Trigger warning: this chapter has mentions of infant death


For once Ekaterina had actually managed to have a free afternoon and evening, so Ada had decided that they were going to the pictures. They were watching "A Rogues Romance", starring Rudolph Valentino. The show room was relatively empty, as it was an afternoon show; besides them there only were a handful of people. Later, at the evening show, the room would probably seat much more. She and Ada were sharing some popcorn when suddenly the door to the show room was violently thrown open. The blonde turned her head and watched a seething Thomas Shelby enter. Ada sighed.

Tommy sat down next to Ekaterina, as she was the one sitting nearer to the aisle. He sighed as well and the blonde suddenly felt very uncomfortable sandwiched between the two siblings. She had actually hoped not to be present when the confrontation was happening. And he obviously knew. "Tell me the man's name, Ada." Tommy demanded in a silent voice that made the blonde shudder. Without hesitation Ada answered "Rudolph Valentino." Ekaterina sweat dropped. She didn't think it a good idea to lie. Not to Tommy, not about this.

The man abruptly stood up and went back out the door. A moment later the movie stopped and the lights were back on. Tommy came back in, yelling "Get out! All of you! Go on! Now!" And the people did just that. Ekaterina tried to stand up as well, when Ada took her arm, giving her a pleading look and soundlessly mouthing "please". So with a sigh of her own she sat back down. This was bound to end ugly.

Tommy came to stand at their row of seats. "I said, tell me his fucking name." He demanded again. Ada stubbornly remained silent, avoiding his gaze. So her brother decided to change tactics. His burning eyes landed on the small blonde girl sitting beside his sister. "Ekaterina." He growled and her head automatically turned to him, her eyes big. Yet, he could find no fear in them, not of him. It was more like a fear of this situation in its whole, he would say. But she immediately smoothed out her face again. "You are her best friend." Tommy continued. "You know, don't you? Tell me." He demanded again.

She swallowed once but held his gaze with strong eyes, remaining silent for several moments and just as he was about to repeat the question with more force, she finally opened her mouth. "Yes. I know who it is." She said in a quiet, even voice. Nothing more. Tommy gritted his teeth. He suddenly made a step towards her, leaning down and seizing the wrist of her right hand that was resting on her lap. He roughly pulled her up by it, forcing her on her feet - which took almost no strength from him as her light stature seemed to weight next to nothing. She squealed in surprise, but put back her mask almost immediately. He leaned over her menacingly, taking her chin between his fingers and drilling his gaze into her own. "I said tell me. His fucking. Name." Ekaterina swallowed.

That was the point Ada decided to give in. "Freddie. Fucking. Thorne." She spat. "And now let go of my fucking friend!" Tommy stared at his sister incredulously, not letting go of Ekaterina but loosening his grip on her wrist and chin enough for her to pull away on her own. She rubbed her wrist slightly, uncertain if she should sit down again or remain standing. "Yeah." Ada continued. "Your best mate since school. The man who saved your life in France! So go on! Go on, cut him!" As if that had been an order Tommy turned around and stormed out, the brunette yelling after him "cut him up and chuck him in the Cut!"

It was completely silent for a moment, then Ada stood up, yelling "Oy, I'm a Shelby, too, you know! Put my fucking film back on!" at no one in particular. Immediately the lights went out and the movie continued. The brunette girl sat down again, pulling at Ekaterinas arm when she didn't do the same. Reluctantly, the blonde followed. Ada offered her some popcorn, but she shook her head. She had no appetite anymore.

.

.

For some time after that everything between Ekaterina and Thomas went back to how it had been before: they ignored and avoided each other. It was not that she was now afraid of him. But whenever she saw Tommy somewhere her wrist was throbbing, even though the actual pain had been a short affair.

One night she was walking back to Watery Lane on her own, trying to not let it show how emotionally wrecked she currently was. She had just said goodbye to grieving parents with the promise to return early in the morning to help prepare the funeral of the little baby she had just brought into this world. It had been a stillborn. She wasn't looking were she was going and, of course, promptly bumped into someone.

