Authors Note: I know it's been forever and a day since I last updated! I'm sorry for the long wait readers and I know this Chapter is a bit short. I was hoping for something longer but I need to close this chapter out where it's at - the story is not over yet there is still at least 2 more chapters coming. Please review!

Chapter 41

Adelisa Aiglentine

Thursday February 26, 1920

Pre-Dawn

Aoife POV

They'd been aware of the storm system that had been approaching Fiji, it was after all why Tommy and Alfie had left early. It had turned away from the island and they'd only been sideswiped by it. They'd departed on time and had been underway for only a couple of days now. Unfortunately they'd had very little warning before the squall had come out of nowhere and hit them full force.

She had Ada and the others below, safe and out of the way with Aine watching over them. She was on deck with the rest of her siblings tied to safety lines as they were tossed from side to side. A few men had almost been thrown overboard more than once already. The wind had struck first which had been quickly followed by lightning and then sheets of horizontal rain. With the lightning they were trying to manually maneuver the ship. It was getting to the point where they were contemplating deflating the dirigible and setting her down on the ocean.

It was not an option that they took lightly, it was in fact a last resort and not a favorable option as the sea was just as unpredictable as the sky during a squall. No one was interested in being caught in waves taller than buildings with currents just as strong as the wind and the added predicament of not being able to breathe underwater.

Carrick POV

The last crack of lightning had been too close for comfort. It was the biggest danger they were dealing with at the moment. They'd shut down the engines and the crew had done an admirable job of grounding the ship but it wasn't possible to remove all danger of being struck. If the dirigible was struck and they started losing helium they'd crash into the sea.

He was in constant contact with Eirnin in the navigation room. Eirnin was telling him the storm extended too far in all directions including up, they would not be able to outrun or rise above it. The safest course of action was to maintain a low altitude as close to the water's surface as possible. One that would still allow them to stay above the crashing walls of water, yet be low enough to possibly survive a crash to the surface.

Aine POV

The little Shelby's were scared, she could see it on their faces. Michael and Ada, even Finn were doing their best to be positive and to at least look unworried about the situation, but it wasn't helping too much.

She was grateful for the soundproofing that had been installed. She couldn't even fathom how they'd be fairing if they could hear the sounds that she knew the ship was making. It was bad enough that she had them all sitting on the floor harnessed to a safety line that ran through the middle of the cabin. It had come in handy a few times now, after the first time they'd been tossed to the side and into the air she'd pushed the mattress from the bunk underneath them. That way they'd at least have somewhere soft to land, save them from any serious injuries.

Reilly POV

The Adelisa was being buffeted around like a child's toy, the wind was coming in from every direction and was making it hell to steer the old girl. They needed to maintain a stable altitude in order to stay above the raging waves below them. He felt the draft of air as it hit the stern and catch on the dirigible above them just as a streak of white lit up the deck around him. He could barely make out his sister yell to unhook above the explosive crack of sound that he was sure rattled the glass in the portholes.

He watched in dismay as the crew that was on Aoife's line scrambled to untether themselves in an effort to avoid being hit by the current of electricity that had struck the deck. It appeared to him in slow motion but he knew that in reality it was only half a heartbeat. The wind catching the dirigible at the exact moment as a lightning strike and his fellow crewmembers untethering.

He knew it was no use, he'd never make it across the deck in time but still he untethered and ran, helpless as three of their own along with Aoife went over the rail and into the angry churning waters below.

Eirnin POV

He felt the crackle in the air as electricity hit them and cursed as he scanned the navigational equipment to ensure that nothing had been damaged by the unrestrained concentration of raw energy. The squall was far too large for them to escape and he could do nothing but watch for anomalies and scan the airwaves for information. He was busy checking air currents to find if he could see anything with a stable pattern they could use when he heard Carrick's voice coming from the comms line.

His voice was coming in and out, the connection crap in this weather even from topside to cabin. He could only seem to catch every other word, if that even. But what he did hear was... crew...lightning...overboard...Aoife.

Small Heath

#6 Watery lane

Tommy POV

He'd woken up drenched in a cold sweat unable to remember any remnants of his nightmare but all to able to hear the sounds of the scratching against the wall. Picks and shovels, dirt and death. He stared at the wall, listening as the sounds got louder, the enemy getting closer, they'd break through the wall soon. Tonight he knew they'd beat the sun.

