Unbreakable Connection

by MrsNShelby2021

Tommy was brought up to believe in his feelings, in his gut, his Ma told him that there is a true love for everyone you just have to be brave enough to want it and keep it to grab it with both hands an never let it go. When Ness was only six weeks old her parents moved from the south of England to Birmingham. She grew up with the Shelby's but one Shelby loved her more then anything

6. No one disrespects his QUEEN

An, A word of warning, if your a Grace fan your not going to like my story this is very Anti Grace even from Tommy.

Chapter 6,

Ness's POV,

I watched Tommy walk into the office and knew he would be in there for a while as Arthur was fucking pissed so I turned to look at John who was also looking at Tommy and Arthur with a frown on his face so I nudged him with my arm and smiled at him.

"Don't you worry about those two John their sort it out."

"Why's Arthur so pissed for?"

"It's Arthur John his always pissed."

He chuckled at that and kissed my forehead,

"Now as beautiful as you are sweetheart I have work to do and your distracting me,"

I giggled at that and before I could say anything back Scudboat was speaking up,

"Oi John? Don't let Tommy hear you flirting with his woman!"

He laughed, I giggled at that and nodded at Scudboat, John leaned down to whisper in my ear,

"Scud's just jealous love."

I shock my head and pushed John away,

"Get back to work John-boy, if Tommy asks tell him I'm going to the Garrison."

"You got it love."

With that I walked out of the betting shop, I took a slow stroll not wanting to rush. People nodding their hello's, children playing in the street and being pulled out of the way by their mothers who nodded at me and smiled. I smiled and said hello back to them, I was just walking past Mrs Smith's house when she opened her door and called me over,

"Hello Mrs Smith how are you?"

Mrs Smith was the nosy busy body, the gossipier of the street she knew everyone's business but ours and she made sure people knew she knew. She often stopped me if I was alone, she always asked the same questions trying to get information from me but my lips were closed tighter than nuns legs.

"Oh I'm fine dear thank you. Won't you pop on for tea?"

"Oh I would love to but I'm meeting Tommy at the Garrison!"

"He won't mind you being a little late will he?"

I of course knew she was fishing for information on how Tommy treated me, due to my injuries from the war I hadn't ventured out along at all always having Tommy or John with me and it's got people suspicious of the reasons why, alot of people thinking it's cause Tommy is possessive over me and I needed his permission to be out. None of them knew the true extent of my injuries and I wanted to keep it that way.

"Tommy wouldn't mind of course, tea would be lovely."

I walked into her dining room, sitting down and letting her pour me some tea. She got speaking straight away, the thing with Mrs Smith is, if you let her talk or got her speaking about her grandchildren you wouldn't have to speak again. So that's what I did,

"How are Sally and Kevin?"

Sally and Kevin were twins from her youngest daughter Tilly, it was quite the gossip when people found out. Tilly being only fifteen at the time and unmarried, her older sister Margaret was jealous as her and her husband had been trying for almost two years with no luck.

"Oh they doing well, Tilly is such a great mother it's their second birthday next month. Oh Margaret's pregnant too."

She got speaking about Margaret and her husband so I just drowned her out thinking about other things, such as the sweet shop my father left me. I would have to go and meet the staff soon and collect the books so Tommy could help me look through them, I could do it alone but I didn't want to. I wanted Tommy to be a part of my businesses like he had made me apart of his. I would talk to him about him being my business partner also, it might actually help with making the Shelby's look more legit to. I checked my watch and noticed almost an hour had past so I stood up,

"I'm sorry Mrs Smith but I really must be going."

With that I saw myself out and made my way to the Garrison, I was almost there when I heard mumbling so I looked and saw Danny Owens, he looked like he was having one of his episodes so I made my way over to him, calling his name softly,

"Danny?"

He looked completely out of it so I stupidly put my hand on his shoulder which had an instant reaction from him, he punched me full in the face knocking me to the floor. I felt the blood squirt from my nose and the pain in my eye vibrate all the way through my skull I knew that would leave a nausty looking bruise but didn't think any of it right now. People came running over to me calling my name,

"Mrs Shelby?"

One man helping me to my feet,

"Are you ok Mrs Shelby?"

"Fine thank you and thank you for your help."

