"Who is she?"

Tommy sat in the Garrison the next morning, downing his first glass of whisky for the day. He was pouring over the accounts in front of him as he waited with patience. He had word that Billy Kimber would be on his way to Birmingham before he knew it. Tommy had told Arthur to gather as many men as he could before that happened.

Tommy had no intention of letting Billy Kimber leave Birmingham alive, no more than Billy Kimber intended to kill Thomas Shelby. They were both enemies now. Tommy had tried to pretend that they were allies, but Elizabeth was caught in the middle of it all.

He had left Liz to sleep for the morning, knowing that she was exhausted. He left her in his bed, dressed in his long shirt as he conducted business. He had changed quietly, placing his cap on his head as he bent down to kiss her on the forehead, stroking her hair from her face. She had shifted on the mattress, but her eyes had not fluttered open.

Looking up to where the question had come from he saw Grace stood before him, waiting for him to answer her. Tommy had said nothing of Liz since the day she had seen her at Kimber's mansion. Tommy did think that he could come to care for Grace. Of course, she was pretty and she wasn't as dumb as she would have people believe. She was a beauty in her own way. She had more charm than Liz and she had more nerve. Yet she was not Liz. Tommy wanted Liz, not Grace.

"Billy Kimber's sister."

"I gathered that," Grace nodded, standing by the bar and wiping it clean before opening time. "But you looked at her…like…she was…someone you cared for."

Tommy nodded. "Aye," he agreed with her. "I do care for her considering she is my fiancée."

Grace scoffed loudly then, turning to look to Tommy and wondering if he had any compassion at all. It hadn't been too long ago since he had been kissing her and now he was engaged. That all happened very quickly. Grace didn't know if she truly understood.

"I was engaged to Elizabeth before the War," Tommy said. "I thought that she 'ad left me…but her brother 'ad 'er…but she is back now."

"And that is that?" Grace checked with Tommy. "Five years have passed and nothing has changed between you two."

Tommy's gaze was enough to make Grace consider if she had been wise in what she had said. She remained mute and kept her mouth closed, doing her best not to appear too concerned with what she had just said to Tommy. She bit down on her lip and Tommy drained the alcohol in his glass, slamming the tumbler down on the wooden table and shaking his head.

"Elizabeth is the only good thing I 'ave ever 'ad," Tommy spoke. "She kept me goin' through the war…just 'er…I ain't givin' 'er up for no one."

Grace was about to respond with further questions, but the door to The Garrison opened up. Tommy looked up as Elizabeth stepped into the pub, hesitantly looking around as Tommy stood up and moved towards her. She found his gaze and she gave him a small smile as he moved his hands to her upper arms, noticing how she was shaking slightly. Her cheeks were still bruised and she looked tired.

"You should be restin'," Tommy informed her and she shook her head, her own hands moving to his shoulders.

"I am well enough," Elizabeth promised him. "Besides, I went into the kitchen this morning and your Aunt Pol looked as though she would throw me out the house herself if she had a choice."

Tommy shook his head, feeling his emotion swell inside of him. "Pol will do no such thing," he assured her. "She is the reason why…why I did not find you. She shall not interfere again, Liz."

"I believe you," Liz promised him. "Regardless, what is this I hear of my brother coming to Birmingham? What is happening, Tommy? I woke this morning and you were gone."

"I wanted you to rest," Tommy explained and walked her to a seat, pulling it out and allowing her to sit down as he resumed his place and looked slightly pleased when Liz failed to release his hand from hers. "A lot has happened, Liz, and a lot is about to happen. You need to believe that."

Elizabeth scoffed and Grace continued to stare at her. Her face was bruised and her frame was small. Her cheeks seemed hollow whilst her face was gaunt. She looked a mess and Grace suspected that had something to do with her brother. The girl had lived under his thumb for the past five years, but now Tommy had returned. The way Tommy looked at her was as though she meant everything. Grace was well aware that Tommy kept his emotions guarded, but she could see how his blue eyes were full of concern for Elizabeth.

"I am well aware that a lot shall happen," Elizabeth promised Tommy. "I have been living with Billy for years now. I know that he does not take kindly to people taking his possessions. You are aware that he does see me as nothing but his? I may be his sister, but he believes he owns me."

