were inside of her skirts, stopping them from openly sweating as Tommy wandered closely by her side. He had one hand in his pocket and the other hand held his cigarette tightly in his grip. Liz had quickly eaten the cake had had bought for her and Tommy had agreed that it was one of the best pieces he had eaten in a while.

"I do," Tommy merely responded to her. "I 'ave a 'otel in central London. I booked in there before I came to find you. I doubted Dorothy would appreciate me stayin' in your room."

"Oh, she would laugh about the scandal," Liz smiled across to him as he allowed an air of smoke to pass his lips and his plump lips arched upwards. "But she is a very strict woman. No doubt she would be very disappointed with me."

"Does she know I exist?" Tommy dared to wonder.

Liz shrugged then. "She knows that I have some fancy man up in Birmingham, but that is all. I tend not to speak of my old life. She knows nothing of me and she knows nothing of you…not really."

"It's for the best," Tommy nodded to her. "So what do you say to a drink? I 'ave somethin' I need to tell you."

Liz cocked her brow and Tommy could see worry rising inside of her. He had known that he should have kept quiet until they were sat down and he could assure her that nothing was wrong. He watched on and shook his head, daring to wrap his free arm around her shoulders.

"It's nothin' to worry about," Tommy promised her. "I just didn't want you to 'ear it in a letter."

"Well can you simply not tell me what it is?" Liz wondered from him.

Tommy finally found a pub on the corner of the street. It was quieter than The Garrison, but Tommy was thankful for that. Pulling the door open, he allowed Liz to step inside the pub first. She had never ventured this far from her route home, preferring not to go where she didn't know. Looking around, she saw a small table in the corner with two chairs and headed that way.

Tommy's hand fell to the small of her back as he allowed her to lead the way. Once he had pulled her chair out to sit down he made his way to the bar where three other men sat, eyeing him with suspicion. Apparently they knew the regulars to their pub and Tommy most certainly was not a regular.

He ordered a whiskey for himself and water for Liz after recalling that she didn't drink. Picking up the grimy glasses, he moved back to her, grateful that the corner she had chosen was quiet. He placed the glass down in front of her and Liz took a sip.

"Your father died."

Tommy was blunt when he said the words. He had no offer of remorse, nor did he offer Liz any more kind words. It wasn't like she wanted them. She detested her father after what he had done and Liz could only admit slight relief when she heard of his death. Perhaps he would stop looking for her now.

"I see," Liz muttered back. "I take it my brother is in charge of his affairs now?"

"He is," Tommy nodded. "And he is married now."

"How lovely for him," Liz said, wishing that she could handle a stronger liquor to numb the anger she felt inside of her stomach. "What a poor woman she must be."

"No doubt," Tommy agreed with her. "Anyway, I 'eard somethin' else…about why yer father wanted you back so much."

Liz tilted her head to the side, her light brown curls falling around her shoulders as she did so. "And why would that be?"

"He wanted to build up his business," Tommy said, swirling the liquid in his glass and Liz watched as it moved around with wide eyes. "He wanted to take his business wider…you ever 'eard of a man called Sabini?"

Sighing, Liz shrugged her shoulders. How she didn't miss the days of her father speaking business over dinner. She had always feigned an interest, but that interest had always wore thin. She would glance over to her mother and watch as the woman nodded when she was supposed to and smiled whenever it was required of her.

"Darby Sabini controls the South racin' tracks," Tommy informed her. "Yer father wanted to crack the south…by marryin' you off to Sabini."

Looking down to the table, Liz knew that she had been foolish to think that her father would want her back for purposes other than his own. Of course she would be part of a bigger plan. Why should that shock her?

"Sabini 'eard of the Kimber girl and he was interested…of course his interest went when you weren't found." Tommy concluded and Liz looked over to him. "And yer father never got anywhere."

"Good," Liz concluded. "I suspect her was beyond annoyed with me. I was never one to get in the way of father's plans, but it does feel splendid to mess them up. How horrific."

Tommy chuckled at that. "And now yer safe in good ole London town," he informed her. "Kimber's given up the search for you."