"Ah, I'm sorry." She quickly apologized, hoping that it wasn't some drunkard she now had to fight off. The blonde was surprised to see the blue eyes of Thomas Shelby look down at her. Not because it was him. But because he looked kind of distraught. That's why she took hold of his jacket sleeve when he was trying to walk away from her. "Are-are you okay?" she blurted out, even though it was obvious that he was not. He turned around again, looking down at her small hand holding his sleeve until she let go. "I had to shoot him." He then muttered and Ekaterina cocked her head, not understanding what he meant. "Caesar." Tommy clarified and her face momentarily fell into shock. "Because of his foot?" She asked and he shook his head. "It was a curse."

Ekaterina still didn't really understand, but she nodded as if she did. He didn't elaborate though and after some moments of tense silence she sighed. "You know... I think we could both use some company tonight." She suggested, fully expecting he would say no and move on alone. Instead he said "Sure. Why not." She looked at him surprised and he began to walk towards his home. "Are you not coming?" He asked after a moment. Her eyes fell unto the Garrison they were currently near of and she made a decision. It was closed, but the light was still on. "Go ahead. I will get us something to drink."

She disrupted an annoyed Grace trying to close up the pub, but she got a bottle of whiskey from her. When she entered the Shelby house, though, Tommy was neither in the shop nor in the kitchen. Irritated she decided to try his room last and if he wasn't there she would just go to bed. He had probably just decided that he didn't want to spend his time with her, or that's what she thought. But when she opened the door to his room he had left ajar after knocking lightly he was there, sitting on his bed. The street lamp right outside the window softly illuminated him.

She quietly sat down next to him and opened the bottle, taking a sip. The alcohol burned in her throat and she almost coughed, as she wasn't used to drinking anything stronger than wine. She offered the bottle to him next and he took it from her, taking a much bigger swig from it than she had. "So Caesar is dead?" She asked when he was finished and he nodded. They didn't say anything for a while. "Why did you cry?" He then suddenly asked and she looked at him surprised. He took out a cigarette, lightning it with a match and offering her one. She shook her head. "Thank you, but I don't smoke."

Tommy took a drag from his cigarette and continued "back on the street... your eyes were red." He looked at her as if he could still see it, even though it was too dark. Ekaterina looked down. "I had a stillborn tonight." She explained with a wavering voice. "When I went for a routine check up this evening there was no heartbeat anymore. So I had to forcefully initiate the birth... but it was too late. The umbilical cord had twisted around the baby's neck, suffocating it in its mother's womb." Tommy sighed "fuck" and the girl felt a tear roll down her cheek. He handed her the whiskey bottle. "Drink. It helps you calm down." She took a sip.

"It's just..." she whispered after a while. "I know that this happens. That's- that's life, right? You can't do anything against death... but still. I feel so angry and useless when something like that happens. That baby never even got a chance." Tommy took a long drag from his cigarette. "Life sure sometimes is shit" he declared and for a few moments the girl let her tears fall freely, Tommy just sitting by her side. Then she wiped them away with her hands. "Yeah... but enough about me. Did you sleep a bit before you went to the stables?"

Tommy looked at her questioningly and she huffed. "Thomas... Johns room- the room I'm currently staying in is right under yours. I can hear you toss and turn at night... and the occasional nightmare." She leaned a bit towards him. "I also see the dark rings you have under your eyes." He scoffed. "So you care for me now?" She sighed and leaned back from him again. "I just wanted to know if I could help you somehow. I could get you some sleeping pills, you know." He took the whiskey bottle from her hands, taking a large swig. Then he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

