Authors Note: Disclaimer:

Hello everyone and thanks for sticking with me on this story so far. I just wanted to write a quick disclaimer/factoid about a section of this chapter. Aoife will be answering some of Finns questions that he has about the airship. I admit proudly that I am a bit of a history geek. When I was thinking up what the Adelisa would look like I decided to base it off of a real ship. Some of the facts she reveals in this chapter will hold glimmers of truth. If anyone is interested in seeing pics of this amazing ship and reading about it's actual history - google, The Vasa Museum - It's a museum with the preserved ship from 1628 inside. Located in Sweden. I tried to take as many actual facts from the real deal and add it to the story. Unfortunately the real Vasa sank moments into its maiden voyage. Okay my geekiness has been disclosed.

Chapter 7

Birmingham - Small Heath

Later that same day

Aoife POV

Tommy had parked the car in a private garage around the corner from his home. He pointed the residence out, a #6 Watery Lane on their way down the street toward the metal smith she wanted to see. They walked side by side, not touching. On their short walk she noted that people would veer away from Tommy and those that didn't gave a discreet greeting. In return he would either ignore the individual or give a slight nod in acknowledgement.

Tommy seemed content to walk in silence and she didn't mind that. She enjoyed silence and it wasn't as though it was fraught with tension. It was a companionable quiet they shared. After a few moments they came to Garrison Court, she recognized the pub down the lane. The court was noisy, filled with the hustle and bustle of factory workers and transporters moving goods between buildings. Some were being hauled on wagons pulled by horses and some used mechanical conveyances. It was an interesting mixture of the old and new.

She took notice of the somewhat different atmosphere that Small Heath had today compared to her previous visit. The streets seemed less muddy, perhaps the last time she'd visited had been after a rain, even though she hadn't smelled it. She supposed with the air being severely polluted it would be hard to tell. Plus the sky actually held a very faint hint of blue in it today which left the streets of Small Heath slightly more inviting.

When they came to a large open loading bay she felt Tommy gently grab hold of her elbow to pause her movement. A loud screech along with flames and sparks blew out of the bay in front of them. She was used to loud unexpected noises from working on an airship. She found the hot sparks and spewing flames to be rather beautiful and she didn't sensor herself when she heard herself saying it out loud.

Logically she knew that a normal woman would have been complaining about how there should be a sign warning people. She could have died if Tommy hadn't been expecting it, etcetera. She had come to terms with the fact she was nowhere near normal a long time ago. So Aoife had expected Tommy to ignore her odd comment, he surprised her instead.

"I've never met anyone who would say so."

"I've come to learn that beauty can be found in the unlikeliest of places and things. You just need to adjust your perspective."

He seemed to contemplate what she said for a moment before she felt him let go of her elbow. The heat of his hand moved to the small of her back and remained there as they continued on. His reply was faint. She wasn't sure if he meant for her to hear him.

"I'll have to take your word for it."

She studied his profile for a brief moment and wondered if she was correct in feeling as though Tommy's whispered response seemed a bit melancholic.

Tommy POV

Tommy watched Aoife from the corner of his eye. She seemed to continually surpass his expectations. When they came upon the open bay, he could tell from the sounds within that the mechanics were going to release the built up pressure. Growing up and living in Small Heath every resident knew to listen for the sounds. He had expected Aoife to remain calm and unaffected by the noise and burst of sparks and flames given she wasn't easy to startle. He hadn't expected her to find it beautiful.

Personally he had never viewed it in that way. It was simply an intermittent occurrence that one had to watch out for if you didn't want to end up dead or in the hospital. His town was dirty, grimy, and filled with despots, alongside hard workers that toiled away at various industrial manufacturers. Men simply trying to earn enough to support their families. He'd always thought of the everyday workflow of industry to be a dirty necessary part of living in his town. Today was the first time he contemplated whether there was beauty in it.

