Elizabeth took hold of Tommy's hand inside of hers, holding his fingers tightly as he helped her from the bed. Nodding his head, he said nothing to her before she moved to take her boots into her fingers. She slipped them onto her feet and rushed to the door, Tommy close on her tail as she went. She peeled the door open and heard Mary arguing with Campbell at the doorway.

She failed to care that she was still in her nightgown as she moved down the corridor, reaching behind her to take Tommy by the hand. He complied, his body pressed closely against hers as Elizabeth led them through the house. She came to the doorway by her brother's room and peeled it open.

Tommy's brows knitted together as he looked into the door and saw a spiral staircase. The hidden staircase was steep and narrow, but that didn't seem to bother the couple as they moved down the steps quickly. Tommy held Liz's hand in mid air to make sure that she didn't fall down the steps without him.

Once they were at the bottom Liz opened another door and stepped into the kitchen.

"Billy has some cars in the garage," she informed Tommy and he nodded to her. "He kept the keys hidden in a drawer in here."

Liz peeled the drawer open and picked up a key and handed it to Tommy. He held it in his palm tightly and began to move with haste, grabbing Liz with his other hand as they left through the back door. The roars of policemen inside of the house echoed throughout the rooms and Elizabeth did her best not to seem too worried.

"Come on, Liz," Tommy urged her as he looked to the garage. There was no door and it was more like an outbuilding full of cars.

Tommy held the door open and Liz climbed in, hiking her skirt to her knees before sliding across the seat to the passenger side. Tommy gasped for breath as he pushed the key into the ignition and the car started with the flick of the key. Elizabeth watched him slide the car into gear before setting off faster than she had anticipated. She slid back in her seat and Tommy moved to the side of the Manor.

"They will be at the front, Liz," Tommy warned her. "It isn't too late to stop."

"No," Elizabeth shook her head at him. "I want to go, Tommy…just keep driving."

Tommy took in a sharp breath before he sped up, the sight of several police cars coming into sight. He took his shaking hand from the gear, moving it to rest on the steering wheel as he focused with a high intensity. Liz closed her eyes as soon as she saw one police officer. Before she knew it the yells to the others echoed around and Tommy ignored them.

He had no intention of being caught today. Liz was about to take hold of Tommy's hand before the car jolted in the road and Tommy cursed under his breath.

"What is it?" Liz worried.

"I don't know," Tommy mumbled. "Nothin' I 'ope…it still goes…we need to get to the canals…get down to London and 'ide…"

"Will we be able to do that?" Elizabeth worried and Tommy nodded his head.

"I 'ave men who are loyal, Liz," he promised her. "Just trust me."

And what other option did she have but to trust Tommy?

….

Tommy told Liz to wait in the car as he sorted out the preparations for their journey down to London. He had hired the first barge leaving and the man had agreed to smuggle him down for a small fee. Tommy had paid and he knew that he would need Pol to send him more money down to London when he had a chance.

He had nothing but the clothes on his back and the coat he was wearing. He had his wallet and enough money to see them through for a week, but nothing more. Looking around the dirty streets, Tommy felt odd. He had no intention of returning to Birmingham, nor did he wish to.

Once he had shaken the man's hand, he dropped his cigarette into the puddle beneath him, squashing it with the heel of his boot before he moved back to the car. He opened the door and Liz looked down to him.

Tommy couldn't help but notice how much of a mess she looked. She was still dressed in her nightgown and boots. Her hair was loose around her head and her face was red with worry. Offering her his hand, Liz took it, thinking that he was helping her from the car.

She was more shocked when his other arm wrapped around her waist and he moved his arm to knock her from her feet, tilting her into his arms as she wrapped her arm around his broad shoulders.

"We 'ave a ride," Tommy declared. "We'll go to London and make somethin', eh, Liz?"

Elizabeth didn't know how she felt. She was still angry with Tommy. She doubted that would subside just yet, but she was not that mad that she felt no relief. She had taken hold of him tightly and nodded, kissing his cheek as she remained silent, not knowing what to say. She loved him more than she hated him.

"Tommy."

Tommy froze as he made his way to the barge. He turned around, slowly lowering Liz to the ground as she kept an arm wrapped around him. It was then when he moved his coat from his shoulders to drape over her, his eyes glowering at the woman stood across from him holding a suitcase in her fingertips.

"What is it, Pol?" Tommy asked and the woman sauntered towards them, her hips swaying and her head held high as her hat threatened to fall from her locks. "We need to go."

"I know," Pol said. "The police are swarming the streets, Tommy. You're a wanted man…and I knew you had the sense to flee. I've been waitin' 'ere for ages…I knew you would not go without 'er."

Liz could still hear the venom from Pol's voice, but she ignored, pretending not to be bothered by it. And she wasn't to a certain extent. Pol had said her piece and now she had finished. She had business involving herself with Tommy or Liz.

"I brought you some things," Pol declared, handing the suitcase to Tommy who took it. "Some clothes for bother of yer. I 'ad to get some of Ada's clothes so they might not be what yer used to."

Liz was shocked. She had never thought the woman would be considerate towards her. She did not throw it back in her face, however. She merely nodded her thanks and Pol seemed to understand as she offered her a stiff nod. Tommy sighed, the case swinging aimlessly by his side as Pol moved into her coat pocket, pulling out a wad of money and offering it to Tommy.