Small Heath - Birmingham, England

Sunday Feb. 29, 1920

Evening

Inspector Taylor POV

He'd given Shelby a couple of days to settle in and get comfortable. His men had been keeping an eye on the man and all the comings and goings of the Peaky Blinders. For the most part it appeared to simply be business as usual. Though there had been a lot of visits to the currently closed Garrison Pub. In fact the pub was where his own eyes were trained right this moment. Shelby had entered with both his brothers about fifteen minutes ago.

He had yet to hear anything from him about the missing arms and was done waiting around for information. Now was as good a time as any to see what Shelby had to say, and since his brothers were there as well he'd be able to read their reactions and see if they knew anything about what was going on.

He had to admit Small Heath at night was not a place he would care to visit again. With the factories closed for the night the streets were filling with the craven. Fist fights and back alley gambling along with prostitutes servicing their clients right out in the open took place all around them.

Lifting his hand he gave his men a silent signal to move in behind him. He made his way out of the alley he'd been watching from towards the front doors of the pub. He had six men placed at the rear entrance to ensure that the Shelby's didn't leave the property.

He knocked solidly on the heavy iron door and waited. Light filtered out into the street from the front windows and he could see humanoid shapes moving about through the frosted glass. A moment later the door was being opened and the younger Shelby came into view. He watched as a toothpick migrated from one side of the man's mouth to the other. His voice wasn't as deep or gruff as Thomas Shelby's but it held a heavy amount of contempt.

"Somethin' we can do for ya Inspector?"

"I've come for a word with Thomas Shelby."

"... A word with Tommy, eh. Suppose ya got an appointment then?"

"Step aside Shelby, I didn't come here hoping for extra paperwork to land on my desk because I had to have you taken in."

Before the young man could respond they both heard Thomas Shelby's voice from somewhere inside.

"Let the man in John, I'll hear what he has to say."

John's POV

John grudgingly stepped aside to allow the Inspector and two of his men inside the pub. He closed and locked the door behind himself as the coppers moved into the main room. He watched quietly as it took the uptight looking inspector a moment to realize that Tommy wasn't at the bar and was in fact still tucked away in the snug, sitting in his chair and smoking his cigarette.

It didn't surprise him that Tommy hadn't bothered to rise and greet the man. He had after all barged into their pub while it was closed and demanded to speak with him. He noted Arthur stayed back behind the bar to watch the coppers. He moved passed the inspector and back into the snug to lounge back in his own seat and sip on his rum.

The inspector followed behind him once the man realized that Tommy wasn't going to go to him. He didn't care for coppers in general but knew that this would go more smoothly if he simply kept his mouth shut and let Tommy deal with the man. So he decided to sit back and listen to their conversation.

"Shelby."

"Inspector. Is there somethin' I can help ya with?"

"Received an interesting note a few weeks back."

"Did ya?"

Tommy puffed away on his cigarette and looked at the Inspector like he could care less about the man's presence or what he wanted from him. John could tell the copper didn't appreciate the uninterested look on his brothers face.

"Let's not beat around the bush Mr. Shelby. I know you left town for a while. Did you happen to come across anything of interest while you were away?"

Tommy tapped his ashes and took a drink from his glass, before giving the man his attention.

"Hm. Met a beautiful woman, spent most of my time in her bed. That was both interesting and satisfying."

The inspector squinted his eyes and released a long breath, John could tell he was trying to calm himself.

"Anything about what we were discussing previously Shelby?"

"I'm not quite sure that I know what you're referring to Inspector."

"... Very well, if that's how you intend to play this. I'll be seeing you boys again soon."

The inspector turned and started to leave the snug, Tommy didn't turn to watch him go, just sat back and took another pull from his cigarette. His barely audible voice filled the room and made the inspector stop in the doorway.

"I believe the note made mention of a specific timeframe Taylor. I suggest you stick to it if you want ta get your hands on what you're lookin' for."

"Mark my words Shelby. If I don't have what I'm looking for by the end of that timeframe. You, yours and everything you have becomes fair game. I will make Inspector Campbell's actions look like the lesser of two evils. Is that understood?"

"Stick to your timeframe and you'll get what you want."

John watched the Inspector step out into the bar, Arthur was already out from behind the bar to unlock the door and let them out. He removed himself from the snug and stood behind the coppers so that Arthurs back was covered as they exited. After Arthur relocked the doors they both made their way back to the snug.

Tommy was swirling the last of the rum in his glass around, watching it as it whirled. Arthur voiced the question that was at the forefront of both of their minds.

"Is he goin' ta get what he's lookin' for by the end of the timeframe Tommy?"

"... Should."

