Chapter twelve: Cloudbursting


Weeks later,


"Kate?" Kate opened her eyes and yawned at the sound of Ruby and Charlie's excited voices coming from below. "Where are you?"

"Don't yell." That was Thomas's voice and he sounded tense. "She's up on the roof."

Kate sat up and peered down at them. She waved cheerfully. "Good morning!" she smiled broadly as she dangled her feet over the edge of the roof, purely for the pleasure of watching Thomas's eyes bulge. "I see all 3 of you are out for a ride." She smiled at Ruby and Charlie. "And you two have your own miniature horse now. Is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's a girl." Ruby chirped.

"We named her Tinkerbell…from Peter Pan." Charlie added.

She laughed. "How lovely, we'll have to finish that book soon, shall we?"

"Kate," Thomas dismounted, his discomfort evident in his body language. "Can you get down?"

"Of course, I got up here didn't I?"

"She's up there all the time." Charlie stated as she threw her notebook over the edge of the roof, watching it land in the garden with a satisfied plop.

Thomas tied his horse's reins around the porch railing. "Stay here." He walked around to the side of the house, towards the ladder. "Come her Kate, I'll help you down."

Kate stood up and walked towards the ladder. "Am I making you nervous?"

"Will you just get down, you bloody woman!" He snapped at her. "Before you fall and break your f**king neck!?"

Kate stared down at him, bracing the ladder and his knuckles white from gripping the ladder firmly. Kate crossed her arms, a smile on her face. "That's not very gentlemanly like of you."

"I'm way past being a gentleman when all I can see is you falling off the roof and breaking your f**king neck!" He waved for her to get down as the children giggled at this scene. "Now, get down this ladder."

"Not until you move away." He shot her a look of disbelief. "It's not proper!"

He blustered for a moment before snapping. "Kate, I've been married twice and fought in the war in France. Do you really think your undergarments are the first I've seen?" She placed her hands on her hips, glowered down at him while tapping her foot. "Sorry, can you please get down here? I won't look"

"Well, since you asked so nicely," she said sarcastically. "how can I refuse?" Thomas muttered something in another language as she descended the ladder. "Are you cursing at me, Thomas Shelby?"

"Possibly. You're f**king infuriating at times."

"What language was that?" she inquired. "I'm not familiar with the dialect."

"Romani gypsy."

Kate stopped halfway down the ladder to peer down at him. "Really? That's fascinating. Where'd you pick that up?"

He taps the sides of the ladder impatiently. "I'm not telling you anything more until your feet are on the ground." She snorted and continued to descend the ladder. Once she was on the fourth rung, she felt strong hands grip her around the waist and carefully help her get down the final rungs. "I got you."

"Thomas," She blushed as he swept her onto the ground. She swallowed as he studied her face. "you worry too much."

"You," he stated, with a finger pointed at her nose. "take too many unnecessary risks. What the hell were you doing up there anyway?"

"Writing." She pulled free and headed towards the garden, the grass tickling her bare feet. "It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and those May flowers are finally starting to grow. Why wouldn't I want to be on the roof?" She swerved her course from the garden towards the horses. "So, where are you guys going for a ride?"

"To the stream and back." Thomas stated as she rubbed Tinkerbell's nose. "They have to get back in time for lunch."

"Oh, why don't I put a picnic lunch together for you all?" she asked. "You can call the house and say you won't be there for lunch."

"I've got work to do."

"Couldn't you put it off for an hour?" She inquired. "you have to eat too."

Thomas hesitated, looking at Ruby and Charlie's faces. They were hoping, but they were keeping their excitement stifled in case he said no. He looked back at Kate and got lost in her eyes. "Alright," Ruby and Charlie both started shrieking with joy. "but only," their voices died down. "if you accompany us."

She frowned. "How would I get there?'

"You can ride behind me."