"We'll keep the business goin' while your gone," Pol said, motioning to the money with her chin. "And…maybe you'll come back one day…hopefully…but we'll mail yer money down. Just make sure you tell us where you are."

Tommy nodded, taking the cash and stuffing it into the inside of his jacket pocket. "I don't think I'll be back, Pol."

"Well, maybe, maybe not," Pol said, not wanting to think of Tommy gone forever. "We'll see, eh? Anyway, I 'ave somethin' else…and that's it…"

She moved back into her pocket and Tommy almost looked impatient before she saw him pull his mother's ring out. He would have smiled if he intended to show emotion, but he said nothing. Instead he took the ring from Pol and admired it. He knew exactly where that belonged.

"Look after yerself, Tommy," Pol said, moving to embrace him quickly.

Tommy hesitantly placed an arm around her before he pulled back and took a deep breath. "You too, Pol…keep the boys out of trouble, eh?"

She chuckled at that as Tommy's attention on the barge was demanded. Moving backwards, Pol looked at Liz and Tommy as he took hold of the Kimber girl by the waist, leading her towards the barge and helping her onto it. Pol could not help but note how he handled her like a delicate object which could break at any given point. He helped her into the boat and led her into the small cabin he had rented out.

And with that, Thomas Shelby had gone from Birmingham.

….

Tommy had managed to find some bread and cheese to eat that evening before he went back to find Liz. The small cabin contained nothing but one single mattress which Liz was currently sat on top of, the blanket huddled over her shoulders along with Tommy's coat.

Sitting on the bed with her, Tommy placed the food between them, looking out the small window and into the darkness. He closed the curtains again and checked that he had locked the door to the cabin. There was one small lamp sat on the floor by the bed along with some disregarded glasses and plates from the crew's earlier journey.

"I know it ain't much," Tommy mumbled and Liz shook her head.

"It's fine, Tommy," she promised him, moving to take hold of some bread, tearing some of it off and chewing on it slowly. "I am not all too hungry anyway."

"But yer still cold?" Tommy asked and she shrugged her shoulders.

The thin layer of her nightgown, even with the added thickness was not particularly enough to keep her from shaking. She shook her head and Tommy moved to take hold of her hands, recoiling slightly as he did so.

"Christ, Liz," he mumbled. "Yer freezing."

"I think it is just shock and…everything…" Liz said and Tommy moved to sit next to her on the mattress.

He pushed the food onto the floor and Liz moved up to give him room to sit next to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he ran his hands up and down her body, trying to create some friction to keep her warm. She moved so that her head was against the bare skin of his neck, her forehead pressing there and feeling his warmth.

"What did he do to yer, Liz?" Tommy suddenly asked her. "What did Campbell do?"

"Campbell only taunted me," Liz said, preferring not to discuss this but knowing that Tommy had no intention of letting it drop. He could be like a dog with a bone when he wanted to be.

"What did he say?" Tommy wondered, his chin resting on her forehead as her voice broke slightly and her hot breath moved onto his bare skin as she shrugged her shoulders.

"He told me I was a whore," she whispered. "It was the usual things…the usual insults…I tried to ignore him…After years of Billy telling me that I am a whore then it wasn't too bad…it was Campbell's men…they bruised me and groped me and the dark…it was the dark, Tommy."

Taking her hand, Tommy held it tightly as he closed his eyes and did his best not to let his anger boil over. He would still have his revenge one way or another. He had to have his revenge for what had happened to her.

"I've got yer, Liz," Tommy promised her in a low whisper. "They'll never 'urt yer again, not as long as I am here. I promise you."

Nodding against him, Elizabeth sniffed before she pulled back slightly to look him in the eye, his blue gaze searching hers as the back of his hand moved down her bruised cheek and he swore that nothing would hurt her from now on. She closed her eyes as he continued to stroke her face tenderly.

"No one will come between us now, Liz," Tommy assured her. "We 'ave London. We 'ave all that we need."

Liz smiled sadly and did her best to stop crying. She knew it was impossible, but she had to try. Tommy moved to take the ring from his pocket and held it between them and Liz laughed once, sniffing as her nose began to run. He smiled down to her too, his cheek resting against the side of her head as he brought her closer to him again.

"Perhaps you can wear this forever now, eh?" he suggested, slipping the engagement ring back onto her finger and she nodded.

"I would like that."

Elizabeth wore a long blue dress on her frame. The material clung to her waist and flowed beneath her knees, revealing her dirty boots on her foot. She moved to take hold of Tommy's hands as he helped her from the boat. His cap sat on the top of his head as he looked around Camden Town.

They had done it. They had made it to London.

Offering his arm to Liz, Tommy watched as she smiled to him and laced her arm inside of his. He thanked the man for their help before he picked their suitcase up and began to move down the cobbled streets, listening to the hustle and bustle as he went.

"Thomas Shelby."

Liz was the one to stiffen at the sound of Tommy's name being called. She looked up, noting a tall man stood before them. Behind them stood another five men and Tommy did his best not to look too annoyed at what he was seeing. As he looked around, he sighed and felt Liz cling tighter to him, her fingers digging deep into his skin.

"Who is asking?" Tommy asked, his voice clear and his gaze even.

The man stepped forwards, a smirk on his face as he did so. It was then when Liz knew something was off. Something was placing London in jeopardy along with their fresh start.

And then the man spoke, his own voice crisp and clear.

"Alfie Solomons."

…..

A/N: Thank you to everyone reading once again and do let me know what you think! Happy new year to you all!