Tommy shook his head, picking up his whiskey in one hand and downing it with haste as Liz continued to hold his hand, her fingers resting inside of his as he looked back to her, knowing full well that it would take time for Liz to escape Billy. He knew that the spritely girl he loved was in her body. He had seen it from time to time, but he could see that the girl before him was broken to a certain extent. Being under Billy's control had seen to that.

"Your brother is comin' to Birmingham," Tommy declared. "He intends to…well…I doubt he intends to talk to me. I imagine that he would rather shoot me."

Tommy noted how Liz's face slowly drained of colour and she struggled to comprehend what she was hearing. She knew that Billy would never let her go, but she didn't want to think of him shooting Tommy.

"You have to tell the police," Liz urged him. "They can stop Billy."

Tommy chuckled then and he knew that Liz had no idea of what was happening in Birmingham. The police were not on Tommy's side and Campbell would rather watch Tommy be shot than help him. There was no love loss. Tommy was on his own.

"The police will not 'elp," he said to Liz, moving his free hand to the table and Liz placed hers inside of his. "Liz, I'm involved with the police and the man in charge will not 'elp me. You 'ave to believe me…he…he hates me."

Liz's brow furrowed and she ran her thumb over Tommy's knuckles as he lifted one hand to her cheek to stroke the skin there softly. She said nothing for a moment and Tommy looked over his shoulder as he heard something clatter behind the bar. Grace dropped an empty casket to the floor and cursed under her breath. Liz finally looked back to her and removed her hands from Tommy's hands. She stood up and moved to Grace.

"I am sorry," Liz said, "but are you the girl who was at the mansion?"

Grace tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded, her gaze flickering to Tommy as he remained seated and shrugged, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket.

"Yes," Grace spoke.

"I just want to say I am sorry," Liz said in a soft tone. "Billy…I…the way he treated you was not right. I am sorry for that."

"But it seems he treated you worse," Grace said, her distinct Irish accent shining through as Elizabeth nodded. "And now you are here…with Thomas Shelby."

"Well, yes," Elizabeth said, her hands resting on the bar as Tommy wondered where Grace was going with this conversation. "I…we…are…well…engaged."

"And that's enough of that," Tommy said as he saw Grace look at Elizabeth with a narrowed glare. "Grace 'as been a great 'elp around the pub."

"Aye," Grace said, rocking back and forth on her heels as she finished clearing the bar. "And that's all I've ever been, isn't it, Tommy?"

Tommy clenched his teeth and stood up, taking a final drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out. He moved over to the bar, his hand resting on Liz's back as she turned her gaze up to him, her brow arching as Tommy did his best not to sigh and snap at Grace. Why had she felt the need to bring anything up? There was nothing happening between them.

"What?" Liz managed to ask as Grace picked up the towel and moved into the back.

"Nothin'," Tommy said. "I…well…there was a moment between me and Grace…but it was nothin', Liz."

Elizabeth was about to scoff, but she shook her head. She didn't want to listen to Tommy tell her that. She didn't want to know, but Grace certainly seemed perturbed by everything that had happened. Liz wondered if Grace knew there was nothing going on between them now. The rock on Liz's wedding finger should tell her that.

"And does she know that?" Liz wondered. "Did you not mention me?"

"I thought that you 'ad run off, Liz," Tommy hissed as she turned to look him straight in the eye. "I told no one about you until I found you again. There was no one else for me but you. You know that. Don't ruin this."

Liz pressed a hand to her chest, her shirt crumpling underneath her hand. "I am running nothing. I merely wanted to know what was happening with you and Grace. She seems upset."

"She will 'ave to wait," Tommy mumbled. "I never promised her anythin', Liz. I never told her I loved 'er or that I wanted to be with 'er…I never said anythin'."

Liz nodded. "I believe you," Liz promised. "I just…I don't want to think about you being with someone else and me not being here and still with Billy. I don't want to go back, Tommy."

"And you're not," Tommy said, dipping down slightly to look her in the eye as his hands rested on her shoulders. "Liz, no matter what 'appens I will not let 'im take you back."