She hesitated a moment before nodding. "I guess we're going on a picnic!" Thomas took the reins for his horse from Charlie and moved to tie him to the porch rail. "Ok, Ruby and Charlie, dismount. I need you two to pick as many berries as you can find in the garden. I happen to have some food for a picnic." She turned to him. "Now, after you make that call Thomas, you can tell me how you know how to speak Romani. It's utterly fascinating!"


An hour later,


Thomas exhaled as he watched Kate begin to tuck the food scraps inside her picnic hamper. Kate's idea of 'some food' involved sliced ham, brie cheese, bread and butter, crackers, fresh fruit and bars of dark chocolate.

"Can we go play tag?" Ruby asked.

He nodded. "Yes, don't go in the creek though."

Kate cleared her throat and asked softly. "How about…wading? That couldn't do much harm."

He hesitated before nodding. "Alright, you can go in the water. Leave your socks and shoes here, but don't go in deep!." Both of them plopped onto the picnic blanket and ripped off their shoes and socks. "Stay where we can see you!"

"Yes daddy!" Ruby said. "Thank you!"

He smiled faintly at her. "You're welcome." Charlie grabs her hand and together they ran down towards the creek. It's more like a stream due to the heavy rains. "You've done wonders with her."

She frowned. "How so?"

"She's never really called me daddy much."

She bit her lip. "Well, with Lizzie gone, she gets to spend more time with you. Ruby and Charlie tell me that you read them stories on the weekends occasionally."

He chuckles as he leans back against the oak tree. "When I have the time."

"Little things like that can make a large difference." She resumed tucking the food into basket, wrapping them in the cloth. "Remember, you used to spend almost no time with them."

A loud splash, accompanied by a shriek, caused him to jump. To his relief, it was just Charlie throwing rocks into the stream. He exhaled deeply again and leaned back against the tree. The nightmares had started up again when Lizzie died. He hadn't had any panics in the daytime for a long time and he hoped that today wasn't one of those days. A glance towards Kate, informed him that she'd observed the whole moment.

"Are you ok?" she asked gently. "You're a little jumpy."

He shrugs. "I'm fine."

She's silent for a moment before asking. "You're having one of those days?" He turns towards her in surprise. She scoots closer to him. "I get them on occasion. With what we've seen…it's impossible to forget them completely, or to even find peace completely."

"How'd you find yours?" he asked.

She was silent for a moment. "Well, I ran into some man in a stable many years ago who was going to shoot his horse." He chuckled lightly. "He gave me some pretty sage advice."

"What could that advice have been?"

"To hang in there." She exhales and rests her head on his knee, surprising him for a moment. He reached forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently rubbing her shoulder. She let out an exhale as she closed her eyes "You never know who will need your help when you're gone. The world would be a lot darker if you weren't in it. And then…there are days like this when…you just have to let the peace come to you."

Slowly, Thomas felt the tension slowly leave his body. Kate had this soothing quality about her, he didn't understand it. He didn't understand how she was able to get him to do whatever she wanted. Before leaving, she'd made him leave his coat in the cottage so it wouldn't get dirty. On the ride to the stream, she'd kept both her arms around his waist while he held the picnic basket with one hand. He could tell his closeness still unease her on occasion, but she was adjusting to him. He reached for her hair, gently pulling the pins free and letting them fall to ground. She stirred, rolling on her back which put her head into the natural cradle of his thighs. Her eyes widened slightly and she stared up at him. Thomas ran his hand under her chin, keeping his touch soft and gentle.

A shriek and splash caused them to look up. Kate laughed lightly as he stood up, helping her to her feet. "It looks like Ruby slipped and fell in."

"Damn it." He muttered as they headed down to the stream. "I told them not to get wet."

"I'm sure it was an accident. Just brush it off." Ruby started crying loudly. "See, she's already terrified she's going to be punished."

"Ruby slipped on a rock." Charlie said from where he was helping her to her feet. "It was an accident."

Thomas decided to go with Kate's advice. "How's the water?" He sat down on the edge of a huge rock and watched them. Ruby stopped crying and started sniffling as she looked from him, to Kate and then to Charlie in confusion.

