Parking the car, Tommy climbed from the vehicle, not bothering to grab hold of his trunk. He had more pressing matters to attend to. He walked towards the front door, pushing it open as the sun slowly set. He had dropped John and Arthur off back home before returning himself. The boys had asked him what had happened with him and the Grand Duchess, but he had said nothing. Nothing had happened and Tommy would never have done that.

He would never have gone against Elizabeth in such a manner. He wouldn't have done that to her. Now all that he could think of was getting home and being with his wife. He wanted her more than Tatiana could imagine. The way that the woman had spoken of his wife was enough to make Tommy's blood boil. But he had kept his emotions to himself.

"Tommy."

He heard his wife sigh his name as soon as he entered the mansion. She was walking over to him, dressed in a long skirt with a white blouse tucked into it. She had no chance to say anything further as Tommy drew her lips against his, his arm securing around her waist as his other hand went to stroke her cheek.

Elizabeth didn't complain, not entirely used to these kinds of greetings from Tommy. He was usually only passionate when he had a reason to be. She closed her eyes for a moment as Tommy pulled back and then pecked her once more on the lips.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked, her hands going to cup the back of his neck as he shook his head.

"Nothin' important," he promised her. "Just know that I'd never 'urt yeh, eh?"

"Tommy, you're worrying me," Elizabeth mumbled and he shook his head at her. That was the last thing he wanted to do. "What is it?"

"Thomas Shelby!"

Tommy had no chance to explain as Pol yelled, her voice a roar as she stormed from the sitting room and into the foyer. Elizabeth was about to complain that she had just gotten Charlotte to sleep, but she kept that to herself. Instead she pulled back from Tommy who looked over to Pol with an arched brow.

"What is it?"

"Don't you dare act foolish!" Pol continued to yell, her voice verging on hysteria as Elizabeth stood besides Tommy, knowing full well that this could be bad news for him, especially if he didn't back down.

"She knows what you said to Michael," Elizabeth explained. "About what the priest did to him and how you…well…how you told him that he could have his revenge."

Tommy nodded. "Aye, I did," he said, hands going to sit in the pockets of his trousers. "And?"

His voice was so nonchalant that Elizabeth felt herself cringe at hearing him. She had no idea what more she could say. Looking to the staircase, she saw Finn stood at the top of it and she moved off as Pol continued to yell at Tommy. The young boy didn't deserve to witness any of this. Coming to the top of the steps, Elizabeth looked to Finn.

"Come on," she urged from him.

"But what are they arguing about?" Finn asked, clearly inquisitive as he craned his neck and heard Pol continue to yell. "What has Michael done?"

"Nothing," Elizabeth responded with a shake of her head, taking him by the shoulder and steering him back towards the guest chamber.

"I'm sixteen, Liz," Finn complained and Elizabeth almost wanted to laugh at hearing him. She thought that she had been very clever at sixteen too. Heck, she was in her mid twenties and she still felt naïve in many things.

"You are," Liz said, "but you are still a young boy, so come on."

Finn reluctantly did as he was bid and moved into the guest room as Elizabeth watched him go and sit down on the bed. She was about to leave, but he spoke, stopping her in her tracks.

"I know," Finn said quickly. "I know what they do."

Elizabeth turned on her heel and moved back towards Finn, perching on the side of his bed, her hands supporting her weight as she looked across to him. He folded his legs underneath him and rested his hands on his kneecaps. He looked down to the bed as Elizabeth continued to observe him.

"They kill people," Finn said and Elizabeth shook her head.

"No, they-"

"-They do," Finn interrupted. "I've 'eard John and Arthur. They…they've killed and 'urt people. Like the man Lizzie Starke were seeing. I think that's why they don't want me to join 'em."

Elizabeth arched a brow. "And did you want to join them?" she wondered from him, knowing that she should be with her husband and helping him, but that wasn't where she wanted to be. Right now she wanted to be with Finn.

"I did," Finn nodded his head. "I want to 'elp run the business."