"Billy has a wife now," Liz shrugged. "No doubt he will be too busy putting her in her place to care for me now. I am the least important priority. No doubt they will assume that I am dead or missing."

"Aye," Tommy said. "And I'm the only one to know any different."

"You are," Liz whispered. "And you have never said anything."

"Why would I?" Tommy asked of her. "As long as you keep writin' to me then there's nothin' to say."

"Would you think so?" Liz asked in a smaller voice. "But you came here, Tommy. You came…all because of three words in a letter. Do you not find that odd?"

Tommy agreed lowly with a grunt, knowing that it would be difficult for Liz to understand why he had come. Even Tommy was struggling to understand it himself. All he knew was that he had thought of nothing but her. He had struggled to think clearly when he was working and he had made mistakes. Tommy was not one to make mistakes about anything. He took his work seriously, but even Arthur had noticed the change in him.

It was then when Tommy climbed on the nearest canal boat heading to London and made his way back to Liz.

"It is odd," Tommy promised her and she removed the hat she wore on her head, placing it on her lap and allowing her hand to run through her hair. "I know you better than I know anyone else," Tommy told her. "I haven't been to see Lizzie Starke since I met you."

Elizabeth did look confused then. Tommy wished he had said nothing about Lizzie. Did he have to explain now?

"And who is Lizzie Starke?" Elizabeth dared to ask him.

"A girl I used to visit," Tommy mumbled. "Nothin' else."

"I see," Liz muttered back.

She should have known that Tommy was anything but innocent. He was an attractive man who was older than she was. She should have known. Tommy moved his hand over the table towards her, his fingers stretching onto her lap to take a hold of her hand.

"But, as I said, I 'ave been nowhere near 'er since you," Tommy replied. "Yer not jealous, are yer?"

"No," Liz quickly answered him back. "Why should I be jealous? We are not courting, nor is there any chance of that happening with you living in Birmingham and me living here."

Tommy frowned. "No matter how many letters you write."

The hand Tommy held was tight inside of his grip and Liz lifted her other hand on top of his, patting it softly as Tommy dared to move his chair closer to hers. It was less than proper as his seat knocked hers and he leaned in close enough to inhale the scent of lavender from the soap she used.

Moving a hand to her chin, he tilted her head upwards to gaze at her green eyes. "If you were in Birmingham I would court you." The honesty in Tommy's voice rang through Liz's ears. "You know that, Liz?"

"Do I?" Liz wondered.

"No, but you should," he responded.

"But I cannot come back," Liz whispered to him. "You know that, Tommy."

"Aye, I know it," he whispered to her. "Doesn't make it any less true."

"Don't," Liz pleaded with him. "Can we not have this conversation? I know that there is no chance and I have resigned myself to it, Tommy. Months have passed by and I have struggled to forget you…the Birmingham Boy who took me in and treated me like his equal…not some weak and pathetic socialite."

Tommy wanted to chuckle at hearing that, but he remained silent. He knew that now was not the time to antagonise her, but she really was a weak socialite. Tommy had seen her struggle with everything. Compared to the girls of Birmingham, she was weaker than most. Yet Tommy saw her in a different light in London. She looked slimmer than usual, but she had a lot more to say and she held herself tall.

She had managed to stand on her own two feet and Tommy had to admit that he was impressed with her. He had half expected her to be sat in her room still crying. Freedom was slowly suiting her well.

"But you would want for me to keep visitin' you down 'ere?" Tommy asked her.

She threw him a nonchalant shrug, looking to her water and then away again. Tommy watched as her lips arched slightly more than before and she sighed.

"I suppose if you cannot keep away from me Mr Shelby, then you are at liberty to visit," he told her.

Tommy moved quickly then, his hands cupping her cheeks as he pressed his lips to hers. Liz almost collapsed from her chair as the sheer force took hold of her. It was over quicker than Liz could think and she leant back in her chair, trying to think of a witty comeback to say to him.

"You gonna try to tell me you don't want me 'ere now, eh?" Tommy asked her. He continued to smile, as she remained silent.