"But you would let him shoot you?" Elizabeth worried. "Tommy, please, I do not wish to see anyone hurt…just…will you not try to talk with the police? Just to see if there is anything…"

Elizabeth trailed off as the doors to The Garrison swung open, hitting the walls behind them. Arthur strode inside, his hands holding guns tightly as a cigarette hung from his mouth. He looked between both of them and shook his head, not bothering to snap at them. He didn't know how to tell Tommy how foolish he was being by keeping the Kimber girl with him. Billy Kimber was approximately two streets way from The Garrison with his boys. He had no intention of letting Tommy live.

"Kimber is round the corner," Arthur called out. "I have the Blinder's lined up outside. You ready?"

Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face as she moved to grasp Tommy's arm inside of her fingers, her grip tight as she struggled to release him. Tommy nodded at Arthur as the eldest Shelby rolled his eyes, wondering what was happening to his brother. Tommy had no emotion for anyone, yet he kept that little lapdog by his side as though she was the most valuable thing to him. She was a Kimber, not a Shelby. He should not put her first.

"What are you going to do, Tommy?" Elizabeth demanded from him. "I refuse to watch both of you fight."

"So you would watch him kill me?" Tommy asked her and she moved her hands to his shoulders, shaking her head as she did so. "It's goin' to end today, Liz. It ends now."

"I would watch no one die," Elizabeth hissed. "I hate Billy. I detest him for everything that he has done, but I do not want him dead. I do not want to see you kill him."

Tommy laughed then, a full laugh which erupted from his depths as he shook his head and moved his hand into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out a gun without a second thought. Liz winced at the sight of it and stepped back, shaking her head as Tommy studied her with intrigue.

"I am not the man you knew, Liz," he spoke in a low growl. "I 'ave changed. I won't think twice about shooting your brother and he won't think twice about shooting me. We 'ave killed…but I would never do anythin' to 'urt you, do you understand? I never 'urt people unless I have to."

Elizabeth felt tears well in her eyes as she shook her head. She had heard his words last night when he had told her that he had changed, but she didn't want to believe it. She didn't want him to be anything like Billy, but he was in more than one way. Suddenly the weight of his ring on her finger became too much.

"Stay 'ere," Tommy growled lowly. "I'll come back when this is finished."

Elizabeth said nothing as he stormed off, pulling the doors open with such force that she wondered what the hell had just happened. She knew that he was angry with her for what she had said, but she had told him the truth. She couldn't care less if Billy died, but what she did care about was Tommy being the one to kill him.

Resting her hands on the bar, Elizabeth inhaled a sharp breath and closed her eyes, wondering what she should do now. As she heard yells echo from the street outside, she straightened herself up and adjusted the skirt she wore into her shirt. She moved with haste, rushing from The Garrison and almost tripping on the cobbled stones as she looked at the sight before her.

Men stood with gun held in the air, pointed at the opposition as they yelled and taunted each other. Elizabeth couldn't help but feel sick at the sight of Tommy stood at the front, his cap firmly on his head as Billy stood opposite him, his own gun dangling by his side as he snarled at Tommy.

His gaze only moved to Elizabeth as she walked forwards, her footsteps hesitant as the boys around looked at her, questioning what the hell she was doing there.

"If it isn't your whore, Shelby," Billy chuckled and his men laughed loudly as Tommy turned to look at Liz, his blue eyes full of concern and annoyance. He had told her to stay inside. "Tell me, does she fuck good? I can make a tidy little profit when I take her back if she does…sell her on to a client."

Elizabeth looked to Billy then, the hurt in her eyes slowly disappearing as her brother continued to laugh and she stood next to Tommy. Tommy remained silent, his grip on his gun tightening as they spoke about Liz in such a manner. But he remained still. He knew how to be composed and calm when he had to be. Granted, he found it easier to lose his temper, but he knew the benefits of silence.

"Get out of here, Billy," Elizabeth finally snapped, stepping closer to her brother as his men kept their guns trained on the Blinders. "You need to leave and never come back. This is over."