He led her just a bit more down the lane before he stopped in front of the door to the storefront for the metal smith she'd requested. He hadn't realized that he'd moved his hand to her back until he removed it to open the door for her. Fuckin hell she was getting to him a lot more than he'd expected. She went through the door with an arch to her brow and a cheeky smile that had her eyes sparkling. Her voice a soft sweet sirens song as she passed him, "Why thank you good sir, always glad to be in the company of a gentleman."

He listened to her soft lilting laughter as he followed her inside. He had to admit that he wouldn't mind listening to that laughter well into his future. A hazy a dream that he was certain would never come to pass. He was well aware that he was both a bad man and far too broken to ever deserve the kind of peace having a woman the likes of her by his side would bring him.

Aoife POV

Aoife walked into the metal smith shop and she knew her eyes were lighting up as though she was a kid in a candy store. A short burly looking mountain of a man stood behind the counter. He gave a gruff but respectful welcome, "Afternoon Mr. Shelby, Miss. How can I help ya today?"

Tommy's voice filled the shop before she had a chance to return the shopkeepers greeting. "You'll be helping the lady with whatever she wishes."

"Yes, Sir."

The man then turned his full attention to her while remaining respectful to Tommy's presence. It appeared Tommy would be staying during her transaction. She supposed she didn't mind, she had thought the arrangement was just for him to bring her here, nothing more. Eh, given Alfie's threat perhaps Tommy was going to ensure her 'safety' until she boarded the tramline back to London. No skin off her nose, if he wanted to go that far, but surely he had his own business to take care of?

Aoife turned her complete attention to the man in front of her. "I'm in the market for a full set of throwing knives. I've been told you're the one to see."

"Indeed Miss. I have several sets available immediately."

He started pulling a couple of different options out from beneath the counter. Laying them gently on the countertop and opening the boxes to show the wares inside. "These here are what we call blade heavy throwing knives and these particular ones are made from stainless steel. Perfect for the beginner."

Aoife was used to men that didn't know her assuming she was the little lady looking to make a surprise purchase for her man. Or the odd woman out who thought it could be fun to pickup knife throwing as an entertainment. It did get old, which is why she normally would have gone to her usual metal smith who knew her tastes. Unfortunately the last time she'd been in New York she'd found he'd retired.

"They're lovely I'm sure. However, I'm not interested in blade heavy or handle heavy, I want balanced. Don't bother with anything stainless steel. I want German 1075 High Carbon Steel heat treated and annealed to about 56 to 58 Rockwell hardness . They can be between 4 to 6 inches in total length with a spear point. I would love it, if it was hand finished and polished to razor sharpness. Preferably with an epoxy black powder coating. Also, they'll need to have contour lines. I'd like a set of eight. Would you happen to have that in stock?"

She had watched as the shopkeepers eyes widened ever so slowly with each demand she made for her order. She could also see the growing respect he had for her, he was no longer the man who had been humoring the little lady. "If you have or can manufacture what I'm looking for in a timely manner, providing your craftsmanship is up to my standards, I'm willing to pay a fair price for your talents. I'm also a frequent return customer."

"Me names, Evan Findley. Haven't had anyone come in here with such extensive knowledge before Miss. I don't have what you want in stock but I can manufacture it. As specialized as an order as that you pay half upfront and the rest on delivery."

"And when can you have it done?"

"I've got the materials in stock. I can have a set of eight done by this time tomorrow."

"It's a deal then. Since they're a special order I'd like them to be 5 inches in total length and half an inch in width."

She had watched him as he'd grabbed a pad and pen and started marking down her specifics. "What about the handle, what would you like that made out of?"

"Bare, if you please."

"Right. Set of eight to those specifications is going to run you seventy-five pounds."

"Given the pricing of materials and the amount of time you'll be spending in their creation, I am willing to pay that. So long as your craftsmanship isn't sub par."

"They'll be made to the highest of standards and to the utmost of my skill."

Aoife nodded and they shook hands on their agreement. Reaching into her satchel she pulled out and handed over the first half of her payment.

