Mazella could hear the slight tapping of rain hitting the window as she grabbed the thick blanket from the back of her sofa and threw it over her legs. A fire crackled in the hearth, keeping the parlor warm. Maze curled onto the sofa in the parlor, a thick book in her lap. Two thick binders sat on the small table in front of the sofa, the writing utensils beside them.

She was ready to stay in for the day and review the thick book in front of her when there was a quiet knock on her front door. Sighing, she set the book on top of the binders, watching it slide off the top binder and rose to her feet. As she stepped into the hallway, she saw Thomas through the window on the other side of the door.

Opening the door, she saw her mate standing there waiting on her like a paramour instead of her... husband. It made her head hurt thinking about it when there wasn't a wedding band on her finger. Maze compartmentalized her relationship with Thomas as a fiancee instead of wife. It made it easier for her to accept. Though she pondered, he never proposed to her.

"You know you don't have to knock anymore," she said, leaning against the door but invited him inside. "You have a key."

Removing his hat, he walked in and turned to her as she closed the door for privacy. "I know that, just being polite." He said, pulling her close to kiss her.

Their lips met softly, tasting each other before he nuzzled her against the wall, trapping her. Her left hand came to slide up the side of his neck, her fingers teasing the earlobe as he deepened the kiss. He grunted, his hands coming down to grab her arse, lifting her up before carrying her upstairs to her bedroom.

Thomas looked up at the ceiling in Maze's bedroom, his body and mind sated for the moment as he laid there naked beside her. He lifted his head, feeling her move around to reach across him to pick up her wristwatch. Caressing her back, he felt goosebumps rise on her skin.

She turned her head slightly, smiling at him before pressing a kiss on his shoulder. Moving back to cocoon herself in his warmth, she rested her head on his chest.

"You came over for something, Thomas," she said, drawing invisible circles on his chest with a finger.

"I did," he replied, looking down at the crown of her head. "John's getting married tomorrow."

She sat up quickly, jostling him, and ran her fingers through her messy hair. "I didn't think it wasn't for another few days. Isn't it with Lizzie Stark?"

"That's cancelled," he said, reaching over the side of the bed to rummage through his trousers for a cigarette. He paused his movements, remembering that he didn't smoke in her house.

"What happened, if I may ask?"

Thomas twisted his body, turning to look at her. Playing with a messy curl, he looked at her lips before back to her eyes. He could have lied to her, but this wasn't business. "He found out that Lizzie kept a few customers, even after he proposed."

"Poor John. I'm sure he was hoping she would make a suitable wife," Maze said, peering at him. "Did you have a hand in this cancellation?"

His silence caused her to roll her eyes at him. "I hope you fixed it, Thomas." Maze shifted on the bed, throwing her blanket over her bare legs. "Do I want to know how you helped cancel a wedding?"

Thomas sat up in her bed, pushing the skewed pillows around to look at his mate. He could confess and face her wrath or he could lie to her. If he lied, all she had to do was ask around and someone would inform her they saw Lizzie and Thomas alone in a car. He mulled over his decisions before he chose his path.

"You're procrastinating," Maze said, catching his attention. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her explanation. "You only do that when you're trying to decide to tell me the truth."

Thomas snorted softly.

"I did, and that's why I came over. You're invited to the wedding."

"Am I now?" she perked up, seeing him nod at her. "And am I going as a family friend or…" she let her words falter.

"As much as I hate it, you'll be a family friend. You can stay close to Ada and Polly." He winced, seeing her face fall slightly.

Her eyebrows nearly rose into her hairline. "Ada's going to be there?"

"As long as she accepts the invitation."

"Does he know about this?" she asked, knowing that Thomas never told her much of anything that dealt with information he didn't want her to know.

"He doesn't. He just knows that we're ending the war with the Lees."

"Jesus," she muttered, her eyes wide, "you're going to marry him off to a Lee? I hope this girl will treat him well."

"Why the concern?"