"Fuck it is," Billy snarled. "The gypsy scum stole my money and my sister. If you think I'm leaving here without revenge then you're dumber than you look."

"And if you think I'm going to let you lay one finger on Tommy then you're just as dumb as you look," Elizabeth said, standing an inch from her brother, her head tilted upwards to look him in the eye as she noted his palm twitch. She nodded quickly, challenging him. "Do it," she hissed. "It makes you feel like a man, doesn't it? To have me as a punching bag always did delight you. Father taught you well, but he never taught you anything useful. He didn't teach you how to be intelligent…how to use your brain for something over than fucking whores and beating women…no…you are just as stupid as he was."

Tommy moved with haste then as he saw Kimber move his gun to his sister, his hand grabbing her waist to stop her from moving as his other hand pressed the revolver against her stomach. Tommy moved his own gun first and shot, the bang echoing through the street as the men yelled, but kept their own guns silent.

Coming behind Elizabeth, Tommy watched as Billy slumped against his sister. Liz didn't bother to hold his weight, stepping back into Tommy's grip as Billy collapsed to the floor, one bullet hole placed soundly in his head as his limp form rested on the cobbles. Tommy turned Liz in his hold, eyeing her body up and down as she shook, his hands holding her upper arms to keep her still.

"Did he 'urt you?" Tommy demanded from her and she shook her head.

Nodding, Tommy kept his hands around her and looked to Kimber's men. "This ends today," he yelled loudly. "Go home and do not come back here. There is nothing left for you to return to. Do you understand me?"

The Blinders moved too, following Kimber's men to make sure that they went. The street The Garrison sat on became empty, except for Tommy and Elizabeth. Billy's corpse had been taken by his boys and Liz had watched, her eyes wide as Tommy wondered what he should do now. He didn't know how to comfort or make things better.

All he could do was place a hand on her shoulder and speak in a hushed tone.

"I thought he was goin' to kill yer, Liz," Tommy whispered. "I thought…do you understand me? He was goin' to shoot you for what you said. I kept you alive."

Searching Tommy's stare, Liz shook her head. "But you intended to kill him regardless," she informed him. "I heard what you said in the pub, Tommy. I heard what you told me. I have spent my entire life in the company of killers and liars. I never thought that you were one of them."

Liz began to move away from Tommy, but the Shelby boy was quick. He caught up with her and turned her around, his grip tight on her arm as he dragged her back to him and forced her to look him in the eye, shaking her as she tried to fight from his hold.

"I do what I 'ave to," Tommy snapped, showing more emotion than he had done in weeks. "I came back and you weren't 'ere, Liz! You 'ad gone. I made a name for myself and I did what I had to so that the Shelby name can continue. I don't intend to 'urt people for fun…the people who end up 'urt are not innocent."

"And who are they?" Elizabeth demanded. "Are they people who work for my brother? People who earn a living because they have families to feed? Who are you to decide who is innocent and who is not? Do you truly believe that this is right? I have no idea what business you are involved with Thomas Shelby, and I do not want to know."

She tried to move off again, but Tommy refused to let her go. How had they gone from content to this? Elizabeth had come into the pub this morning and all had been well. And now she stood here, threatening to leave him.

"I can't let you go, Liz," Tommy snapped. "I lost you once, I can't lose you again."

"And what do you suggest we do?" Elizabeth demanded as Tommy continued to run his hands up and down her arms, desperate for her to see reason. Tommy was not a bad man. "Tommy…what the hell is going on? What have you gotten yourself into?"

"Nothin' I cannot handle," Tommy promised her. "Elizabeth…come back with me and let me explain…then…make up your mind…"

Elizabeth didn't know whether to trust him or not. She remained silent, her lips being chewed by her teeth as Tommy took her hand, holding it in their line of sight as she noted the stone sat on her finger and Tommy curled her hand into his, pressing his lips against her knuckles as he spoke.

"This ring…you took it, Liz…it must mean somethin'," he whispered. "Just let me explain before you run off. I watched you leave before…I'm not doin' it again."

….

A/N: Such an overwhelming response to this story! I hope this chapter was full and long enough for you! Hope you all have a good Christmas and let me know what you think