"I'll be seeing you same time tomorrow then."

The man nodded to her and then turned quickly to Tommy as though he might have actually forgotten his presence, before he said, "Good day, Mr. Shelby."

She turned around and caught Tommy's nod to Mr. Findley, before his eyes dropped to hers. They were unreadable again. He started for the door and held it open for her. She passed through and down to the street where he joined her and his hand was once again placed on the small of her back as they started on their way.

"It will be more convenient to stay in Small Heath tonight if I'm to pickup my order tomorrow this time. Would you kindly point me in the direction of decent lodging Tommy?"

"You'll stay at the Garrison. The rooms are acceptable, Harry's a decent man and it's well protected."

"Alright then, as this is your town, I'll trust your judgment."

Tommy POV

Tommy led Aoife towards the Garrison. He wasn't in a hurry so he kept his pace on the slow side. They walked in silence again, he didn't really notice it. His mind was busy turning events over. She was knowledgeable in the metal smiths shop. He could tell by the surprise and respect that Findley had shown when she'd started listing off what she wanted. He himself knew more about guns than he did blades, but he could tell she knew what she was talking about. Watching her deal with Findley had been eye opening yet again. She was firm in what she wanted and knew how much what she wanted was worth.

He wondered if the blades were for her personally or if they were a gift for someone else. He hadn't met many people who practiced the skill of knife throwing. Based on how detailed her order had been he would guess they were for herself. He wouldn't mind seeing how skilled she was at it. She just kept on surprising him. He also had to wonder why a woman airman would have picked up knife throwing. He imagined there weren't many female airmen, her profession would be highly male driven. Tommy wondered if she would have a chosen the profession if she hadn't inherited it. A single blade he could understand for protection against the rougher men she'd deal with in the air. That and perhaps a backup just in case, but throwing knives?

They reached the Garrison before he realized it, and knocked loudly on the door. It was mid-afternoon and the pub closed between the end of lunch hour and when the workers clocked out. There was a space of time until Harry opened the door and seeing it was him opened it all the way to let them in. "Mr. Shelby. What can I do for you?"

"I need a room for Miss Deveroux, she'll be staying tonight."

"Let me grab the keys from behind the bar, sir."

Tommy nodded his head and turned his gaze to Aoife. "Since you're spending the evening, how would you feel about accompanying me to the fair?"

"There's a fair near here? I've actually never been to one. If you're sure you want my company, I have no other plans for the rest of the day."

"Good."

Harry reemerged from behind the bar brandishing the key to a room upstairs. Tommy took it from his grasp and told him to send the bill for the nights rent to the Peaky Blinders.

He waited a beat, he had a feeling Aoife would pipe up momentarily and say something about him paying for her lodgings. However, she managed to surprise him yet again. She turned her head away from Harry to look up at him. He looked down at her so he had a clear view of her features. She arched her brow and shook her head.

"If you're waiting for me to tell you there's no need to pay my rent, you'll be waiting a long time."

"You're not going to insist on paying yourself?"

"Why should I? You've already made the decision to pay for it. No sense in arguing with a hardheaded man like yourself. Besides it's not like you're going to see me any different than you have been. I graciously accept your generosity and hospitality. If I choose to look upon it as payment for accompanying you this evening well then that's my prerogative."

Aoife POV

Aoife watched as Tommy stared down at her. He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, his upper teeth scraping over it as his tongue swept across it once it was released. Then she noted the beginnings of a small smile, that gradually became a larger one, which evolved into a full out laugh.

She noted Harry's surprised expression from the corner of her eye but kept her focus on Tommy's face. In that moment he looked younger and less worn. It was a glimpse into another aspect of the man, another puzzle piece falling into place. He was more than just the intensely cold, calculating leader of the Peaky Blinders. She knew what she was witnessing must be a rarity. Tommy Shelby was laughing. She didn't rightly know what he'd found humorous about their exchange but she certainly wasn't going to ask him. No need to beat a good thing to death.