He looked at her for a long moment and she cocked her head. "You said you can play the piano." He stated after a while and she nodded, unsure why he was asking her that. He wouldn't want her to play now, right? The Shelbys had no piano and even if they had, it would be much too loud to play in the middle of the night. She would wake up the whole house; and the neighbors probably, too. "Can you sing, too?" He then asked and she blinked. "Sure... though I'm probably not as good as Grace, though." She answered, remembering the first time she had met with Tommy alone and gotten to hear the barmaid sing. "I don't care." He murmured quietly. "Just sing something soothing. Maybe it helps me get tired." She thought for a moment. "Does it have to be in English?" He cocked an eyebrow. "You know another language?" She smiled. "Of course. My mother is Russian, after all, so I can speak it fluently." Her eyes looked to the wall for a moment. "Well, that and French."

Tommy frowned, not quiet understanding how these languages were connected. Ekaterina thought he looked kind of adorable like that. "French was the official language under Russian nobility for a long time." She explained. "So mama wanted us to learn it, too... but that's besides the point." He noticed how she had said "us", not "me", but didn't get to ask. She suddenly scooted back a bit on his bed and patted her lap. "Put your head down." He blinked. "Come on." She urged. "If I'm singing you a lullaby I want to do it properly. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that the king of Small Heath had his head on my lap."

He thought about saying no and then kick her out of his room. But he had to admit that her lap did look inviting, with the soft, plump thighs he could see the contours of under the fabric of her long skirt. So he put his head down. Immediately, she began to move her fingers through his hair and he almost moaned, feeling goosebumps forming on his body. "Feels good, doesn't it?" She asked gently. "I always did this for my brother when he couldn't sleep." He felt his eyes fall shut. "You have a brother." He whispered and she hummed. Then she began to sing.

Spi, mladenets, moy prekrasnyy, *

Bayushki-bayu.

Tommy didn't understand what she was singing, and it was true that she was not all that great. Still, her voice and the melody she formed with it were so soft and melancholic that he couldn't help but feel soothed. He closed his eyes and, soon, felt himself slowly drift off.

Ekaterina watched the profile of his face as she sang and continued to move her hand through his soft, albeit a bit damp, hair. His eyes had closed a while ago, his long lashes fluttering from time to time. And slowly his breathing was evening out.

Spi, moy angel, tikho, sladko, *

Bayushki-bayu,

Bayushki-bayu...

When Tommy awoke the next morning Ekaterina was gone. He hadn't even heard her go, that's how deep he, seemingly, had slept. He felt well rested for the first time since he had returned from France. And... he hadn't heard the shovels.

.

.

A few days later Ekaterina was at the train station with Ada and Polly, carrying her own bag with clothes. Polly had bought tickets to Cardiff for Ada and her, where the older woman knew someone who could discreetly abort her baby and Ada had begged her friend to come with her, as she was afraid to go alone. But when they arrived at their train Freddie was waiting for them. The women stopped in shocked surprise, Polly muttering "Jesus. Freddie."

Ada looked at the man she loved and breathed "you came back?" He stepped up to her, looking at her belly and then her face, smiling. "I got a tip-off." Polly interrupted them. "Freddie, Tommy will kill you." Said man looked at the older woman. "It was Tommy who tipped me off. Maybe he's got half a heart after all." He grinned at Ada. "Tommy got a message to me. It said, 'get out of town, take her with you'." The couple smiled at each other, but now it was Ekaterina interrupting, stepping next to her friend in her usual regal pose. "Freddie. Will you take responsibility and marry her?" She asked in a serious tone. "Because if not, I will never forgive you."

Freddie looked down at his lovers best friend. She was much shorter than him, and yet it seemed like she would fight him if he said the wrong thing. To be honest he did like her, even though she was almost as against communism as Tommy. But she had always been a good friend for Ada and he appreciated how she looked out for her friend. He grinned. "Of course. So..." he looked at the brunette again and slowly got down to one knee. "Ada Shelby..." he pulled out the ring case, opening it. "Will you marry me?" Ada smiled tearfully and nodded. "Yes. Yes. Yes!" Freddie put his ring on his now-fiancée and got up to kiss her.