"And you can," Elizabeth said to him. "What your brothers have done…I…I know that it might seem hard to believe, but they have done it because they have had to, most of the times. They have had to do it to stay alive."

"And Tommy?" Finn wondered.

"Tommy has done things that he is not proud of," Elizabeth admitted. "He has killed people who have wanted to kill him. I know that it seems like a lot to understand."

Finn shook his head. "I understand," Finn said. "I wanted to be exactly like Tommy when I were growin' up."

"And now?"

"I want to be like 'im," Finn said with a nod of his head. "I just don't know if I want to be exactly like 'im."

Elizabeth moved closer to Finn then, daring to take hold of the boy's hand. She held onto it and looked him in the eye. "Then don't be like him," she urged from him. "You can be whoever you want to be, Finn. If you want to go into the business then help them, but you do not need to be exactly like them. You never need to be exactly like them."

"I don't know if I want to be," Finn admitted.

"Then that is fine," Elizabeth said. "You are a bright boy, Finn. You could be anything you want to."

"Maybe," Finn said with a shrug. "What did yer want to do when yer were my age?"

Elizabeth bit down on her lip, unsure of how to answer that. She shrugged her shoulders and looked to the ceiling for a moment. "I honestly don't know," she said to him. "I…well…I was living with my family but at the time all I wanted was for me and my mum to leave. You know about my brother and father? Even though you were so young?"

"They 'urt yer," Finn said. "Tommy told me that."

"They did," Elizabeth said. "So I never knew what I wanted to do. But now? Now I know that I want to teach."

"I don't know what I want," Finn said and Elizabeth squeezed his hand tightly.

"You have time," she promised him. "You will know one day."

"Thanks, Liz," Finn said. "I like stayin' 'ere. Do yer think I could stay tonight? I don't want to go back just yet."

"Of course," Elizabeth said and moved to her feet. "Now, you stay in here while I go and speak with Tommy and your Aunt Pol. Charlotte should be asleep but if you hear her crying then just come and get me. Although I do think that Charlotte has warmed to you quite a bit."

"Do yer think I'm 'er favourite Uncle?"

"I don't doubt it," Elizabeth shot him a smirk and then left the room, closing the door behind her.

Wandering back down the staircase, she saw that Tommy had moved into his study, but he was alone. Looking around, she saw no sign of Pol. Wandering into the study; she closed the door behind her and looked to Tommy. He was stood by the window, looking out over the yard as the sun set over the horizon. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips as Elizabeth clasped her hands into her skirts.

"What did you say to Pol?" she wondered from him and Tommy shrugged.

"The same thin' I always said," Tommy declared. "Michael is a man and he can make 'is own choices."

"Tommy," Elizabeth complained in a low voice as he shrugged.

"I ain't gettin' in the middle of it," he spoke. "If she wants to try and stop 'im then she is welcome to."

"But she knows that he looks up to you," Elizabeth said. "Thomas, please."

"Thomas," he said in a mutter. "I must be in trouble."

"Not yet," Elizabeth said and he arched a brow in her direction. "Tommy, just talk to him and tell him that he doesn't have to do this. Tell him that."

"I'll tell 'im, but I doubt he'll listen to me."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, wondering what more she could say. They had already rowed on the matter and she understood exactly what Pol was saying. She knew exactly why Pol was upset. She wanted to protect her son. She wanted to make sure that he was innocent and safe. Just like Elizabeth wanted to protect Charlotte. Just like she now felt about protecting Finn after their talk.

"Just talk to him," Elizabeth said, holding a hand up to indicate that was the end of the conversation. "That is all I ask."

"And yer know I hardly ever refuse yer what yer want," Tommy said, holding his hand out towards his wife.

She moved towards him, taking hold of his hand and holding onto it as she leant against his side. Tommy leant over to stub his cigarette out in the ashtray on the windowsill. Moving his free arm to wrap around her, Tommy drew her close as he let his hand wander towards the back of her head.

"Pol has done everything in her power to protect Michael," Elizabeth declared. "What she…what Campbell did to her…she has done everything to protect him just like we would do anything to protect Charlotte."