We all turned when we heard loud banging to see Danny crashing through the Garrison's door's.

"Shit!"

I pulled away from the people that helped me and made my way into the Garrison where I saw Tommy and Freddie pinning Danny to the floor calming him down, I could feel the blood dripping from my nose.

"Danny. Danny. Danny, you're home. We're all home in England. You are not in France, you're not an Artillery shell, Danny, you're a man. Hey? You're not a Whiz-bang, you're a human being, Danny. You're all right, you're all right!"

I couldn't love Tommy more in that moment, Danny grew up with us and went to France with the boys he suffered more than a lot of the lads who came home, they call it shell shock not much is known about it or how to treat it properly but Tommy did all he could for Danny especially during his episodes.

They helped him up and Tommy put his hand on Danny's shoulder, looking into his eyes,

"It's all right."

Danny looked around him in confusion for a moment then it sunk in,

"Ah! Hell! Did I do it again?"

"You did it again Danny!"

Danny looked so overwhelmed my heart ached for him and his wife, he started crying and I knew how sorry he was. Tommy grabbed the back of his head and put their foreheads together,

"You got to stop doing this man. It's all right."

"Oh, God! Mr Shelby, I'm sorry."

Tommy let him go,

"It's all right, you go home to your wife now, Danny. Try and get all that smoke and mud out of your head, eh?"

They walked him to the door when Tommy saw me standing there with blood pouring out my nose, I could see the anger in his face so I shock my head softly,

"Yes Mr Shelby, I'm sorry."

Danny turned and that was when he saw me standing there, he looked at me then bowed his head in shame. I shook my head, and just as I was about to speak Danny spoke up.

"Did I do that Mrs Shelby?"

That had everyone's attention on me, I raised an eyebrow at them all then looked to Danny smiling softly,

"What have I told you about calling me Mrs Shelby Danny? It's Ness to you and don't worry about my face I've had worse. Now do what Tommy said and go home to Rosie ok? I'm ok."

I wiped my hand across my lips getting the blood off then kissed his cheek, moving out of his way so he could leave. Tommy grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him, cupping my face so he could see the damage,

"I'm ok Tom, it was my fault I shouldn't of touched him, I knew different."

"You're gonna have a lovely bruise love,"

"I know."

He nodded his head and before anything else could be said between us Harry was speaking up,

"Mr Shelby, you have to do something about him."

What the fuck did Harry want Tommy to do exactly? I waited by the door while Tommy made his way over to the bar to grab his cap, listening to what was going on it was listening to Freddie that pissed me off.

"Damn right Harry. You pay the Peaky Blinders a lot of money for protection. You're the law around here now, Tommy, aren't you?"

Tommy downed his drink, grabbed his cap and turned away from the bar,

"Maybe you should put a bullet in Danny Whiz-bang's head like they do with mad horses."

Tommy started making his way over to me but I could see the anger on his face from what Freddie said,

"Maybe you'll have to put a bullet in my head someday, too."

I stepped forward ands spoke up this time,

"Maybe I'll be the one putting a bullet in your head Freddie! What would you have us do about Danny exactly? You fought alongside him in France Freddie just because you seemed to be able to sleep at night doesn't mean everyone can. Speak about Danny like that again and I'll be breaking your nose, then telling Rosie what you've been saying about her husband you'd be surprised how protective us wives get about our husbands!"

Tommy smirked at me, put his cap on and grabbed my hand walking us to the door, he turned to look at Harry over his shoulder.

"Bring the bill to the Peaky Blinders. We'll take care of it."

He walked us out of the Garrison holding tightly to my hand, we made our way back home to Watery Lane once inside and in the dining room Tommy got the first aid kit and a bowl of warm water. He cleaned up my nose and put a cold cloth on my eye making me flinch back slightly, he put his other hand on the back of my head holding me in place,

"You are going to have a lovely big bruise tomorrow my love,"

"I know Tom but I've had worse."