….

Liz had been grateful to have the weekend away from work. She had spent her time showing Tommy all of the sights of London. He indulged her, his arm inside of hers as they walked side by side in an almost aimless manner. Liz had tried to be serious, but Tommy would often distract her from speaking of the sights by pressing his forehead against hers and pressing his lips to hers.

It was a different world in London and Tommy couldn't deny that. He felt as though there were no worries. No one noticed them and no one questioned them being together. Liz was right. Everyone would question them together in Birmingham.

"So, what do you think of London?" Liz asked from Tommy as she found herself sat in his hotel room on the Sunday night before normality returned on the Monday.

Tommy had suggested they return to his room to rest before heading out for a drink. Liz had complied, her feet slowly killing her as she pushed her shoes from her feet and rubbed the soles with her fingers. Tommy was removing the jacket he wore to place it on the back of the red chair in the corner of the room.

Liz had to admit that it was a posh room. The double bed was vast and a wardrobe and a pair of drawers sat near the large floor length window. It was covered with red drapes that blended into the red carpet on the ground. Liz wondered how Tommy had afforded it. Perhaps business was on its way up? She didn't know, nor did she ask. She didn't want to ruin their time with such a question.

"It smells different to Birmingham," Tommy told her. "And it is odd."

Frowning, Liz moved her eyes from her feet to Tommy as he came to sit beside her. "Odd, how?" she asked of him.

"Walkin' down the street and no one looks at me…no one questions why a girl like you is with a boy like me…they say nothin'…you can exist peacefully." Tommy told her.

He sank down on the bed beside her, his hands moving to the back of his body as he leant back slightly.

"And is that what you want?" Liz wondered in a whisper. "Do you want to exist peacefully?"

Tommy chuckled, closing his eyes and basking in the pleasure of the situation he found himself in. "I've never known peace. I 'ave a family…a business to 'elp out with…"

"It is a lot to give up," Liz confirmed for him.

"Aye," Tommy told her. "I never wanted anythin' else…never felt the need to, until I came 'ere. Until I spent the day with you."

Elizabeth did her best not to appear foolish as she took hold of his arm, moving so that she could press her head against his shoulder. Tommy moved so that he was flat on his back, only his feet dangling over the edge. Liz fell down with him, her hand moving to his chest as he allowed his to encircle her waist.

"Then don't go," Liz managed to speak. "Don't leave me, Tommy. Come down to London and make another life."

Sighing, Tommy couldn't begin to tell her how difficult that would be, but also how tempting it was. He wanted her to know that he would stay here if he could. He would stay away from Aunt Pol's continuous questioning stares. He would avoid Arthur's constant snarling and snapping. It would be peaceful.

"It isn't that simple, Liz," Tommy whispered to her, his eyes closed as his hand found the bottom of her hair.

"Why?" Liz challenged him. "You said yourself that you have never known a life of peace. This is your chance, Tommy…to know what it is like not to be judged and not to be considered anything but the person you want to be."

Tommy could only paint a picture in his head. Would it be like this every weekend? Would he spend his days at work and his nights coming home to Liz? Would they buy a house together? Would his every weekend be spent wandering London with Liz, his arm in her arm? God, Tommy could see it. He could see it and he hated to say that he quite liked it. But he had commitments. How could he make a promise like this to her?

"It's a big ask, Liz," he mumbled.

"I suppose so," Liz muttered. "And there is nothing down here for you…not like in Birmingham where you have all of your family."

"Nothin' down 'ere?" Tommy chuckled. "I thought that the girl who sent me all her love was down 'ere?"

Liz playfully hit him on the chest. "Must you keep going on about that?"

He chuckled. "It's an odd feeling," he declared. "I've never 'ad a girl say that to me."

"Not even Lizzie Starke?" Elizabeth dared to wonder from him and he grinned at hearing that.

"So you are jealous," he confirmed.

"No," Liz said, "because she's not the one you travelled all the way down to London to see."