"If she doesn't, I'll have to kick her arse," she said, shrugging her shoulders, causing him to laugh.

"Will you now?" he asked, pulling her into his lap for a kiss as he slipped inside her again.

"Of course I will."

The day of the wedding arrived faster than Thomas expected. He instructed everyone to gather what weapons they could find to take with them to the Lee encampment. Thomas didn't think a battle would break out during the wedding, but once the alcohol flowed, tempers would spike. Zilpha promised the men would behave themselves when the Shelbys arrived. He left a note with Maze to ride with Polly to the encampment, keeping their relationship secret from everyone. It wouldn't be proper if she rode with the men.

That morning, at ten am, he caught up with Arthur, who waited on Thomas's instructions. Dressed in his best suit, it never occurred to Arthur they would head to a wedding. John, along with Scudboat and Lovelock, climbed out of the truck, with several others following. They were all armed and waiting.

"Ready boys?" Thomas asked, tossing his dying cigarette on the ground.

"John," Thomas said, looking at his brother. He could see a glimmer of nerves cross the younger man's face. "You ready?"

"Yea," he muttered, taking the offered a drink from Arthur and taking a large sip before passing it along. Everyone stood around watching John as if they knew what was about to transpire.

"Let's go," Thomas said, turning away from his brothers and leading them around the corner and up the hill toward the encampment. Several of the Lees stood around, guns ready in their hands in case the Shelbys caused mayhem.

"Tommy, what are you playing at?" John whispered harshly. "We're in shotgun range."

Everyone stopped, gathering around John as Thomas turned to his younger brother. It was his fault they were in this mess and today he was going to fix it. Besides, Thomas needed the Lees to take out Kimber. He secretly hoped John would find happiness in this.

"John," Thomas said, turning to his brother. "Before you go into battle, there is something you're going to need." Everyone around him pulled a white flower from their coat pockets, holding them up for John to see. John looked at the white flower in confusion before looking at Arthur for an answer.

Thomas took the one for John from Arthur and pinned the boutonniere on John's jacket lapel. "Smile John. It's a wedding."

"Who's bloody wedding?" John demanded, still confused about his older brother's actions.

"Yours." Thomas replied succinctly. John narrowed his eyes at his older brother. John opened his mouth to argue when Thomas held up a hand. "Now, if we told you, you wouldn't have come," Thomas continued. "There's a girl in the Lee family who's wild and needs marrying off."

John's eyes flashed amber, finally realizing what was happening. "Oh, fuck off!" he roared, pushing away from Thomas, but hands gripped him by the arms, preventing him from running.

"No!" John snapped, struggling to loosen the grip of the Pack men. His anger fueled determination was strong, his eyes slipping to amber color. He fought for several minutes before they could calm him down enough to listen.

"You had no fucking right, Tommy!" he seethed, pushing his brother roughly. "I won't fucking do it!"

Pack men surrounded John as Thomas pulled his younger brother close, forcing John to keep eye contact with him. It was the only way to keep John from running. The Pack members held hands on John's body to keep him steady.

"Listen to me!" Thomas whispered harshly, his voice lowering abruptly as his eyes shifted to amber, catching John's attention. "A girl needs a husband, and a man needs a wife."

"Tom!" John snapped, his eyes narrowed as he struggled to break free of the hands holding him down. "I'm not marrying some fucking mushroom picker!" he grabbed the lapels on Thomas's jacket before letting go.

Thomas felt a headache forming, but waved it off. His brother needed to be reassured that this was the best answer to ending the feud. Thomas shushed his brother soothingly. When angry, the Shelby men were wild, but this wasn't a moment to be wild. "I have already arranged it. You've been betrothed for over a month now."

"Is this the fucking reason you destroyed my chance of marrying Lizzie?!" John demanded. "So you can stop this fucking war with Lees? Why not choose someone else?"