He nodded his head and kissed my forehead, he took the cloth away from my face pouring a bit of whisky on it and dabbing in on the small cut on my nose, he then put everything away pouring us both a glass of whisky. I downed it pouring another, finishing that one, Tommy then grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet walking into the betting shop. Pol was sat with John and Ada, and they all looked up and the shock went across their faces instantly the minute they saw mine. Ada went to open her mouth but I shook my head, it wasn't important right now. Tommy pulled me over to the beam where he leant against it pulling me into his front so my back was against his chest wrapping one arm around me and smoking with the other. We looked at the others just as Arthur walked in,

"Right, I've called this family meeting because I've got some very important news. Scudboat and Lovelock got back from Belfast last night."

He crossed his arms over his chest, he looked very smug right now but I had no idea why.

"They were buying a Stallion to cover their mares. They were in a pub on Shank Hill road yesterday and in that pub there was a copper, handing out these."

He picked up some fliers and handed one to Ada then gave the pile to Lovelock to hand out, John snatched it out of Ada's hand reading it out loud I was surprised that Ada didn't say anything to John, she does love to push the boys buttons I don't think she realised how lucky she is to have three older brothers who would do anything for her, protect her or even kill for her no questions asked.

"If you're over five feet and can fight, come to Birmingham."

Lovelock held one out to us, Tom taking it and holding it so I could see also, not that I was interested really if it was important Tommy would fill me in later. He knew I was still overwhelmed emotionally about my father's letter, although if he was still alive I don't know how I would have reacted if he turned up on the doorstep. I don't think I will ever truly forgive him for leaving us, I was knocked out of my thoughts by Tommy kissing my neck and I knew he knew where my mind was going. Arthur speaking up again.

"They're recruiting protestant Irishmen to come over here as specials."

Ada looked up to Arthur, I could see the confusion on her face. I love Ada she is my sister but her mind was so busy thinking of boys, or nice clothes that she didn't worry about or even think about anything else.

"To do what?"

It was Tommy who spoke up,

"To clean up the city, Ada. He's the chief inspector. The last four years he's been clearing the IRA out of Belfast."

I saw Arthur look at Tommy with anger on his face but he had no reason too, Arthur just needed to use his head more. We had coppers on the payroll for a reason and it wasn't just so they could clean up their crimes, we paid them enough money to question them. I have an informant of my own too, someone I had treated back in the war he sent me a letter thanking me so I tracked him down and found out he was pretty high up in the police force so he had more information than anyone.

"How do you know so bloody much?"

"Cause I asked the coppers on our payroll, and Ness asked her informant also."

"Why didn't either of you tell me?"

I kept quiet at this point, I didn't tell Arthur because he tended to lose his head more often than not and I really didn't want to deal with him when he was pissed off so I told Tommy what I knew and he told me what he knows.

"We're telling ya."

Polly spoke up to break the tension between Arthur and Tommy, but she also kept glancing at me. I love Polly she has been a mother to me since mine passed away but because of that she thought I would always come to her when I've told her many times Tommy is my number one just like I'm his number one.

"So why are they sending him to Birmingham?"

I answered that question,

"There's been all these bloody strikes at the BSA, and the Auston works lately."

I saw Ada's face the minute I mentioned the BSA, I knew I would have to ask her about it once this meeting was over, I had a feeling she was hiding something from us. I wouldn't mention my suspicions to anyone else though not even Tommy until I knew for sure. Tommy took over from me,

"Now the papers are talking about sedition and revolution, I reckon it's communists he's after."

We both knew the real reason but I wouldn't betray Tommy's trust by telling them he was my husband and I was loyal to him before anyone else just like he was loyal to me before others and the business. I once again saw Ada's face when he said communists we would definitely be talking later.

"So this copper is gonna leave us alone, right?"

"There are Irishmen in Green lanes who left Belfast to get away from him. They say Catholic men who crossed him used to disappear in the night."

John spoke up this time, and I knew before even hearing him what he would have to say,

"Yeah, but we ain't IRA. We bloody fought for the King, anyway we're Peaky Blinders, we're not scared of coppers."

I rolled my eyes to that, Arthur agreeing with him,

"He's right."

"If they come for us we'll cut them a smile each."

Again I rolled my eyes, this was another reason I never told Arthur what I knew him and John always acted first without thinking and with this inspector in town we needed someone to think and Tommy was that man,

"So Arthur is that it?"

"What do you think aunt Pol?"