It didn't last that long but it was a good laugh, and once it subsided a small smile remained on his face. He looked at her, his eyes hinting at a spark of mirth and held out his arm before his lovely voice went and mucked up her already dazzled senses.

"Come on then."

Aoife slid her hand into the crook of Tommy's elbow and followed him back out into Small Heath where he led the way to #6 Watery Lane.

Tommy POV

He was amazed with himself. He really wasn't sure what had possessed him to invite Aoife to the fair. He'd thought briefly about her up in her room alone at the Garrison or making her way down to the pub once it opened. He hadn't liked the idea of her being by herself and it wasn't only about the matter of her safety. If he was being completely honest he'd admit that he wasn't ready to part from her company.

He'd already had plans to take the rest of his family. Things had been going good and they all deserved to have some light hearted fun. Ada and Finn were really looking forward to it. Knowing Finn he'd probably been driving everyone up the wall with his energetic excitement.

As they rounded the corner onto Watery Lane he saw his home. The car already parked out front and the truck just behind waiting to be loaded up with his family and members of the Peaky Blinders that had wanted to attend. Tonight wasn't about business so Aoife wouldn't be placed in any danger. So it was perfectly acceptable to have invited her. Right? Yep, perfectly acceptable. He'd extend his time with her while ensuring her safety.

They neared the front door and some of his men called out hello to him, he nodded and continued walking up to the front door. He opened the door and ushered Aoife in. It didn't pass his notice that a large portion of the men gathered had been focused on Aoife and the mystery she know doubt presented to them.

As soon as he stepped inside after Aoife, Finn came hurtling out of the sitting room. "TOMMY! You're finally back, are we goin now?" Tommy watched as Finn realized he wasn't alone, a look of frustration crossing his little face. He heard the disappointment in Finns voice when he asked how much longer till he was done with business so they could go. Apparently he thought he'd have to wait till Aoife left. "Finn, you don't have to wait, we'll be leaving in a few minutes. This is Aoife Deveroux, she'll be joining us at the fair."

Finn had a moment of confusion before his blue eyes started to light up like fireworks going off.

Finn's POV

Finn looked at the woman who Tommy'd brought home more closely. Aoife...that was the name of the lady airman. She didn't look like an airman to him, she was far too pretty. She looked more like one of those famous actresses that were in the picture shows they saw down at the theater, but it had to be her.

He was so engrossed in studying her he hadn't heard Ada or Aunt Polly come up behind him.

He heard the wonder and awe in his own voice as he said her name almost reverently, "Aoife... you're the airman."

His eyes were glued to her, he couldn't take them off of her. He did manage to catch the look on Tommy's face as his brother watched his reaction. Both of Tommy's brows were lifted and there was a smirk on his lips. But his attention went back to Aoife as she smiled at him and bent down slightly so they were more on the same level before she held out her hand to shake his own.

"Looks like we're meeting sooner than either of us thought. It's pleasure to make your acquaintance in person Finn."

Finn nodded and shook her hand enthusiastically. It wasn't one of those weak shakes that most adults gave to kids, if they even bothered with the custom. It was strong and firm, the kind given from one adult to another. "Did you bring your airship with ya?"

"Not today, but fear not, it will be here bright and early in four days time. If you make it early enough I'll even give you a tour while the men load up."

"Really! That'd be grand! Wouldn't that be grand Tommy? We can get there early can't we?"

Tommy ruffled his hair, "We'll get there plenty early Finn, but how bout we go to the fair today?"

"YEAH, yeah," he looked back at Aoife, " ...and you're coming, right? Tommy said you were coming. Can I ask you some more questions on the way there?"

Before he got an answer from Aoife, Ada's voice floated over him. "Finn don't talk her ear off straight out the gate. Hello, I'm Ada."

He watched as Ada's hand shot out from somewhere behind him as she took Aoife's attention away from him for the moment. "It's nice to meet you Ada, and I don't mind. There's nothing wrong with a bit of curiosity."