Thomas didn't have an answer for him. "You need a wife and the kids need a mother. If you back out now, there's going to be a fucking bloody war that's going to make the Somme look like a fucking tea party."

John glared at his older brother. He couldn't fucking believe Thomas would go behind his back to arrange a marriage with one of the Lees. The Shelbys and the Lees hated each other with a bloody passion.

"But," Thomas continued his speech, his voice calm, "if you marry this girl, our family and the Lee family will be united forever and this war and future wars will be over. No more bloodshed. Ever."

John struggled to understand the reason behind marrying into the Lee family. Their mutual hatred between the families went back decades and Thomas found a way to end it by marrying one of the Shelby's to a Lee. He glared at his brother once more, his chest heaving as he swallowed air.

"Let fucking go of me," John snapped, jerking his body away from the Pack members and turning back to Thomas.

He wished Tommy would have told him about the upcoming wedding that he was supposed to be the groom for. As he calmed down, he realized Tommy was right. If he'd been told, then John would have never come. Instead, he would have done as Ada did and eloped, regardless if Lizzie had a few regulars.

John didn't want to marry this Lee girl. He would rather raise his children himself before he did it, but he understood that the war between the families needed to end. It caused more strife than profit. The people of Birmingham and Small Heath trusted the Shelbys to keep the wolves from their doorsteps and the violence off their streets.

He finally nodded his head after a few moments of peace and removed his hat. He still didn't want to do this, but it seemed he had no choice in the matter. Walking with the rest of the men, he continued to curse his brother but kept his mouth shut.

"You should see the size of her dowry," Arthur said, giving his brother a smile.

"Her what?" John asked, confused.

"Her father is giving you a car," Thomas answered, smiling at John.

Zilpha Lee stood by on the steps of her wagon house with Johnny Dogs standing beside her as they waited for the Shelby men to show up. She had hoped for the day her daughter would be married, but she never envisioned it to be a Shelby. It saddened her she would lose her daughter, but then she would gain a son.

Thomas pushed John out front for her inspection. Looking at Zilpha. "Will he do?"

She looked him over and found him amenable to her daughter. Though she wasn't sure if her daughter would take to the man in front of her. "He'll do," she said, giving them a smile. It wasn't the worst thing for her daughter, but like Thomas Shelby, she wanted the war between them to be over.

The men cheered at her agreement.

Everyone scattered as Zilpha turned to find her daughter and present her to John Shelby. Arthur and Thomas, along with the Pack members, walked until they arrived at a large gathering of people. Thomas winced internally, knowing they would become kin in the next half hour. Thomas spotted Maze standing alone, her eyes looking around at the gathering of people. She looked fucking beautiful, and he wished to stand beside her, but refrained.

Thomas caught the girl coming toward them, dressed in white for her wedding. Zilpha led her daughter to the altar, as Johnny Dogs stood there proudly to officiate the wedding. Giving John a clap on the shoulder and a nudge, he stood there watching his younger brother walk away to marry.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Maze walking off and turned to see Polly escorting a very pregnant Ada. The ladies stopped for a split second to speak before walking toward Thomas. Polly kept close to Ada while Maze ventured over toward him and gave him a smile. Maybe one day, he'd be in John's place waiting to marry Maze.

Ada brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and stood on Thomas's other side and peered over at Maze, smiling at her friend before glaring at her brother.

"You look well," he whispered, glancing at his sister.

"Grace said there was a truce," Ada said quietly, her eyes on the ceremony.

"Your husband couldn't make it?" Thomas inquired.

"He's not speaking to me," Ada replied, casting a look at her older brother. "And when he does, he calls me a fucking Shelby, even though I am a Thorne now."

"You look like hell," Ada said, glancing at him before turning back to the ceremony where Johnny Dogs was close to announcing John and his bride as married.

"Been busy…." Thomas muttered.

…"I now pronounce you man and wife!" Johnny said cheerfully. "Johnny, kiss your bride, will ya!"