She looked at me and Tommy,

"This family does everything open, you have nothing more to say to this meeting, Thomas? Ness?"

"No. Nothing that's woman's business."

"This whole bloody enterprise was women's business while you boys were away at war. What's changed?"

"We came back,"

That comment had me tensing in his arms, he knows I hate it when he says things like that even thinking about him not coming back had my heart aching and me thanking whatever God I could that he did come back he felt me tense and tightened his arm around me holding me closer to him, Polly wasn't finished,

"What about Ness? Last I looked she's a woman."

"She's also my wife Pol, we have a full disclosure relationship we always have that doesn't change now because I came back a different man!"

I knew that wouldn't be the end of it with Polly; she never was one to accept not being told shit, and she certainly didn't like it if Tommy told me something but kept it away from her. It was a thorn in our relationship many times we had a big argument over it once and during that argument we came to an agreement that no matter how much she pushed it if we had kept something from her and she didn't need to know about it then no amount of pushing from her would make us tell her, this was different because it was regarding the business so I knew she wouldn't give up but she wasn't finding anything out from me, so I decided it was time I spoke up about the letter I got from my father,

"I have something to add but it's nothing to do with the inspector. The letter I got yesterday was from my father, it was sent because he died. He left me some businesses, I am fifty percent owner of the Garrison, I also now have a sweet shop and a bakery here in Small Heath."

I saw the looks of shock on all their faces and I couldn't blame them because I was shocked as hell when I opened the letter John was about to say something but I held up my hand to stop him.

"Please don't say anything, I'm still trying to process everything that was in the letter. We can discuss it once I'm more settled about it in my head."

With that the meeting was over, Tommy kissed my neck then my cheek and then grabbed my hand.

"Come on my love,"

We walked out of the betting den and grabbed our coats, Tommy helping me into mine. Arthur and John came out to join us and we all made our way to the Garrison, we walked in and everything went quiet as it usually did when we walked in, we went straight to the snug, John opening the hatch as Arthur closed the door, Tommy took my coat off and then sat down pulling me into his lap,

"A bottle of whisky Harry, Irish and 4 glasses."

"On the house Mr Shelby,"

John brought over the bottle and filled our glasses, handing me one and one to Tommy. It was quiet for a moment when Arthur spoke up,

"You own half this place, Ness, have you spoken to Harry yet?"

Before I could answer the door was opening and Finn stepped in,

"Tommy? Aunt Pol wants to see you and Ness in the church now."

"Eh, alright Finn. Come on love,"

He tapped my thigh making me stand up, he then grabbed my hand.

"We won't be long boys."

Tommy' POV,

I grabbed Ness's hand and pulled her with me out the Garrison, once outside I let her hand go and put my arm around her shoulders. We got to the church and walked in seeing Pol kneeling on the floor in one of the pews' we got to the one behind her and Ness sat down first me following,

"We have ten minutes, what do you want?"

She stayed kneeling, facing the front and I knew she was doing that to piss me off, She was pissed that we hadn't told her anything so now she's gonna try and push my buttons, I felt Ness's hand on my thigh and looked down. I knew she was trying to keep me calm so I put my hand on top of hers,

"An explanation!"

She got up off floor sitting back on the pew, turning her head slightly.

"I've always been able to tell when you're hiding something both of you. People round here talk, some of them work at the BSA I've been talking to wives of factory hands. Detectives have been asking questions in the proofing shops."

She turned so her arm was resting on the back of the pew and she was looking at me,

"Nothing happens in that factory without you two knowing about it. Speak!"

Ness sat back in the pew and looked away from Polly, I knew she wouldn't say anything until I did. I looked at her gaining her attention, she looked into my eyes. I knew she was asking me what I wanted to do here we both knew Pol wouldn't give up she was like a bloody dog with a bone! I knew Polly was getting pissed off the longer we looked at each other but I didn't care she could wait for the moment, I needed to think before I spoke up and looking at Ness just always calmed my mind. Once I had made my decision Ness saw and grabbed my hand lacing our fingers together in her show of support,

"It was meant to be routine. I had a buyer in London for some Motorcycles, I asked my men to steal me four bikes with petrol engines. I'm guessing my men were drunk, there's a still inside the factory that makes tram line Gin. They picked up the wrong fucking crate, the boys dropped it to Charlie Strong's yard as agreed. They must have taken it from the proofing bay instead of the export bay. Inside we found 25 Lewis Machine Guns, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 50-semi automatic rifles, 200 pistols with shells."

