Liz didn't know how much the war would destroy everything she had with Thomas Shelby at the moment in time. He had told her that he was ready to move down to London. He was ready to leave his family and start a new life with her. He was ready to do something he wanted for once in his life. He had never been selfish before, but it felt nice. He would go to bed every night and think about how he could wake up to Liz beside him. That feeling never ceased to amaze him.

Of course his plans never materialised. Britain declared war on Germany and before Tommy knew what he was doing he had signed up as a volunteer. His brothers had all signed up, bar Finn, and Tommy was ready to leave. He had poured over the right words to send to Liz when the news had reached his ears.

She had been overjoyed with his decision. Tommy could remember their weekend in London and how she had waved him off with the biggest smile he had ever seen from her. But now he was going to crush her. He was going to put their plans on hold for a little while, and Tommy made sure to promise her that it would be just a little while.

He sent the letter on the Thursday morning. On the Sunday evening he found Liz on his doorstep in Birmingham.

…..

Tommy had pretended that the thought of going to war didn't scare him. He had watched Arthur drink in The Garrison, cheering about how they would all return heroes. John had laughed along with him, his wife and children giddily giggling with him. Aunt Pol often told Arthur to be silent whilst Ada continued to glance across to Tommy's friend: Freddie Thorne.

He had said nothing the entire time, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself on the matter. He was silent, his legs crossed over each other and his glass in his hands. Tomorrow morning, Monday, he would leave Birmingham. Every man in the area Tommy lived had been told to meet by the trucks on Old Square where they would be shipped off abroad.

Tommy had hoped that Liz would write back to him and inform him of how she was proud of him. Or of how she would wait for him, no matter how long it took. Tommy couldn't help but feel foolish. He had never been so dependent on a girl before, nor did he ever wish to be.

Finishing off his drink, Tommy made his goodbyes and left The Garrison. Pol had looked concerned, but she had said nothing to him. She knew that Tommy could be stubborn and she also knew why he was in such a foul mood. He picked up his coat and shrugged into it, his hat in his hands as he stepped onto the streets.

"Did you think that I would let you go without saying goodbye?"

Tommy was not a man to scare easily, but he did when he heard her voice. Turning his head over his shoulder, he saw her there. He had half expected it to be an illusion, but she was truly leant against the wall of The Garrison. A dark blue skirt covered her legs and a green cardigan covered a white shirt. She wore a dark blue wide brimmed hat and she had one leg bent and her foot pressed against the brick wall.

Saying nothing for a moment, Tommy tried to gather his thoughts. Unfortunately he could think of nothing but to move towards her, his hands cupping her neck and the back of her head as she tilted her head back and allowed him to kiss her hastily, his body pressed tightly against hers.

Only after a few moments did he pull back, his forehead pressing against hers. "What are you doin' 'ere, Liz?" Tommy asked her. "In the streets…it is dangerous…"

"Do not speak to me of danger, Thomas Shelby," she whispered, her eyes scanning his face as she seemed to drink in every last detail of him. "You are leaving for war tomorrow."

"But I'll be back," Tommy told her. "I'll be back and then we can do this, Liz. We can do what we planned, eh?"

Stifling a small sob, Liz managed to nod across to him. She would like that. Moving to kiss her again, Tommy knew that he had to get her off the streets of Birmingham. Taking hold of her hand, he led her back to his house, making sure that she remained as hidden as possible, her hat hiding her features as they went.

"When do you leave?" Liz managed to ask from him as she wandered into his room and allowed him to shut the door.

The familiar space had not changed in her absence. It almost caused Liz to smile with fond memories as her gloved hand skimmed over the top of the drawer. She had no chance to move any further as Tommy caught her by the waist, his arms drawing her tightly to him as she ran her fingers over his shoulders.

"Tomorrow morning," he told her.

"I see," Liz whispered and Tommy's finger moved to grasp her chin as he urged for her not to cry over this.

"I'll come back," he whispered to her. "I promise you, Liz. When I come back we will do everythin' we planned to do. You can hold me to that, eh?"

Liz nodded, gulping down the harsh feeling in her throat. "I will do, Mr Shelby, I promise you."

Chuckling, Tommy leant forwards before he felt himself kissing Liz once more. He didn't stop when he heard his family return home, nor did he answer their knocks on his door. Liz tried to persuade him to say something, but he found himself too involved in Liz to consider leaving her. She smiled against his lips as Tommy knew that had to relish their final evening together.