The brunette turned around to her friend, and together they squealed and embraced each other happily. Then Ada embraced her aunt. After that Polly pushed her niece to the train, Ekaterina following and expecting Freddie to do the same. The blonde was sad that she now seemingly had to say goodbye to her friend for who knew how long. But if this was what made Ada happy so be it. She could visit her, after all.

Freddie didn't follow.

"Freddie, come on!" Ada urged. The train was already slowly starting to move, after all. "Freddie, Cardiff's okay. Anywhere but here is okay." But he didn't move. "We're not going anywhere, Ada." He declared instead. The train moved out of the station and Freddie took Adas bag. "We are going to stay here, we are going to marry here." He looked at Polly. "I'm not afraid of Tommy Shelby." He took Adas hand, pulling her with her. Polly and Ekaterina were left behind, looking at each other. "Well..." the blonde mumbled. "That didn't solve anything."

.

.

Some time went by and Ada and Freddie had disappeared. Where to not even Ekaterina knew. Just that they were still in Birmingham, of that she was sure. She had said as much when Tommy asked her if she knew anything. She could have lied and said that she didn't know anything at all, but she had understood quite some time ago that lying to him was never a good idea. Not to him and not to Polly.

Currently she sat in the snug at the Garrison, trapped between John and Tommy, cards in hands and trying to stop John from cheating by trying to secretly look at her hand. They were playing poker. She had gone to the Garrison with the intention of enjoying just one drink and then return to Watery Lane, going to sleep early for a change. But then, of course, John had spotted her when he had stepped out for a wee and dragged her with him back to the snug. Now she was stuck in a game with the Shelby brothers and a couple other Peaky Blinders. As it was Saturday, the one day Tommy now allowed singing, they could hear the people from outside singing loud and off-key, but clearly having fun. She envied them.

"Stop squinting into my bloody cards, John!" She shouted and backed to the other side, holding her cards to her chest, were she collided lightly with Tommy. "Oh, sorry." She quickly apologized to the smoking man who just looked at her. "Ah, the princess said a bad word!" John teased. "Call me a princess again and I do other things than just say a bad word." She threatened, but secretly she enjoyed to fool around with him like that. She had feared that the Peaky Blinders would treat her differently, now that the truth about her was out, but after a few awkward days everything had returned back to normal. For that she was more than thankful. John, especially, had grown on her. When she had first gotten to know him he had tried to flirt with her a bit, but she had made it known quickly and adamantly that she was not interested in him like that. He had respected that and now they were almost like brother and sister.

John put a hand to his heart. "And now she is threatening me! I really don't know where you learned all that; eh, Tommy?" Tommy looked at them, an almost fond look on his face Ekaterina didn't notice. Something had changed in him since she had sung him to sleep. "Aye. I wonder that too." An especially loud and off-key verse of the song made it into the snug and John laughed mockingly. "Jesus Christ, Tommy, what the hell made you let them sing." He looked at Arthur. "It's like they're strangling cats out there." Ekaterina rearranged the cards in her hands. "I quite like it." The man looked at her. "What?" She asked. "At least it really has a pubs atmosphere now. It's always been so dreary before." Tommy grinned. "Well, maybe you could join them, make it even more rowdy, Miss Smith." She looked at him mischievously. "Don't say what you don't mean, Mr. Shelby. I may do it, you know?" He briefly looked into her green eyes and then turned away to take a drag from his cigarette to suppress his ever growing smile. "John!" She exclaimed again, having caught him squinting again.

"That's it!" She announced angrily, laying her cards on the table. "If you can't play fairly, I'm not playing at all. So, instead, I'm going to get me another drink. Maybe I even join the crowd for a song or two." She stood up. "Bring me a Whiskey!" John requested and she scoffed. "And reward you for cheating? No way in hell, John. You want it, you get it yourself." She walked around Tommy, who followed her with his eyes until she closed the door behind her.