"Jesus Tommy!"

"All bound for Libya! Sitting right there in Charlie Strong's yard!"

"Tell me you threw them in the cut?"

That had Ness snorting, and me tightening my hold on her hand. Yeah we were in agreement when it comes to the Guns but it seems no one else would agree with us. I knew no matter what Ness would have my back and support me unless I cheated on her which I would never do, many women had tried to fuck me since I got back from the war they doubled their efforts when they stopped seeing me with Ness especially Lizzie, it's why Ness disliked her so much. I had told her of course every time a woman tried it with me I never wanted anyone woman to tell Ness I had fucked them because I didn't tell her they tried it with me. Her knowing means none of them came with bullshit about me to her.

"We put them in the stables out of the rain, the guns hadn't been greased yet."

She turned so quickly then started hitting me, Ness grabbed her wrists when she went to hit me again,

"I get your mad Pol but you lay another hand on my husband I won't be held responsible for what I do next!"

Polly snatched her hands away from Ness, glaring at her.

"I'm guessing you knew?"

"Of course I knew, I was with him when he opened the crate."

She ignored that and then focused back on me,

"So that's why they sent a copper from Belfast?"

"Maybe, Maybe not!"

"Thomas, you're a bookmaker, a robber, a fighting man, you are not a fool. You sell those guns to anyone who has use for them, you will hang and possibly take Ness with you is that what you want?"

Before I could answer her the door opened and someone walked past us, she then spoke up again,

"Dump them somewhere the police can find them, maybe if they know they haven't fallen into the wrong hands this might blow over. Tell Charlie to dump them tonight."

"NO!"

It was Ness that spoke up she surprised both of us with how loud she said that,

"Are you crazy? If we dump them now they will get suspicious Pol, we need to wait until the heat dies off a bit they will look around Birmingham but when they don't find anything they will broaden their search which will give us more opportunities to dump them."

I then spoke up,

"He won't move contraband under a full moon, three days until it wanes."

"Then you'll do the right thing?"

I nodded in agreement because a nod meant nothing right? It wasn't a verbal promise so technically I didn't have to keep it.

"You have your mother's common sense, but your father's devilment. I see them fighting let your mother win."

With that she got up and left, leaving me and Ness alone. We waited to hear the door close before we spoke up, Ness turned to me smirking.

"Oh I don't know, I kinda like your devilment!"

That had me smirking back at her I put my hand on her head and pulled her lips to mine, kissing her roughly. I pulled away when we heard the door open again, but I whispered in her ear.

"I'll show you my devilment tonight sweetheart."

I stood up with Ness following, grabbing my hand once she was out of the pew. We left the church and made our way back to the Garrison, Arthur had left, but John was still there piss drunk. I sat back down pulling Ness onto my lap, pouring us both a glass of whisky. Ness downed her then put her glass back on the table, turning in my lap so she was facing me with her legs hanging over the left arm of the chair. She cupped my face and kissed my lips softly pulling back to place her forehead against mine she closed her eyes and just breathed for a moment. I knew she was still reeling from her father's letter, she wanted to forgive him but she was still very angry at him for leaving her and her mother. She pulled back when she heard how drunk John had got, he

"We should get John home love,"

I looked over her shoulder and nodded my head when I noticed John had fallen over for the third time. She got off my lap and put her coat on, handing me my cap, she put John's cap in her coat pockets, she grabbed hold of John's right arm and I grabbed the left. We got out of the pub and struggled all the way back to Watery Lane,I let John go so I could unlock and open the door. Once I did that I walked in and went to grab John but I saw Ness was struggling to get him in the front door so gave up trying in the end and just pushed him, he tripped over the step and fell through the door Ness giggling at the way he landed. I chuckled at that and bent down to pick him up, we got him into the house and managed to get him into bed. We got into our room and closed the door.

"Will you help me unbutton my dress Tom?"

"Of course my love,"

I unbuttoned her dress and she slid it off getting in bed with her slip on I took my clothes off and climbed in after her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. We were both asleep before we knew it.