The crowd clapped vociferously for the newly married couple as John and Esme stood and kissed awkwardly, yet enthusiastically, on the lips before a loud cheer roared over the crowd.

Thomas smiled for his brother before turning to look at Ada, only to find she left him standing there with Maze alone. He turned to his mate, giving her a content look, his fingers brushing hers in secret before they turned to join the festivities that would continue until daybreak.

As he meandered around the encampment, he truly felt happy for John. He did. His younger brother deserved happiness after the death of his wife. Thomas snorted softly, reaching for a cigarette. He lit it quickly, tossing the match into the damp grass. Maybe Arthur would marry next. Of course, his older brother would have to stop whoring long enough to find a woman that would handle him properly.

On his next inhalation, Thomas looked up to the sky for a second before turning his attention to the gathering of humans. He could almost feel the joy as he stood there alone. Ahead of him stood Polly, Maze, and Ada, in a spirited conversation. He wondered briefly what it would be like to be married to Maze. Would she be happy? Would he? He had to think they would be. Thomas understood her being from the future would have an enormous impact on their married life.

She told him once that married life and raising children had changed dramatically. He anticipated things would always be interesting married to her. Tossing the dying cigarette in the grass, he caught Maze glancing over in his direction and gave him a soft smile that he knew was meant for him.

Later that night, after a sumptuous feast for the married couple, the newly formed family joined for dancing and celebrating. Thomas sat at a table watching Maze dance with a drunken Arthur, who was cheering loudly as the crowd convinced John and Esme to dance with them.

Beside him sat Zilpha. From the corner of his eye, he watched her play with her tumbler, her short nails raking over the glass. They were having a drink to cement their families forever. Maze clapped loudly, her smile brighter than any sun as Thomas thoroughly enjoyed watching her. In the distance, fireworks illuminated the night sky for the celebration.

"You need to tell Ada to slow down," Polly said, coming up behind him.

He scoffed at her request. "You think she'll listen to me?"

"Who will listen to whom?" Maze asked, taking a seat beside Thomas and snatched his drink. He raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes following the liquid as it disappeared from the glass. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was coming undone from the dancing.

"You gonna refill that?" he asked, nodding his head to the empty drink.

Maze chuckled lightly, wishing she could touch his arm affectionately and set the empty glass down before rising to find more for him.

Zilpha watched with interest at the two of them, but said nothing. It wasn't any of her business who Thomas associated himself with. Unless this woman was a danger to the family, she didn't care.

"I've tried to stop her, but she won't listen to me. Being cooped up in that little room in the basement for weeks, what do you expect of her?" Polly snapped, raising her glass to her lips.

Thomas sighed, setting his cigarette down before rising as Maze returned with a fresh drink for him. "What's wrong?" she asked, concern written on her face.

He jerked his head toward a dancing Ada. "Ada's making a spectacle of herself."

Maze looked over as Ada spun wildly. "That can't be good for the baby. She…"

"I know she needs to be stopped."

"Do you want me to do it?" Maze asked, setting his drink down on the table beside the empty glass.

Thomas looked at his sister again, knowing that whatever came out of his mouth would turn into a row between him and Ada. He sighed heavily, not wishing to force Maze into doing his task. He turned to Maze, nodding his head slowly. "Might be for the best. Polly says she's not listening to her either. Says she's been drinking."

Maze swore under her breath and remembered what time period she was in. Thomas arched an eyebrow at her, but said nothing. Seeing his expression, she reasoned she could tell him. "Alcohol isn't good for the baby."

Maze steeled her nerves and vowed to kick Freddie in the balls next times they crossed paths for doing this to Ada. She smoothed the front of her dress before maneuvering over to Ada, with Thomas following her like a shadow.

"Ada! It's time to stop!" Maze stopped short a few feet, calling to her long-time friend.

Drunkenly, Ada spun once more, laughing merrily. The younger woman froze seeing Thomas and her cheerful demeanor changed into anger.