The girls shook hands and then Aunt Polly introduced herself before mentioning if they actually wanted to get there in time to enjoy themselves they needed to get moving.

Polly's POV

Polly watched as Finn rushed out of the house towards the car, he didn't get in but turned around and waited for them. Ada laughed softly about Finn's excitement before following him out with a bit of extra bounce in her step as well. She let Tommy guide the airman out before following suit herself. She admitted the boys weren't waxing poetic about the girls looks. She could also tell the girl had class, it showed in the gracefulness of her movements, the way she carried herself.

She surreptitiously observed how Tommy was interacting with the lady airman. His hand was situated comfortably on her lower back and they both seemed at ease with one another.

John , Arthur and her boy Michael broke away from the group at the truck and came toward them when they noticed the new female in their party. Polly knew Arthur was sober as he'd not had a drop so far today. So his voice was clear and concise when he spoke.

"If it isn't the enchanting shipper herself. What a lovely surprise you've given us with your fine presence."

"Arthur...John. It is indeed splendid to see you again."

John removed the matchstick from his mouth as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles in a rather showy humorous way. She had an exquisite laugh that carried on the wind and seemed to infect those around her. It was good to know the girl wasn't easily put off and could hold her own against the likes of the Shelby boys. Taking Johns antics for what they were...just a bit of harmless innocent fun.

Arthur turned towards Michael and introduced the two of them. She knew Michael was still getting his feet under him. He'd only recently returned to her life after he'd been taken from her by the government as a small child. He seemed at ease though and the girl was every bit the cordial lady, ensuring he knew she was delighted to meet him.

Knowing they truly needed to get on the road, she moved forward and climbed into the back seat of the car. As she settled in, she realized Finn was still outside waiting. "Are you getting in Finn or what?"

"I want to sit by Aoife."

Polly chuckled as Tommy stiffened slightly at Finn's statement. In order to maintain a happy traveling company she spoke before the boys could, "Well then get in, so she can."

Finn smiled and climbed happily inside. Aoife followed suit and settled comfortably beside him.

Tommy walked round to the driver's side as Ada scooted in to sit in between Tommy and Arthur. John tapped the motorcars hood twice before heading back to the truck with Michael. Within moments they were rumbling down the road.

It wasn't long before Finn could no longer contain himself. "You said that you inherited the ship, right. How long's it been your family? How old is it? What's it made of? How many decks are there?"

Finns exuberance filled the cabin and the lot of them started chuckling before Ada managed to tell Finn to ask one question at a time. Aoife however was apparently a good listener as she began to rattle off the answers to every one of his rapid fire questions in a way that drew you in to what she was saying.

"Yes, my siblings and I inherited the Adelisa from our parents who inherited it from my father's parents who in turn inherited it from his, as far back as 8 generations. So it's been in our family for some time now.

The Adelisa itself however actually began its life on the water back in the year 1628, that makes her 290 years old. She was originally called The Vasa. She was considered the fiercest warship of her time. She was built out of timber, tar and iron. She's been upgraded through the years with each generation contributing something new to her. She was also retrofitted with armor plating on the inside of her hull by the government of the Colonies when she was conscripted for the war effort.

As we discussed previously she's 226 feet long when measured bow to stern and more than 164 feet tall from her keel to the top of her main mast, not including the dirigible. Empty she weighs over 1000 tons. And she consists of four lower decks, five if you're to count the bridge. In her beginning days she would have been manned with a crew of 145 sailors. However with modernization she sails through the air manned by a crew of 35."

"I can't wait to see her...you said she started out as a warship, how many guns did she have? And she was in the war...Does she still have guns now? Left over from the war."

"Well it's said that when she sailed the seas she could hold 72 cannons and 120 tons of ballast. The story goes that she carried 145 sailors plus 300 soldiers to man the three separate levels of different sized cannons and various other artillery, as well as, to have enough man power to board and overtake an enemy ship. During the recent war effort she carried her original 35 crew members along with an additional 100 Colony soldiers and she was fitted with 12 Big Bertha's, and 12 Howitzers, along with a healthy supply of air bombs. After the war the governments cannons, guns and unused bombs were removed."