"Is it cold?" Kate asked as she sat next to him on the rock, her hip brushing up against his as she knelt over to remove her shoes and unroll her stockings.

"No." Ruby wiped her eyes. "It's good."

Kate brought her skirt up a respectable height and Thomas didn't even bother not looking away from her. She feels him shamelessly ogling him as she carefully removes her stockings. He stares at her as she blushes, he doesn't look away as she unrolls her thigh-high stockings. He watches, enjoying the sight of her flushing under his gaze. She always wore floor length dresses and this was the first time that he actually was able to glimpse the sight of her skin.

She pulls down her skirt after wadding up her stockings and putting them on the rock beside him. she cleared her throat and hurries into the water. "Oh, this is lovely." She turned towards him. "Come on in and join us."

"Nope." He stated. He wasn't going to get in there.

"Come on Thomas." She walks out of the stream and stands by him. He shakes his head as he leaned back slightly. "I'll let you hold my hand."

"Tempting, but I'll watch." Kate didn't even blink. Suddenly, she grabbed his shoe right off his foot and ran for the stream. "Kate!" He bellowed as he raced after her. "Get the f**k back here!"

She turned, dangling the shoe over the water, causing him to slow down. "Then kick off your shoes and join us."

"Those," he approached her cautiously, kicking off his other shoe and pulled off his socks. "shoes…cost me 20 fu-

"Language!" Kate cut him off. "There are children present."

He cursed in Romani, causing Charlie to laugh at him. Kate glanced towards Charlie. "What did he say Charlie?"

"He said-

And Thomas lunged at Kate, grabbing her around the waist! She let out a shriek and flung the shoe as she fell backwards into the stream. She grabbed ahold of him in a panic, Thomas lost his balance so he fell, taking her down with him. Kate came up spluttering as the children started cheering as he kept her pinned under him. Thomas looked for his shoe, which was now rapidly floating down the stream.

"One of you, go get my shoe."

"I'll get it!" Ruby and Charlie screamed as they ran for the shoe.

Thomas looked down into Kate's smiling face and tried to stay angry at her, but she looked happy. "I'm sorry." Kate laughed as she splashed water in his face. "I'll buy you a new pair in London."

"That wasn't the point!" she splashed him again and he grabbed her wrists. "Will you stop doing that?"

"Or what?" the words popped out of her mouth before she could stop them.

"I'm going to kiss you." Kate stared at him as he clasped her neck, his thumb brushing her cheek as he spoke with a low, threatening voice. "I don't care if the children are here, I will kiss you until you pass out." She could only stare up at him, temporarily paralyzed for a moment. "Understood?"

She nodded. "Yes." His blood started to pound in his veins and he contemplated steeling a kiss from her right now. "Uhh, you should get off me." She stated as she shifted uncomfortably underneath him. she was probably sensing his thoughts now.

"Why should I?" her mouth dropped open at the blatantly mischievous tone in his voice.

"I need to fix my dress."

He glanced down at her legs and his brow arched appreciatively as he realized that her skirt was resting atop her knees. "Why?"

"Thomas….what is your middle name?"

"Michael."

"Thomas Michael Shelby," she gasped as he gripped her knee, then he started sliding his hand towards her thighs. "stop!"

"I'm just touching you." he assured her. "I'm not going too far."

She jumped as his hand moved slowly up her thigh. "Please."

He shushed her gently as she grabbed ahold of his hand. "It's alright." He assured her as he moved slowly, wanting her to get used to his touch. She inhaled sharply as he brought her hand back upward towards her knee. Kate's breathing changed, growing shallower as her eyes got wider. "Just touching you."

She gasped as he gently rubbed her knee. "You shouldn't." She inhaled sharply as his hand moved back towards her thigh. She gasped and grabbed ahold of his hand. He stared at her, causing her to shiver.

"Has anyone…ever touched you like this, Kate?"

She stared at him, her eyes wide and her lips parted slightly. She shook her head. "No."