"Aye," Tommy muttered.

They lapsed into silence for a moment before Elizabeth spoke; "What happened in London?"

"I got what I needed," Tommy said, hand running into her hair and holding the curls softly. "Alfie did 'is part. Our spy is still in their ranks…but…well…it was a rather unconventional party we intruded on."

"Oh?"

"I think they call it somethin' like a sex party," Tommy said.

Pulling back, Elizabeth looked to her husband, eyes wide as he took in her expression. He shrugged his shoulders down to her, bending back slightly so he could look her in the eye.

"A sex party?" she repeated.

"Aye," Tommy said. "Do yer need any more expalinin' or yer alright?"

She hit his chest at his teasing tone and Tommy chuckled, moving both hands to rest on the small of her back, his arms entrapping her in his grip as she kept her hands on his chest. Biting down on her lips, she let her mind wander for a moment.

"Well, you are right about that being unconventional," she agreed with him.

"John and Arthur partook," Tommy said.

"No," Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. "But what about Linda and Esme? If they knew then surely they would be horrified."

Tommy shrugged. "Ain't in our place to tell 'em," he said. She said nothing and then Tommy let out a deep breath before watching his wife with intrigue for a moment. "So are yer goin' to ask me?"

"Ask you what?" she wondered from him. "Ask you if you partook and laid with someone else? I didn't think that I had to ask you that."

Tommy let his eyes brows rise on his forehead at hearing her. He took a moment to consider what he was hearing before he felt her hands cup his cheeks, the motion gentle and tender.

"I would never betray yer like that," Tommy told her.

"I know," Elizabeth said, looking into his eyes. "I trust you unequivocally, Tommy. After everything we have been through, I know that you would never do that to me…hurt me like that…just like I would never hurt you like that."

He bent down, kissing her tenderly before he moved, the motion bold as he turned her around and pressed her back against the wall, still hungrily kissing her as his hands reached into her skirt for her blouse, tugging it out. Elizabeth pulled back then, hands going to his chest to push him back slightly.

"Not here," she said with a shake of her head. "Finn is upstairs. He could come down here anytime."

Tommy seemed to relent, kissing her once more on the lips before pulling back and looking her in the eye.

"Although I should tell yer that the Grand Duchess propositioned me," Tommy said.

"Excuse me?" Elizabeth snarled and Tommy chuckled, knowing that this was the kind of reaction he had expected. A part of him felt something stir inside of him at her acting in such a manner.

"She told me that she could please me," Tommy said. "I told 'er what yer think I'd tell 'er."

"I would like to tell her a few things," Elizabeth said, escaping Tommy's grip and wandering around the study, hands on her hips as she paced up and down.

Tommy leant against the wall, arms folding over his chest as he watched his wife. He knew that he didn't need to tell her what had happened, but he also knew that there should be no secrets between them, especially since their previous arguments caused by secrets and lies.

"She was desperate, Liz," Tommy informed his wife.

"Desperate?" she echoed. "She tried to seduce you…my husband…how dare she? Does she not quite understand that you are married? Is the wedding ring on your finger not self-explanatory enough?'

Tommy chuckled and Elizabeth shot her glare in his direction.

"What is so funny?" she demanded.

"You," Tommy responded. "It's…well…I don't know what it is, but I know that it makes me love yer even more, if that were possible."

Elizabeth let her eyes linger on him. "I didn't think it was possible," she said to him. "Just promise me that if she ever comes near you again that you will tell me and I will talk with her. I will tell her exactly what I think of her."

"Don't doubt it," Tommy said and moved towards his wife once more, bending down to kiss her. "Come on, I want to see Charlotte and not think of that woman anymore."

Elizabeth moved with Tommy upstairs to watch Charlotte sleep. They both stood quietly by the doorway, Tommy watching his daughter as Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek resting against his chest. Bending down to kiss Elizabeth on the top of her head, he let his eyes wander back to Charlotte, silently vowing to keep her safe from anyone who might try to hurt her.

….

A/N: Thanks to everyone reading! Do let me know what you think!