"Come look, Esme!" she called out to her new sister-in-law. "Come look at the family you married into!"

Maze sighed bitterly, knowing Ada's barb wasn't meant for her, and took another breath. "Ada, you need to stop, please. You're pregnant darling."

"And you!" she sniffed at Maze, flinging her arms wide and away from their grabby hands. "My best fucking friend trying to tell me to not have fun!"

Maze narrowed her eyes at her best friend and wished she could shake the younger woman for her actions, but Maze knew the alcohol loosened the lips. It wasn't as if Maze didn't want Ada to have fun. Quite the opposite. She just wanted the younger woman to think about her actions.

Ada glared at her best friend for a second before she turned her attention to Thomas, who gently pushed Maze out of the way and into Polly's arms. Thomas grabbed her gently by the arm to tug her away from the crowd to handle this privately. "Come look at the man who runs this family. He hunts his own sister down like a rat and tries to kil his own brother-in-law!" she screamed, pushing Thomas away from her.

Maze closed her eyes and sighed at Ada's words. If only her best friend knew what Thomas was doing. Polly left Maze's side, leaving her with Zilpha, and came around to help tug Ada away from Thomas.

"Ada!" Thomas raised his voice loudly over hers, his eyes flashed warningly. "That's enough!"

"Fuck you, Tommy!" Ada screamed as Polly pulled her away.

"Ada!" Polly cried, pulling the girl away. "Ada, you need to calm down."

"Make her sit down, Pol," John said, coming to help, leaving his new wife alone for a moment.

Ada grabbed her swollen belly and bent over, hurting as the water gushed from her dress. "Holy shit," Polly gasped, realizing what was happening.

Maze rushed over and checked Ada quickly before turning to Polly. "We have to get her out of here." She turned to Thomas. "We need a car."

Everyone began moving quickly to the cars that were stationed close by as Maze asked Ada a few questions. Polly kept a tight hold on Ada, who grunted in pain as they neared the car. Arthur rushed forward, along with John, to help start the car for the girls. Polly helped Ada climb into the backseat as Thomas and Maze climbed into the front.

Maze twisted her body around and glanced at Ada before reaching tentatively to grip her friend's hand. "You can squeeze Ada, my hands' not going to break."

Within minutes, they were leaving the encampment to make their way back to town.

Thomas stopped the car in front of the house a quarter of an hour later and let the ladies leave, taking Ada into the house. Maze gave him one last glance, reminding him he needed to keep his promise that he would let her be there for the birthing. The door closed as Thomas leaned against the car and reached for a cigarette.

He didn't have long to wait until a car came to a screeching halt. He could hear Arthur cursing John for his horrible driving as they parked, Arthur helping Esme out before seeing Thomas waiting.

"How does she drive?" Thomas asked, lowering his cigarette.

"Like a beautiful dream," John replied, smiling, letting Esme go toward the house without him.

"Your sister is in there about to give birth and you're talking about the car," Polly snapped, ushering Esme inside.

"There's nothing we men can do now," John replied, nudging Arthur.

"Except to get fucking drunk!" Arthur slurred, laughing at his own words.

"There is one man that should be here," Polly said, glancing at Thomas.

"You're right, Pol," Thomas said, coming closer to his aunt. "Freddie should be here."

"Is that a heart beating in that chest of yours?" Polly asked hopefully.

"The truce lasts until sunrise. On my oath, tell Freddie it's safe."

Happily, Polly shot into the house, yelling for Ada as Thomas, John, and Arthur left to celebrate.

Upstairs, Maze was cleaning her hands as they propped Ada up on the sofa, her body sweaty as she groaned in pain. "You'll be fine. Trust me," Maze said, coming to crouch down to check her dilation.

Polly rushed in, telling Ada the joyful news that Thomas said that Freddie could be here for the birth of his child, that the truce lasted till sunrise.

"Keep an eye on her," Maze instructed Polly. "Let me know when she thinks she needs to push."