Gulping, Tommy realised just how accurate that truly was. Opening his eyes, he found Liz with her chin on his chest, staring at him with such intensity that he wondered how he could ever leave her when she looked at him like that. She moved forwards slightly, her lips pressing on his jaw as he took a deep breath.

"Stay," she breathed against his skin.

"Liz," he groaned her name as she pressed her lips to the corner of his.

"Please," she whispered. "Stay here…with me…"

Tommy continued to consider her words as he felt her weight shift on him. He wondered when she had gotten so bold as her legs moved either side of his body and her lips found his neck. Even Liz had to admit that she was shocked with her behaviour. Never before had she found herself in a position like this, but it felt right. It felt right to be so close to him.

"I meant what I said," she promised him, her mouth now next to his ear. "It may sound ridiculous to you. You may think that I am nothing but a ridiculous little girl who knows nothing, but I meant it, Tommy. You are the only bright thing in my life…the only one I care for now…surely that means love, Tommy? Doesn't it?"

Tommy didn't know how to process that information. Tommy had no bloody idea what love was. He didn't have it in him to say it back to her. He sat up with haste, his front pressed flush against hers as his hands roamed her back up to the back of her head.

"I want you to stay with me," Liz continued, her hands resting on his shoulders and feeling the waistcoat he wore. "You said that you would court me in Birmingham," she reminded him. "Court me in London."

"You make it sound so easy," Tommy mumbled.

"It is," Liz nodded. "Well, it mainly is if you want it to be. I know that you have family, Tommy…your sister…Aunt Pol…"

Tommy groaned as his hands harshly tangling into Liz's hair. "Don't talk about them when I have you pressed up against me."

Liz giggled at that as Tommy finally placed his mouth to her neck and Liz felt her eyes roll back into her head. Taking a moment to stop herself from shaking, Liz managed to place her hands in his hair, softly combing through the dark locks.

"Sorry," Liz managed to whisper.

"S'alright," Tommy spoke against her neck. "But can we discuss this later…when I know that you ain't tryin' to distract me."

"If you wish," Liz said as he seemed to find a delicate spot and she couldn't stop herself from moaning lowly.

She only hoped that she could get him to stay by the end of the night.

Liz didn't wish to be stood with Tommy in Camden that Monday morning. She had no wish to stand by the water's edge and hold his hands inside of hers as he prepared to leave back for Birmingham. She had spent the previous night in Tommy's hotel room, entwined in his grip as she did her best not to beg with him to stay. Liz had froze when Tommy's hands had come to the bottom of her dress, lifting the skirt up as his fingers travelled along her thigh.

He had felt her stiffen in his arms and stopped his movements, asking her what was wrong. She had told him that she had always been taught to save herself for marriage. It was improper to act the way she did, especially in case she became pregnant. Tommy was not a man to force himself on a woman and he had restrained himself, no matter how painful it was.

"I will talk to 'em," Tommy suddenly informed Liz. "I will ask 'em about leavin'…comin' to London."

Tommy had spent the night thinking about it as Liz slept soundly by his side. He had his eye open as he watched her, holding her tightly by his side. And he thought about how he didn't want to leave her. He wanted to stay. He was not accustomed to being selfish, but he wanted to be.

"Are you being serious?" Liz asked from him and Tommy nodded at her.

"Deadly," he promised her. "I promise nothin', Liz, but…I will think on it and discuss it."

It was better than a straight out no. Liz couldn't help but move her arms around his neck and Tommy held her tightly, his arms around her waist as he moved his chin to rest on the top of her head.

"Write to me everyday, Liz," Tommy urged her. "And stay safe, eh?"

"And you, Tommy," Liz urged him, unable to control the giddy feeling inside of her stomach.

Tommy kissed her once more before he climbed onto the boat again, looking to Liz as she remained still with that dumfounded smile on her face. Tommy wanted to come back already. He didn't wish to go, but he kept it in his mind that he would return.

If only he knew that the war would interrupt his plans.

...

A/N: Thank you so much to reviewers and followers of the story! I'm so happy you're liking it! I hope you can let me know what you think!