…..

Waking up in the middle of the night, Tommy glanced down to Liz as she slept against him. She wore nothing but the shift from underneath her dress and Tommy had his dress shirt on the floor along with breeches. Liz shifted in her sleep, the moonlight distorted by the net curtain as it rested on the pair of them. Her eyes were closed and she shifted in her sleep, inhaling sharply as she recalled what had just happened.

Tommy could feel her stretching against him, her limbs moving in different directions. Her arm came over his stomach whilst her other arm reached above her. A loud yawn escaped from her mouth and she rolled her head to the side, noting Tommy staring down at her.

"How long have you been awake?" she asked of him.

He shrugged, smiling gently as his arm moved to rest around her shoulders, his hand cupping the back of her neck gently as he made the motion.

"I 'aven't really slept," Tommy informed her. "I keep thinkin' about tomorrow."

Sighing, Liz closed her eyes again and moved her head to rest against his chest. She remained silent, waiting patiently for Tommy to say something else. She didn't know what more she could say. It would be selfish of her to urge for him not to leave. Yet, deep down, a part of her wanted to plead with him. She could only feel as though time had been snatched from her.

"I'll come back, Liz," Tommy whispered down to her, his hand moving to brush her hair from her face as his fingers danced across her cheek. "And we'll make a go of it, eh? We'll be fine."

"Of course," Liz agreed with him.

"But," Tommy drawled, looking back to her as her wide eyes found his again, "you 'ave to promise me one thing."

"And what would that be?" Liz yawned as she adjusted herself against him.

"Don't go findin' any fancy man to replace me, eh?" he muttered. "I don't want to come back and you're with someone else."

Liz laughed at that. She truly let out a loud cackle of laughter as she placed a hand to her mouth to stifle the noise. Tommy was about to ask her exactly what was so funny, but he had no chance to. Her laughter continued to ring around his room and Tommy didn't know whether to laugh with her or look somewhat offended.

"Oh, Tommy," Liz whispered gently. "Do you honestly think that I would find anyone else? I…I doubt anyone could ever come close enough."

Tommy was pleased at that statement. But he knew the world. "There will be men, Liz," he told her. "Men who would want nothin' more than to court a good looking gal like you."

Flopping onto her stomach, Liz rested her chin on his chest, her hand moving to lace into his. Sighing, her warm breath hit Tommy's neck and he looked down to her, wondering what she was going to say.

"And I have spent many years with men who look at me as though I am the only thing in their life, but I know better," Liz said. "They looked at me and they saw the name Kimber. Of course, they never got far. Father used to frighten them off. But you have never looked at me like that, and I doubt anyone else will ever look at me the same way either but, if they do, I assure you that I know how to warn them off."

Rational thought seemed to leave Tommy's mind then. Words failed him and the only action he could manage was to lean down and press his lips against hers. Sighing in contentment, she closed her eyes again and considered drifting back to sleep. She knew that Tommy was not one to discuss his feelings. She didn't imagine that he would confess anything to her, but she did admit that the next question he asked her was shocking.

"Well," he said, gulping lowly, "if I'm to make sure that you stay with me then I guess I should ask you a question."

"Oh?"

"Will you agree to marry me?"

It took a few moments for Liz to realise that Tommy was being deadly serious. He was not jesting, nor was he winding her up. Sitting up, Liz placed her hands behind her and continued to watch Tommy. He rolled onto his side, propping his head onto his hand and pretended to be calm. He didn't want her to see how he was feeling inside. He was nervous. He wanted an answer, not just silence.

"I want no one else, Liz," Tommy assured her. "Yer the only one now."

"And you for me," she assured him.

Tommy smiled then and reached up to run his hand up and down her arm. "Then say yes, Liz. Wait for me and we will be together."

"Yes," Liz nodded without truly thinking. She continued to nod as Tommy sat up with her and saw tears of happiness fall down her cheeks. Tommy could only press his hands to her cheeks and draw her close to him, his lips pressing against hers.

Tommy said nothing more of the matter. He preferred to spend the last night with her pressed against him and promising never to leave him.

Liz dressed with haste the following morning, knowing that she would have to be quick. Tommy had told her that he didn't want to waste a single minute out of bed when he didn't have to. Liz was pushing her boots onto her feet along with finding her simple dress on the floor. Tommy was neatly changed into his green uniform, his cap held underneath his arm as he watched Liz frantically place clothes onto her body.