During the time Aoife had been answering Finns questions, Polly had turned to watch the girl as she spoke. She'd found herself caught up in the historic tale she wove. The girl was a master at weaving words. The sound of her voice and inflections she used in her speech were nothing short of spellbinding. Polly could tell Aoife enjoyed speaking about her ship. There was a lot of pride there, along with a deep enjoyment of being able to share it with someone who was genuinely interested.

"Though I'll let you in on a secret, she's currently outfitted with enough fire power to protect us if she gets accosted by pirates."

"PIRATES! Pirates are still real? Have you seen pirates? Have you had to fight them?"

"Ah, of course pirates are real. Ships have gone from sea to sky and it's brought with them all the perils it had when sailing upon the ocean blue. Even this day and age, if you sail the open skies long enough you're bound to have a run in with the likes of them. There are numerous areas across the this great earth that are to this day considered the playing field of the unlawful.

And to answer your question. Yes, I have personally seen pirates, on more than one occasion. The Adelisa has also had cause to use its cannons against pirates thinking she was ripe for the taking. They haven't succeeding thus far, and I assure you that as long as the Adelisa is Captained by a Deveroux she never will be. We'd just as soon scuttle her than see her in the hands of a dirty pirate."

When Aoife finished speaking it was silent in the vehicle as everyone had been immersed in her story of the Adelisa. Ada was the first to rouse from her thoughts about the tale, "Are you serious? Are pirates still that much of a problem?"

"Pirates are an occupational hazard, whether you're sailing through the clouds in the sky or along the waves of the deep blue. You come across them more heavily in certain areas. They often become more daring and expand their hunting grounds when the weather is exceptionally fierce. They like to use the swiftly changing elements to their advantage. They tend to prey on the older ships, the ones who they think are most likely not to have radar upgrades. The Adelisa being and looking as old as she is, tends to be a prime target. They're not expecting us to see them coming or to be fitted to withstand an assault."

Finn's voice was awe filled yet again and held the utmost respect towards Aoife when he asked his next question.

"What's it like being an airman?"

The girl smiled sweetly down at Finn while answering him. "There are many great things about being an airman and living aboard ship. You get to see places and things most people will never even know exist. Landscapes that literally steal the breath from your lungs. You get to meet tons of interesting people and learn about different cultures. You form an unbreakable bond of trust with those who sail with you. You truly understand the meaning of freedom and you're humbled by the stark ferocity and ever changing whims of mother nature. You challenge yourself in ways you never dreamed possible and so, so much more.

However, as with everything it's also not all it's cracked up to be. It does have its down sides."

Finn's eager face showed doubt that there could possibly be a down side. "What's bad about it?"

" Well, you can't be susceptible to motion sickness or claustrophobic in any way. You need to have the mental capacity and emotional fortitude to spend extended lengths of time away from the ground and everything that entails: people, places and things. You need to be able to entertain yourself so you don't go stark raving mad. You can't be afraid of heights, or of falling. You need to always be prepared for anything. Good eye sight is a plus but not necessarily a must. One must also maintain a workout regimen to keep oneself physically fit. Which also ensures that you are flexible and agile. You must be prepared and know how to protect yourself, your crewmates, your ship and your cargo. You need to be willing and able to perform all duties from the most prestige's to the most vile and disgusting. "

"Vile and disgusting? Like what?"

"Oh, by far the most vile job on an airship is that of the swab. One of his duties is to empty, clean and maintain the privy. Along with ensuring the cleanliness of the ships galley. Especially the food stores. Not a job you want to be stuck with when the grub spoils."

Before Finn could continue his questioning, Tommy's voice filled the void to announce their arrival to the fair. It was hard to believe they'd been in the car for 45 minutes already. Aoife was a true storyteller.

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