"It's about time, Tommy." John drawled with a grin. "Time for what?" He asked irritated. His younger brother shrugged with one shoulder. "Time you took yourself a woman. Though good luck with the Ice Queen. Woman's got hair on her teeth." Tommy rolled his eyes. "Just play the bloody hands." Now Arthur had something to say as Tommy took a drag from his cigarette. "You stay the way you are Tommy. Remember what Dad used to say. Fast women and slow horses..." now John joined him. "Will ruin your life!" They both finished with a laugh and Tommy had to grin as well, for once enjoying his brothers teasing even though he wasn't sure yet about what it was he was feeling for the girl and what exactly had changed for him to suddenly even consider her in that way.

.

.

Outside she went straight for the bar, waving to Grace who promptly came over. Ekaterina put on her 1000 watt smile. "Hey Grace! The Saturday singing seems to be a raging success." Said woman smiled back. "Thank you. But it's a bit more rowdy than I expected, so I hope Mr. Shelby doesn't mind." The smaller woman waved her hand. "I think he's in a good mood today; what is, even for me, a bit surprising." Considering his only sister had ran off with his ex best friend, a known and wanted communist sympathizer. But she couldn't tell the barmaid that. Though she wanted to know anyway. "Why so?" Ekaterina justt shrugged. "You should know him by now. Being grumpy seems to be his default setting. Say, can I have a glass of red wine?" She asked instead, changing the topic.

Wine glass in hand she then decided to return back to the snug. Even though she had announced to maybe join into the singing, she definitely wasn't drunk enough yet to not be embarrassed by her own voice. She may feel comfortable singing for one person, but more than that was definitely too much for her. She was just about to open the door to the snug when two men with guns entered the pub and the singing immediately ceased.

"Holy shit." Harry muttered into the silence. "It's Billy Kimber." Just as he had said that, another man entered. He looked pretentious and slick and Ekaterina knew that Harry had meant this man, even though she had never seen him before, only having heard about him from the Shelbys until now. He screamed nouveau riche. He looked around the pub, his eyes lingering on her longer than she would have liked. "Is there a man named Shelby?" He then yelled into the room. No one answered and Ekaterina wondered if Tommy and the others were ignoring him or if this was some kind of strategy, as there was no way they hadn't heard him.

Billie Kimber suddenly took out a gun as well and fired into the ceiling. People screamed and crouched down, fearing he would shoot at them next. The girl jerked, but remained standing. "I said. Is there any man here named Shelby!" Kimber then yelled even louder. The door to the snug was pulled open and Ekaterina hastily stepped aside, as she had been standing before it. Tommy came out, followed by his brothers. When he spotted the small blonde near him he grabbed her waist, taking the glass out of her hand and pulling her with him into the room. "Harry, get these men a drink. Everyone else, go home!" Everyone did just that, hastily leaving the pub.

He turned to her. "You as well, Ekaterina." He ordered her more quietly. Her green eyes wandered to Kimber, who eyed her with interest again, making her shudder with disgust. He didn't look like a gentleman at all, even though he was clothed like one. "But-" Tommy took her chin between his thumb and index finger, forcing her face back to him. "No buts. Take your stuff and leave. Franklin will bring you home." He said, pointing to one of the men that had played poker with them. He was a bit younger and already carrying her bag and walking stick. She threw Kimber a glance again and then nodded. This seemingly was not concerning her, or so Tommy wanted.

As she walked out, careful to have as much space between Kimber and herself as possible, Tommy let out a sigh. Now he at least didn't have to worry about Kimber getting all too interested in her.


Sleep, good boy, my beautiful

Good night, sleep tight

Sleep, my angel, calm, sweetly

Good night, sleep tight

Good night, sleep tight

-excerpt of: Cossack Lullaby, Mikhaïl Yuryevich Lermontov (1838)

AN: I kind of really like this song and I think it fits the mood :)