He smiled at watching her, knowing what he had in his pocket to give her the moment before he left.

"I am so sorry," Liz apologised, not wishing to make Tommy late.

He could hear his family shout for him as they all left for the streets to join the other men who had joined. Tommy was the last out, his hand held firmly with Liz's hand as they rushed down the stairs. She struggled to hold onto her hat, knowing full well that her curls underneath were ruffled and messy from sleeping all night and having no time to sort them in the morning.

"I don't care if we're late," Tommy nonchalantly spoke. "It don't make a difference."

Smiling to him, Liz barely had a chance to look around the kitchen before they were out the front door and onto the street. The Shelby family were all hugging and saying their goodbyes to each other, and every one of them looked shocked when they saw Liz stood with Tommy.

None of them said anything, knowing that it was pointless to speak about it now. They would discuss it after the war. Aunt Pol was the one to look mainly concerned, but she kept silent.

"You look handsome," Liz suddenly spoke as they stood in the street, her hands on his shoulders as she held him. Tommy grinned.

"Don't I always?" Tommy asked from her and she allowed her lips to curl upwards for a brief moment, trying to hide the sadness she felt deep inside of her chest.

"I suppose so," she answered with a shrug of her shoulders.

Tommy moved his hands down to grab hold of her waist as she laughed softly as she moved her arms to dangle over his shoulders, her fingers lacing together by his neck as he moved down to kiss her again. Liz titled her head back, almost loosing her hat with the sudden sweeping motion.

"I 'ave somethin' to give you," Tommy whispered.

He pulled back for a brief moment, digging his hand down into his pocket to pull out the small round object. He moved it from the pocket and held it up between them, watching as the gold band caught Liz's attention. The blue stone on top of it was dull, along with the gold, but it had been around for a long time.

"It was my mother's," Tommy told Liz. "Her engagement ring…I want you to wear it."

"Are you certain?" Liz worried from him. "I mean…it must be precious…your mother's ring…"

"Aye, it is," Tommy promised her. "But it is just as precious as the woman wearing it is."

Liz laughed softly before nodding her head and Tommy picked up her hand to slip the ring on. It was quite tight, but Tommy managed to wrangle it down onto her finger. She smiled down to it and Tommy watched her reaction before he bent down to kiss her once more.

"Tommy!" Arthur's roars echoed through the street.

Looking over to his brother, he knew that it was time to leave. Everyone was gathered on the cobbles and waiting patiently. Nodding, Tommy could see how Liz's face faltered. She was doing her best to remain composed as she knew that Tommy had to go. She could steal no more time with him.

"Stay safe, eh?" Tommy urged her, his hand on her cheek to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You are the one who should be staying safe," she warned him. "Come back, Tommy. Promise me."

Kissing her for the final time, Tommy nodded to her. "I will always come back to you…just you."

Tommy managed to free himself from her grip, keeping hold of her hand with extended arms as he moved to join the other men and his hand finally slipped from Liz's. She took a step back and stood on the path again, her arm wrapping around her waist and her other hand brushing away the tears threatening to spill from the corner of her eyes.

She managed to smile to Tommy as he moved off down the street, Arthur clapping him on the back as Aunt Pol and Ada shouted after them along with other wives and family members to their loved ones.

Liz remained silent, her lips only smiling until Tommy rounded the corner. It was then when her smile fell and she looked to the ring on her finger, knowing that she should move into her purse to pull her gloves out and hide it from people's stares.

"He really does love you," Aunt Pol's voice suddenly sounded by Liz's ear. "Why else would he give you his mother's ring?"

Liz turned to look at Aunt Pol, challenging her stare. "And I love him," Liz said. "I know that you think I am dangerous, but I would never do anything to endanger him."

"I know," Pol informed her. "It doesn't make it any easier though."

"I will be gone by tonight anyway," Liz spoke. "I have work in London until the war is over and Tommy comes back."

"Good," Pol said with a stern nod. "We will speak of this when they return."

Liz watched her leave as she finally grabbed her gloves and looked down the street. She supposed she had time to head down to The Garrison for a quick drink before she caught her train. If only she knew that Bobby Wright, the boy who had smuggled her out of the city, was there and he finally knew who she was.

...

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone for reading! Do let me know what you think! The war will change a lot of things from now on!