I woke up early the next morning Ness already awake and just laying next to me. She rolled over to face me so her chin was on my chest,

"I was thinking Tommy, I want to sign over fifty percent of my businesses to you."

This had me looking at her in shock,

"Love?"

"I don't mean Shelby company, I mean you as my husband. We go into business together with the sweet shop and Bakery, I'm going to need help with the books anyway what do you think?"

"I would love to my love."

"Good, we will sort that out then."

She leaned up and kissed my lips rolling over me to get out of the bed, I followed her both of us getting dressed. We made our way downstairs when we saw Arthur leaning on the door frame to the dining room beat to hell, Ness rushed over and helped him into a seat calling for Polly, Ada and John. They made their way into the dining room and looked at Arthur in shock, Ness becoming Nurse Ness in seconds.

"Ada? Get a bowl of warm water please, Pol get cloths and start cleaning off the blood. Tommy? Rum or whisky now!"

I must not of been moving fast enough because Ness came over and grabbed my hand pulling me out of the door, I let her pull me along to the Garrison, once we reached the doors I stepped in front of her opening the door and walking in, her following behind me. We got to the snug and I opened the hatch doors, Ness standing next to me.

"Hello?"

I waited for Harry to come to the hatch, wrapping an arm around Ness's waist pulling her close to me and kissing her neck she giggled softly when I hit her ticklish spot with the whiskers on my chin, we were brought out of our moment by a feminie voice speaking up,

"Hello?"

I looked up and saw a woman stood in front of the hatch behind the bar, this had me raising an eyebrow. She looked at me then looked at Ness and I saw the instant dislike she had for my wife which had me tensing and snapping at her.

"I need a bottle of rum now!"

I saw Harry whisper in her ear then she spoke up,

"A whole bottle?"

"Yeah!"

"White or dark rum?"

"I don't care!"

She moved to grab a bottle of rum coming back over with a bottle of dark rum,

"Harry said it's on the house,"

That had Ness giggling,

"Considering I own fifty percent of this place I should damn well hope so!"

That had me smirking at her, I could see she was pissed Harry had hired someone without consulting her especially after her talking to him the other day but I knew she was even more pissed about how this woman kept looking at me and to be honest I was pissed at the fact the bitch kept glaring at my wife thinking I wasn't seeing it. Which had me speaking up and I knew my comment was gonna upset this woman but I didn't care,

"Are you a whore? Cause if not you're in the wrong place."

We both walked away from the hatch with Ness pausing at the door glaring over at Harry, she spoke over the noise which had everyone going silent to look at her.

"We will be talking tomorrow Harry, I thought I made it clear when we spoke. I own half of this place I didn't approve the new staff member."

She then looked at the woman,

"Don't get comfy love, you won't be here long."

I laughed at that, then grabbed her hand and we left,

"What the fuck was Harry thinking hiring a woman! Did you see the way the bitch was looking at me when she saw your arm around me?"

"I did my love."

We got to the house and walked in, hearing Ada and John arguing over whether Ada was a nurse or not.

"Let me see him. Here have this."

I gave him the bottle of rum so he could take a mouthful I then took the bottle off him and grabbed the cloth from the bowl rinsing it out I poured a bit of the rum on the cloth and put it too the cut on his eyebrow him wincing. Ness took charge though making me smile, I remember when John got shot in France and he told me Ness was his nurse and how good she was.

"Everybody take a step back and let me work."

So we did and while she worked Arthur spoke up,

"He said Mr Churchill sent him to Birmingham. National interest, he said, something about a robbery."

I took a step back taking the cigarette out of my mouth while Arhur continued to talk,

"He said he wants us to help him."

John speaking up,

"We don't help coppers."

"He knew all about our war records, Ness included! He even knew about her injuries and asked about her eyesight as well. Said we're patriots like him, wants us to be his eyes and ears. I said we'd have a family meeting and take a vote."

Why the fuck did he go and that! Fuck! We are not taking a vote for helping the bloody coppers! I looked at him then looked away. It had me worried why was he asking about Ness's eyesight? What business of his was that! We all knew Ness had to be careful with Knocks to the head which is why I was worried about the punch she got from Danny but this copper asking about Ness was a big fucking no!

