After a few moments, John pulled away from me. He took my face in his hands and forced me to look up at him. He searched my face for a moment before speaking. "Are you okay?" he whispered, bringing his forehead down to rest on mine. I nodded. "I think so." I whispered back, placing my hands either side of his waist. He pressed his lips to mine before searching my face again. "I am fine." I told him, kissing him once more. "Danny didn't make it." he told me. I nodded slowly. "Is Tommy okay?" I asked. "Yeah, took one to the shoulder but he should be fine. They've taken him to the Garrison to clean him up." he told me, finally releasing my face and moving his hands to my forearms. I could still see the worry in his eyes.
"They've taken Danny in there as well." he added. I nodded, looking around. The street was now empty apart from us and Freddie, Ada and Karl. "Come on. Let's get you inside." John said, pulling me under his arm and walking towards the Garrison. I grimaced as I heard Tommy screaming. "They just need to get the bullet out." John assured me, squeezing my shoulders as he opened the door. I nodded, following him in and taking in the scene before me. Arthur and a group of men were around Tommy, tending to his bullet wound. Polly was at the bar nursing a cigarette and a drink, Finn beside her. Looking through the open door to the snug, I could see Danny Whizz-Bang laid on the table, face up and staring into nothing.
The screaming had subsided and Jeremiah Jesus was wrapping a bandage around Tommys chest and shoulder. I went over to the group, John broke away from me to go to Polly. Arthur put his arm across my shoulders when I reached him. "Well, at least we know something for certain." Tommy said, grimacing slightly as Jeremiah knotted the bandage. "What's that, Tom?" Arthur said beside me, taking a swig from the bottle in his hand. "At least one Shelby's got a decent fucking aim." he laughed, looking at me. I laughed with him, glad to see he was okay. Hurt, but okay. Arthurs arm around me was tight, not the usual loose lean that I was used to. It felt like he was trying to hold me together.
The doors opened and we all turned to watch Freddie and Ada walk in, Karl in Freddies arms and Ada pushing the pram. I smiled at the small family before my eyes drifted over to the snug and my smile fell. As I turned back to Tommy, he was watching me, silently searching as John had to make sure I was really okay. I gave him a small smile before Polly spoke. "It's time to say goodbye." she told us all, stubbing out her cigarette and standing.
Arthur had only release me when John was directly beside me. John put his arm around my shoulders as we walked into the snug. Danny Whizz-Bangs body had been cleaned up and everyone had come in to say their goodbyes. I watched as Finn walked in behind Ada, his eyes wide. This would be the first time he saw a dead body. Polly had her hand on his shoulder and looked to me with a sad smile. I nodded at her as John squeezed my shoulders. "Now we can bury him properly. In the grave we dug for him." John said, looking over his friend. "Yeah. It's high on a hill. He'd like that." Tommy replied, I smiled at the thought.
There was a moment of silence until Tommy uncorked a bottle of Gin. He raised in the the air. "To Danny Whizz-Bang." he toasted. "Danny." Charlie responded, lifting his glass with the other men. "May we all die twice." Tommy added, taking a sip from the bottle and passing it to John "To Danny Whizz-Bang." John whispered, taking a drink before passing it on. The men took it in turns, passing the bottle round the circle. "Come on, the day is ours. Let's celebrate." Tommy said, ushering Polly and Ada out the door. John and I waited for a moment, while everyone filed out the door. "We need to get a sheet or something." I told him. He nodded, looking around the snug and finding one stashed under the seat. He helped me unfold it and place it over the body. I stood at the head and lowered my head, whispering a hushed prayer before taking Johns outstretched hand and allowing him to pull me from the small room.
I sat in one of the booths while John went and got himself a drink. It was the first time since I had shot Kimber that I hadn't been under the arm of a Shelby brother, however I felt their watchful gaze on me. The Garrison was busier now as the rest of the Peaky Blinders joined the festivities. It was still very sombre but I knew that would soon change as I watched them gulping down their drinks. I watched Polly fussing over Finn when I suddenly found myself sandwiched between the two eldest Shelbys. "And what can I do for you two?" I asked, resting my head on Arthurs shoulder. "We want to make sure that you really are okay and aren't putting on a front for John." Arthur told me. I lifted me head to look at the pair.