Polly nodded, replacing Maze as she looked up at her niece. "You need to breathe, Ada. You can't bloody pass out now."

Ada puffed her cheeks as another contraction rolled over her. She gripped the cushions on the sofa as her head tilted back. Maze returned with a cool washcloth and laid it over her head before wiping down Ada's face.

"That's better," she mumbled, her knuckles turning white as another contraction struck her.

"Do you feel the need to push?" Maze asked, crouching beside Polly, who hiked Ada's skirt to her hips.

"N—not…." she gasped, groaning from the pain. "Not yet."

It was another two hours as the women kept watch over Ada. Each of them took turns sitting with her as Maze kept a record of how the contractions were coming along. Finally, Ada nodded her head vigorously to Maze. "They're coming faster now!"

Maze rushed from the room to gather the towels and a basin of hot water as Polly crouched down in front of Ada.

"That's it... push Ada," she instructed her niece as Maze dropped a towel down beside Polly.

Esme placed her hands on Ada's belly, feeling around for the limbs when she looked at Polly and Maze. "I think the baby is turned around. I attended with three sisters and this happened before."

Polly and Maze looked at each other and nodded. Polly checked the position of the baby, then Maze did.

"I think you're right," Polly said as Maze nodded, reaching to grab Ada's hand to help her rise.

Ada slowly shuffled over to the table where Maze helped her grip the chair tightly, her feet placed strategically so it wouldn't tip back on Ada. Esme reached to grab Ada's sweaty hair, pulling it away from her face as Polly came around to Ada's backside.

"It won't be long now!" Polly said, rubbing Ada's back soothingly.

Thomas exited the room for a minute, ignoring the way the bucket of beer sat on the table with his half-drunk brothers in the private room they used. As he wandered behind the bar, he hoped his decision was correct in letting Freddie attend his child's birth. His stomach churned, knowing there was a spy still in Small Heath and an Inspector looking for Freddie Thorne. It would do him no good if Freddie was arrested.

His mind thought about how Maze looked, her eyes pleading with him to let her attend Ada's childbirth. He groaned quietly as an image of her pregnant with his child flitted across his mind. He breathed a short inhalation, his body warming as lust fell over him, realizing one day Maze would carry his children.

He shook his head viciously, trying to erase the image from his mind and let it fall to the back of his memory, but he found he didn't want the image to disappear.

He could hear his brother's laughing and speaking to Grace in the private room without a care in the world. Grace was laughing as John proclaimed he needed to leave. Leaning his hands on the smooth bar top, he strained to listen to the conversation in the private room, hoping none of his brothers said anything that could fuck his life up even more.

"You don't want to be around women when they're having babies," Arthur slurred, slapping John on the back. "Stay."

Grace chuckled, looking at the three of them, and took her opportunity to find out about Freddie. "Do you think her husband will be there?"

"Freddie will be there," John spoke, slurring his words. "Nothing will keep him away. Tommy said it was all right for him to be there!"

Fuck!
Fuck!

Thomas snapped his head up, turning toward the small window and moved quickly to interfere, hoping that whatever he came up with would deter anyone from remembering what John said. "That's right," Thomas said, coming into the room. "I'm all heart tonight."

Grace had everything she needed. Freddie Thorne would be at the Shelby house where Ada was having the baby. Quickly, she walked her way to the back of the pub where the telephone was sitting. Plucking the receiver off the hook, she quickly asked the operator for the Birmingham police station to speak to Inspector Campbel.

Arthur hiccupped, grabbing another drink as Thomas sat down. Grabbing John by the shoulder, they swayed gently. "You know what John, I think it's that pretty barmaid that has our brother going soft."

Thomas chuckled at his brother's words, not realizing that it wasn't Grace, but Maze, who made his heart soften. His mood turned melancholy as he hated not being able to tell anyone about his relationship with Maze. The secret was too important. He needed Maze safe. Her words came back to haunt him. That she was his weakness and if Campbell ever found out, he'd exploit it and ruin everything Thomas built up.