"Well, why not? Mmm?"

I still didn't look at him, I caught Ness's eye though and she was smiling at me so I knew I wasn't pissing her off at least, Arthur just continued to talk.

"We have no truck with fenians or communists."

I flicked my eyes to his then looked away again, this is another reason I haven't told Arthur anything because his so quick to act.

"What's wrong with you? What the fuck is wrong with him lately?"

I looked at Polly when she started speaking,

"If I knew, I'd buy the cure from Compton's chemists."

That's when my lovely wife spoke up and boy was she angry,

"There is nothing wrong with my husband! Just because he doesn't want to help the coppers does not mean there is something wrong with him! WE don't help coppers they help us!"

I smirked at Ness who reached out and grabbed my hand, I pulled her to her feet and we both walked out of the house, John following behind us. We caught up to some Peaky lads who followed us to the Garrison, we heard the singing as soon as we got close which had me and Ness tensing in anger. Singing was a big no no at the Garrison it was something Ness used to do before the war and I knew she did it for the lads during the war when they couldn't sleep at night but now it was something she hated and I was with her on that, if she didn't want to sing then I didn't want to hear anyone sing because they wouldn't hold a candle to Ness's voice.

We walked in and everyone stopped singing expect the new barmaid, that bitch continued to sing and stared at me while doing it! I was right about one thing thought, her voice sounded like strangled cats compared to Ness's voice. I was not impressed even more so when Harry walked over to us,

"We haven't had singing in here since the war!"

I glared at him,

"Why do you think that is Harry?"

I then looked back to the barmaid who did not look happy that I said that, and she didn't look happy that I wasn't impressed by her singing which had me raising an eyebrow. This bitch seemed far too interested in me for my liking especially considering she knows I have a wife. No way Harry wouldn't of not told her Ness was my wife, Ness kept hold of my hand but took a step forward which had everyone looking at her and once again the barmaid was glaring.

"Let me make this perfectly clear, there is NO singing in this pub! And you

She pointed at the barmaid,

"I told you not to get to comfy and I meant it."

She then turned to look at me,

"I don't want a drink anymore I'm going home,"

"Ok love, lets go."

"Tom you don't have to leave with me, stay with the lads if you want?"

I looked at her and smiled, pulling her into my arms.

"Ok love, I'll stay for a bit."

I kissed her lips then pulled away.

"I love you my love,"

"I love you Tommy."

I nodded at a Peaky lad to follow her home so I knew she got there ok. I turned to look at the barmaid who was now smiling at me, from behind the bar so I walked over to her and said in a voice I knew everyone would hear.

"I've already told you, you're in the wrong place sweetheart don't make it worse by keep glaring at my wife! That woman is my queen and you will treat her with the same respect you treat me with if not then well we will have problems."

Just as I said that Polly was walking in, she came to stand next to me before she could speak the barmaid was speaking up,

"What your wife doesn't know Mr Shelby won't hurt her."

Was this bitch for real? Crazy Irish whore say what now? I looked at her in disgust, but said nothing I nodded to polly then left I had some shit I had to deal with, with Charlie.

Polly's POV, (Not gonna be a long POV, but for this next bit to work I had to change POV's and the only one I could think of for this was Polly.

I walked into the Garrison after bumping into Ness in the street I walked straight over to Tommy who was glaring at the new barmaid. I got over there just in time to hear what she had to say,

"What your wife doesn't know Mr Shelby won't hurt her."

Tommy looked absolutely furious! This bitch is lucky Ness wasn't here cause she would be dead in the cut by now. Tommy looked at her in disgust but said nothing, which I knew was worse. He nodded at me then left, I looked at the barmaid, who was frowning, I cleared my throat to get her attention when she was looking at me I glared at her.

"A piece of advice love, Ness is Tommy's queen! Many women before you have tried to come between them and they have failed embarrassingly so Tommy doesn't see anyone but his queen and let me tell you sweetheart God help anyone who disrespects his queen!" (Thank you to ImMyOwnDefender for that line)

With that I walked out the pub to make my way home,

Tommy's POV, Back with Tommy and Ness, there is a time skip here so Tommy was at Charlie's yard while we were with Polly. So it's the next day and Ness and Tommy are at the cut with Danny because Tommy found out Danny killed the Italian waiter. Ness is with him because she doesn't want him to do this alone and Tommy wants her there also.

