Chapter 1

SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED SEASON 4!

Set in the time before Christmas of Season 4; Aberama and Bonnie meet the Shelby's earlier than in the show, this story starts in the year before John gets shot and carries on into the season.

Walking down Watery Lane, arm in arm with her best friend Millie, Edith Shelby stops still in her tracks, staring at the young boy stood with a group of older men outside the door to the house she shares with her brother Finn.

"Who on earth is that?" Millie exclaims, clutching Edith's arm tighter.

"Not a clue." She mutters back under her breath. "Go home Mil, I'd better go find out."

"But Edie.."

"No Mil, go, 'k? I'll come by later."

"Fine." Millie replies with a scowl and a pointed look at her friend. "But I want a run down on the cutie with the dark hair, got it?"

"Got it." She calls over her shoulder with a chuckle as she heads towards to group of men. "Can I help you gentlemen?" She asks politely as she reaches the group.

"Nothing to bother yourself with young lady." Comes the reply. Edith stops and quirks an eyebrow, looking the man up and down.

"We're here to see Mr Thomas Shelby." Another man states, stepping forward and pushing the other man back, clearly the leader of the group.

"He's not here." Edith states, crossing her arms over her chest. "Who's asking?"

"Aberama Gold." Mr Gold sticks out his hand for Edith to shake, who confidently steps forward and takes his hand in hers. "You've got gypsy blood in ya girl, I can feel it. And you are?"

"Edith!" Comes a gruff, slightly angry shout from behind her. "Edith." She sighs and turns to face her uncle who was storming quickly down the street. "Edie come here."

"I'm fine Uncle Charlie." She huffs, "This is Mr Aberama Gold. He's here to see Tommy."

"What have I told you girl?" He sighs, gently pulling Edith back towards Curly by her arm.

"It's fine uncle. Nothing happened."

"Mr Shelby is not around." Charlie continues, turning away from his niece and to the group of men.

"How did you know I was here Curly?" Edith whispers as her uncle continues his conversation with Aberama.

"Your friend Millie." Curly replies with a nod. "Came runnin', told Charlie you were talking to some men, yeah, strange lookin' men she said."

"Gonna kill that girl." She mutters under her breath, rolling her eyes as she spots her sister heading towards the group.

"What's going on here?" Ada calls as she approaches the men. "Uncle Charlie?"

"This is Aberama Gold, Ada." Edith calls in reply, making her presence known.

"Ah." Ada says, letting her shoulders relax and holding her hand out. "Mr Gold. Pleasure to meet you. I'm Ada Thorne. Tommy said to expect you. Please, come inside."

"Ada." Charlie warns, taking a step forwards.

"It's alright Uncle Charlie." She reassures him. "All is well. You and Curly can go now, Edith will stay with me."

"But Ada..."

"Uncle Charlie." Ada snaps with a scowl, unlocking the front door. "Edith, come on."

"Bye Curly." Edith whispers, pressing a kiss to his cheek

"See ya later Miss Edith." He replies as he heads off with Charlie, who was still shaking his head and muttering under his breath.

Ada opens the front door, ushering the men in as she asks, "Now, Mr Gold. Can I get you and your men a cup of tea?"

"It's Edith, right?" The 'cutie with the dark hair' as Millie had called him appears beside Edith, who was sat drumming her fingers on the sideboard. She nods up at him, furrowing her brows as he pulls a chair up beside her.

"Bonnie." He states, holding out his hand for her to shake. "Bonnie Gold."

"Gold." she repeats "Mr Gold's..."

"Son." He cuts her off with a smirk, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.

"Quite confident in yourself ain't ya Mr Gold."

"Somewhat I suppose." He replies leaning back in his chair. "And you're Mr Shelby's..."

"Sister." She replies in the same teasing tone, turning to face him in her chair. "So, what brings you here, Bonnie?"

"Business." He simply replies, turning to face her way. "Do you work with your brothers?"

"Sometimes." Edith states, nodding her head to one side. "Why? You hoping to see some more of me around?"

"Well..." Bonnie trails off, cheeks blushing leading Edith to hide her smile by turning her head.

"Do I make you nervous Bonnie?" Before he has chance to answer her question, Edith's brothers come striding into the room. She stands up quickly, beginning to head their way as Ada introduces Aberama and his men to Tommy.

"No Miss Shelby." Bonnie whispers in Edith's ear as he passes her, gently pressing a hand into her lower back as he does. "Not at all." Edith blushes this time, watching as Bonnie pushes his way to the front of the group beside his father before catching Arthur's eye, who motions with his head for her to join him with their brothers.

"So, Edie, your friend coming tonight?" Isiah asks, leaning across the table towards Edith. "Millie, right?" Finn fights back a snort, glancing between his sister, who was rolling her eyes, and his friend.

"No." Edith states with a smirk after a minute of matching Isiah's stance, leaning across the table, eyes locked as he deflates back against his chair. This time Finn and Michael choke out laughs against their glasses.

"Aww, Isiah's got a crush!" Finn teases earning a kick under the table from his friend.

"Shut up." He growls

"Mind if I join you?" All eyes turn to the young man stood in front of their booth.

"Of course." Edith replies quickly, the three other boys meeting each other's eyes with questioning looks as the dark haired boy slides into the booth beside Edith.

"Sorry, you are?" Finn asks, peering around his sister, immediately protective over her.

"Bonnie Gold." Edith and Bonnie reply at the same time, earning another glance between the boys.

"Bonnie." He repeats, shooting Edith a smile who shrinks back against the chair blushing as he shakes the hands of the boys.

"Finn Shelby." Finn states as he shakes Bonnie's hand. "Edith's brother. Older brother." Edith rolls her eyes at this, nudging Finn's shoulder with hers, sending him a look that tells him he didn't need to add the last part, the two of them only being 18 months apart in age.

"Bonnie and his dad are working with Tommy," Edith explains "We met earlier. They came by to meet Tom, John and Arthur. While you three were out doing whatever it is you boys do to fill your time."

"Like what?" Isiah cuts in, watching the other boy over the rim of his glass.

"Whatever the Peaky Blinders need." He responds

Edith turns to him quickly, eager to change the subject from her brother's business, "Excuse me please Bonnie." She says, indicating that she wanted to slide out of the booth past him. He stands, allowing her to pass, all four boys watching as she heads towards the bar. Without a glance back at Finn, Michael and Isiah, Bonnie follows Edith, joining her at the bar, resting his elbows on the wooden surface. Edith smiles, hiding it behind her hair as she watches him out of the corner of her eye. "Yes?"

"Can I buy you a drink Miss Shelby?" He asks lowly, eyes trained on her face which breaks into a smile.

"I don't pay for my drinks Mr Gold," she responds, resting her head in her palm, pausing a second before replying, "But a gin would be lovely."

"A gin it is." Bonnie replies with a smile, motioning for the attention of the barmaid, unaware of the glares from Finn, still sat with Michael and Isiah, and the stares coming from the three older Shelby boys who had just entered the bar.