"I am fine!" I told them. "I am not as delicate as you are making me out to be, ya know." I added. They didn't look like they believed me. "Was I expecting to shoot a man through the head when I woke up this morning, no. Am I going to become a crying mess because I rid the world of an areshole, also no." I told them. "These things don't always hit you straight away." Tommy told me, placing a hand on my leg. "Right, how about this, if at any point I feel not okay I will come find one of you." I suggested, looking between them. Tommy nodded. "I can live with that." he said. "Sounds good to me." Arthur confirmed. I rolled my eyes at the pair before turning my eyes back on the pub.
After everyone had had a few drinks, the mood had picked up. After speaking to Tommy and Arthur, they were not longer watching me, waiting for me to crack, and were enjoying the lively atmosphere around me. Arthur was behind the bar pouring drinks and Ada and Freddie were huddled around baby Karl when John pulled me in for a kiss. I could taste the whiskey on his tongue as he deepened the kiss, wrapping an arm around my waist and placing a hand on the side of my head, knotting his fingers in my curls. We broke away after a few moments as whistles filled the bar. He grinned as he placed a kiss to my forehead, releasing my hair and waist.
"A toast! A toast, a toast!" John called, trying to get the attention of the pub. "To Shelby Brothers Limited!" he shouted, raising his glass and standing on a stool. Everyone cheered around him, raising their glasses. I laughed as I spotted Ada coming towards me. "Can I talk to you?" she asked once she reached me. I nodded, following her to a relatively quiet corner. We sat at a small table and I searched her face, concerned. "I've spoken to Freddie and we're moving to London." she told me. My heart sank and I couldn't prevent my face from doing the same. "You're leaving?" I questioned. She nodded, taking my hand in hers. "It's what's best. You can come visit anytime you want." she told me.
"When are you going?" I asked. "Tonight. Freddie knows someone that can put us up for a few days until we find our feet." she replied. "Tonight." I echoed. I looked at the girl who had been my sister since we were young. I remembered our crazy antics before the war, how we banded together during the war, often sleeping in the same bed and how much had changed since. We were both married. She was a mother, I was about to be. We weren't girls any more. I couldn't fight the tears as I pulled her to me, wrapping her in a hug as the tears spilled over my face. Her slightly shaking body told me that she was crying with me. We broke apart after a few moments, taking each other in.
I spotted Freddie over her shoulder. I took her hand, pulling her with me over to her husband, wiping the tears from my face as I went. "You better look after her, do ya hear me Frederick Thorne?" I told him once I was close enough. He nodded, looking at us both with a sad smile. "If I hear one bad word I'll be straight on that train to London." I warned, squeezing Adas hand. He nodded again. "I wouldn't expect anything less." he laughed, pulling me in for a hug. Fresh tears escaped and I wiped them away as I pulled away from him. "You two are right bastards doing this to a pregnant lady." I laughed, taking a deep breath in a failed attempt to suppress the tears.
Polly must have some sort of crying radar as a moment later I watched as she pushed John and Arthur out of her way to get to Ada and I, concern on her face. Her determination made John and Arthur look where she was heading, both faces dropping when they saw Ada and I huddled together crying. I rolled my eyes as they came towards us. "What's happened?" Polly demanded, looking between us before glaring at Freddie. "Evie, what's wrong?" John questioned. "Nothing is wrong, just me being emotional." I told them, pulling Ada by our still entwined hands to her husband and going over to mine. I wrapped my arms around Johns waist as he wrapped his arms around me reluctantly, obviously still confused.
I looked around and quickly spotted Tommy talking to Finn. "Tommy! Finn! Come here!" I shouted, they both looked up confused at our little congregation and Ada and I's puffy faces. Once they had joined us, I turned back to Ada and Freddie. "Tell them." I encouraged them. They looked at each other, unsure before turning to us all again. Freddie took Ada under his arm and they told the family what they were doing. I smiled encouragingly at Ada as John placed a kiss on my head. We were all where we were supposed to be.
A/N So that finishes off Season 1! What do you think?