Ness was walking next to me and Danny, her hand held tightly in mine trying to keep her calm I could feel the big ball of nervous energy that she was this morning and I understood why she loved Danny, and she loved Rosie outside of us Shelby's they were Ness's only real friends and losing them both was heartbreaking for her but the alternative of Danny being killed by the Italians was worse.

"Danny, as you know, the man you killed was Italian. And those two men over there are his brothers, if I let the Italians do this, Danny, they'll cut off your manhood and let you drain. That's how those bastards do things so, to stop a war breaking out between us and the Italians, And to save you from their barbarity I said I would dispatch you myself. They're here to witness."

I felt Ness tighten her grip on my hand and the slight shake and tremble in it,

"I died over there anyway Tommy. I left my fucking brains in the mud."

"You have any last requests, comrade?"

"You'll look out for my Rosie and my boys, see they get Apprenticeships at the BSA factory or the Auston. And they'll make foremen I know they will, Just ordinary men and they won't get told to do the shit the shit that we got told to do. I suppose I ought to pray now, those fucking guns blew God right outta me head!"

Danny looked up and saw the boat coming,

"Is that boat for me?"

"We have to get your body out of the city, Danny. This new copper you know."

"Don't bury me anywhere' there's mud, okay?"

I nodded, my head

"Bury me on a hill and tell Rosie where."

"You're a good man and a good soldier."

I shook his head, Ness let go of my hand and stepped in front of Danny she cupped his face and pulled his head down so she could kiss his cheek,

"Rosie and the boys will be fine I promise you."

Danny ran his fingertips on the bruise on her face that he caused,

"I'm so sorry Ness."

"It's ok Danny."

She took a step back to me so she was next to me and grabbed my hand again, Danny turned so he was facing the cut I put the gun up to his head waiting for the boat to be in line, and said,

"In the bleak midwinter."

Then pulled the trigger, Ness jumped and moved closer to me. Once Danny hit the boat we turned and walked away. We got back to the betting shop both of us with some blood on us, we walked into the office and both finally took a breath. I leant over the desk opening the ledger book just for something to do but it wasn't working, I knew it wasn't real and Danny wasn't dead but it didn't make it any easier to deal with.

Ness came and stood next to me putting her arms around my neck and her head onto my chest, my arms going around her waist and holding her close, I put my head on her head and breathed in her scent.

"You did the right thing Tommy, Rosie and Danny still get to be together and he gets to see his boys grow up and get married and have their own families."

Before I could say anything back Arthur was shouting through the den,

"Where are ya?"

He slammed the paper down on the desk,

"It won! It bloody won! Meaghan-boy bloody won!"

"Yeah it won, and word will spread. So the next time we do the powder trick, it won't be just the Garrison that'll bet on the horse, it'll be the whole of Small Heath, and you know what? The horse will win again, and the third time we do it, we'll have the whole of Birmingham betting on it. A 1,000 quid bet, on the magic horse and that time when we are ready the horse will lose. Think about it!"

I slammed the book shut and held my hand out for Ness who took mine without hesitation, we both walked into the dining room where Pol was, I had, had enough today I just wanted some time with my wife. I put the book and the cash bag on the table for Pol.

"A bad week. I heard there was no moon last night I checked. Did you do the right thing?"

"Yes, I did the right thing."

With that me and Ness left the house, I just needed some time away from Polly and Arthur. With Ness's hand in mine we just walked,

"You didn't dump the guns right?"

I looked at Ness who was looking at me with a frown,

"No love, I told Charlie to take them to the wharf. I need somewhere to hide them."

She got this mischievous smirk on her face,

"Well we do need a grave for Danny Whiz-bang!"

I looked at her and chuckled, picking her up and spinning her.

"You my love are very devious. I love it!"

She giggled at me and grabbed my hand again, we walked past the Garrison and once again I noticed the new barmaid staring at me and glaring at my wife. It looks like the bitch was gonna need a lesson on disrespecting my queen and I would be more than happy to do it.