"Men are fools." She stammered lightly at his statement, struggling to find the words. However, Charlie's yell causes him to remove his hand from underneath her skirts.

"I got your shoe!" Charlie shouted.

"Good boy." He didn't even bother to break eye contact with Kate as she scrambled to get her skirts back in order. "Your face is all f**king pink."

Kate suddenly gave him a shove, causing him to land on his side as she bolted up and raced towards Ruby and Charlie. "Water fight!" She shrieked, only to let out a scream as he grabbed her by the ankle and she went flying face first into the water. "Oh! You scoundrel!"

Ruby and Charlie ran towards them, with a very Indian sounding war cry. Thomas specifically targeted Kate. With all her screaming and protestations, Ruby and Charlie joined in splashing him to rescue Kate. After thirty minutes or so of rough play in the water, Ruby announced she was cold.

Thomas glanced up at the sky, they'd been gone for several hours and he hadn't even realized it. "We should be getting back."

"I brought some towels in the picnic basket." Kate held onto his arm as he helped her out of the stream. Her hair, having escaped most of her pins, was plastered to her face, giving her a slightly comical look. "I'll get them for you and your father will get your shoes. You two stay on the rocks, they should still be warm."

"Whatever made you think to pack towels?" He asked as he helped her pick her way through the grass.

"It's a picnic by the stream." She said innocently. "What could possibly go wrong involving small children?"

He laughed as they reached the picnic basket. She pulled out two towels from the picnic basket. He took a quick glance at the children; they both had their backs to them. He gripped her elbow and pulled her towards him, ducking behind the oak tree.

Kate frowned in confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Answer me this Kate," he inhaled before asking her. "when was the last time you were kissed?"

Her mouth dropped open in surprise at his bold question. "When…Emmett proposed."

"So, almost 12 years ago, then?" She could only nod. He was silent for a moment before stating. "I better make this a good one then."

"What are you-" That was all Kate got to say to him before his lips touched hers for the first time.

He'd kissed many women before, make no mistake. However, this kiss took him by completely by surprise, nearly paralyzing him at the effect her lips had on him. Her lips tasted like sunshine and water. He felt the innocence in this kiss, the light radiating from inside her broke through the dark clouds inside his heart, chasing the darkness away. Kate trembled under his advances, but she didn't push him away. He kept his hands on her waist as he drank this moment in with her.

Kate, timidly rested her hands on his forearms and to his delight, she leaned in closer to him as the kisses deepened. It was in this moment that he felt all this pent up love and passion for this woman, rise up in him and fill his entire being. Had he ever felt this way before? So much warmth and contentment burned inside of him at this moment that he wanted more. God, he craved more of this. It was her, she was filling him with this. She let out a moan and he kissed her deeper. God, he wanted to drink her in so deeply.

The sounds of Charlie and Ruby quarreling forced him to reluctantly break the kiss. Kate was blushing a vibrant pink and her fingers were trembling as she touched her mouth, as if unsure how to process this whole moment between them. it was almost enough to cause him to grab her and kiss her again, but he resisted.

Instead, he leaned down and picked up the towels she'd dropped and handed them to her. "We should get back."

She blinked and stared at them for a moment before taking the towels from him. She nodded as she cleared her throat. "Yes. Uhh, grab their shoes."

"Of course." She stepped around the tree and headed back to the creek. "And Kate," she turned towards him, the expression in her eyes were slightly wary. "we should do this more often."

She nodded. "Yes, the picnic was rather fun."

He laughed as she ran a hand nervously through her hair. "Yes, we should do that too." Kate frowned, mulling over his words for a moment before gasping in shock.

"You shouldn't say such things." He laughed at her as she shook her head in amusement and walked away from him. He smiled as he watched her walk briskly away from him. This kiss told him what he'd suspected that day in the field when he first saw her emerge from the fog like some unearthly spirit. It had terrified him at first, but he knew that he was looking at his future with her and he couldn't wait to start exploring it.