Campbell would ruin Thomas and likely kill Maze.

A loud knocking on the door half an hour later startled the women inside. Maze rushed through the house, her gun close by as she ran. Hearing Freddie's voice on the other side of the door, she set the gun down on the table and opened the door for him.

"Is Ada here?" he gasped, pushing air back into his lungs.

"She's inside," Maze said, stepping aside to let him in.

Maze followed Freddie back into the house, where Ada sat with the baby. Polly crouched down, admiring the newest addition to the Shelby family. Polly rose and walked away as Freddie came into the room to see Ada sitting there holding his child.

"It's a boy, Freddie," Ada smiled happily as her husband sank to his knees in front of them.

Maze busied herself at the table, keeping her distance as the scene unfolded in front of her. She wondered, as she watched Freddie and Ada cherish their child, if Thomas would respond the same. A small flutter erupted in her chest at the thought of having Thomas's child… or children. It was something she knew she wanted.

Ada handed their child to let Freddie hold him close to him, enjoying the moment between them before the door pounded loudly. Men calling out that it was the police. Esme rushed to the door to stop them from coming inside as Polly and Maze rushed to Ada as the new mother took her child gently from Freddie.

"You can't come in here!" Esme called out, trying to stop the men. "There's a baby that's been born!"

"Esme!" Maze called out, rushing to her aid. They pushed aside both ladies as the police charged into the Shelby home.

"Don't do this here!" Freddie pleaded to the cops as they jerked him to his feet and shuffled him out the door.

"Freddie!" Ada shouted, cradling the baby close to her.

Maze and Esme watched helplessly as the coppers pushed Freddie from the house.

"You're hurting him!" Ada screamed as Polly held her steady from rushing to Freddie's aid. "Leave him alone!"

Maze held her hand over her mouth as silent tears fell down her face as the coppers took Freddie from their sight, the door closing loudly behind them. It was something out of her nightmares. Coppers taking Thomas viciously away from her.

No one saw the anger that crossed Polly's face, but in her anger, Polly kissed Ada on the forehead and nodded to Maze. She knew Maze would take care of Ada while she left to hunt down Thomas. She wanted to slam the door loudly in her anger, but didn't want to startle the baby.

Quickening her step, she ignored the drunken singing of men wandering in the street and pushed the double doors open to the Garrison. Storming inside, she found Thomas standing at the bar with the barmaid.

"It's a boy," she seethed, storming over to Thomas, who smiled but saw her angered face.

Polly rushed at Thomas, intending on attacking him with her fists, when two sets of hands pulled her away. She was screaming angrily like a vengeful banshee in the night.

"Whoa.. whoa... whoa!" Thomas tried to soothe her, hoping to direct her anger elsewhere. Grace ducked out.

"Polly!" Arthur shouted, finally gaining her attention.

"But the police came and took his father away!" Polly seethed, her angry glare still on Thomas.

Stunned, Thomas gazed at Polly, unsure of what to say to her. He didn't tell the coppers where Freddie was going to be. He knew he wasn't at fault for this, but he didn't know what to say to her to fix it. To make it right.

"Don't fucking look at me like that!" Polly snapped angrily, still fighting with Arthur and John. She calmed herself enough that John and Arthur let her go. With a quick twist of her hand, she slapped him hard across the face. "You fucking liar."

Thomas stood there watching his aunt storm out of the pub. He looked at Arthur and John, who looked as confused as he was. He didn't tell anyone about Freddie, but they did. To Grace.

Anger surged inside him as he connected the dots that it was Grace that knew about Freddie's whereabouts that night. Swearing loudly, he slammed his hands on the bar top, his eyes flashing amber as Grace walked back into the room suddenly as she sensed the drama was over.

It didn't escape her that Thomas's eyes weren't pale blue but an amber hue that wasn't there beforehand.