#6 Watery Lane

Tommy POV

Tommy sat back into the armchair, enjoying the heat emanating from the wood burning stove. He enjoyed the smell that came with burning wood for heat. The sound of it crackling and popping, the notable flickering of the flames as they danced. It reminded him of his Grandda and his Gypsy roots. While the modern steam powered heaters were more efficient it just wasn't quite the same.

They'd stayed at the pub for another hour after the Inspector had left and discussed certain aspects of what was happening. When he and Arthur had arrived home Arthur headed straight up to bed, he had a day of interviewing for the bar man position beginning in the mornin'. John had taken off to his own home and Esme, leaving the house quiet. He allowed himself a moment to relax and enjoy it. His mind wandered, bouncing about from one thought to the next.

Winter was coming to an end and Spring was just around the corner. Spring... a new beginnin', a renewal of sorts. Hopefully not just for mother nature but for the Shelby's as well. After the year they've had they could certainly stand a change in their fortunes. Inspector Campbell had helped to make the last year a fuckin' nightmare. He could honestly say that there were very few good things that had come their way since they'd returned from France. Thinkin' of Campbell brought Taylor to mind.

He'd been expectin' a visit from him, was actually a bit surprised the man had waited as long as he had to seek him out. The meeting with him had gone about as well as he'd planned for it to. Hopefully the man would stick to the timeline he'd been given and keep his fuckin' nose out of their business till then.

Then there was Grace, fuckin' Grace. He'd yet to hear back from Bastien on whether there was any information about her ex-husbands father coming after her. He was hoping to hear back from him before his next check in with Aoife. If the man wasn't coming after Grace he could simply give her the money and send her on her way. If he was, then he'd need to find out what Aoife's thoughts were in regards to helpin' Grace with the issue.

... Aoife. Just a little longer and she'd be here. Hopefully everything would be well and done by the time she arrived. It was all supposed to be laid to rest a week before her arrival. Allowing for one week to organize and implement Shelby Limited into their new position. One week for Inspector Taylor to remove himself and his task force from Birmingham.

They were going to reopen the Garrison on the coming Friday, so long as they'd managed to hire a bar man. He was going to ask Polly and Esme to plan and organize a celebration for the return of their family. He had too much on his plate to deal with a frivolous party and figured Polly and Esme would enjoy puttin' it all together, not to mention keeping them both out of the way on black star day.

Small Heath - Birmingham, England

Garrison Pub

Friday Mar. 5, 1920

Arthur POV

He was nervous, the kind where his stomach felt like it was flip floppin' about inside him. He knew the feelin', knew it was from excitement and happiness and a bit of worry. There weren't many times that he'd had cause to feel it since before they'd gone to war but he remembered it well.

The new bar man Bobby, was wiping down the bar one last time, making sure the gold gleamed under the lights. John, Esme, Polly and Tommy were all coming out from the snug as it grew close to the time to turn the sign on out front and open the doors to the public. John and Esme were smiling, Polly laughing about something or other and Tommy was in the middle of lightin' up his cigarette as he walked over towards him.

"I think it's about time for a toast Arthur."

"Right, a toast. Bobby pass out some rum."

Bobby quickly poured five glasses of quality rum and handed them out. Tommy's voice was soft as he addressed them.

"I remember clearly the first time Arthur mentioned his dream about owning his own pub when we came home. At the time it was a wishful thought of a brighter happier future. An idea to think on to take our minds off of what was happening around us. Didn't happen as we'd thought, but perhaps that's for the better. Arthur... you've managed to rebuild The Garrison and turn it into something of your own. Now let us drink this toast, open your doors and turn on the sign so everyone can see that The Garrison is open for business under its new owner Arthur Shelby."

John's "here, here" and Polly's "about time" filtered through the air as he enjoyed the sound of empty glasses clinking onto the bar top after Tommy's toast. They made their way to the front doors and he took a moment to take a deep breath before unlocking them and stepping outside to look at The Garrison. Once they were all facing the doors he gave the shout for Bobby to flip the switch. He heard a slight buzzing and then the sign hanging above the door glowed green, the letters spelling out The Garrison.

As the light lit up the street he took a step back to spin around and shout as loud as he could, "Ladies and gentleman The Garrison is now open for business."

He heard cheering, and was met with a crowd of people making a beeline for the doors. He had expected Peaky Blinders but was surprised to see a lot of non-Blinders mixed among the large group.

Tommy POV

Tommy grabbed a refill on his rum and took it to the snug. The bar had filled up quickly and Arthur was helping Bobby serve the customers. Everyone's comments had been positive, though he hadn't expected anything else. John was off in a group telling jokes and enjoying the merriment of the evening. Polly and Esme were sitting at the end of the bar chatting amongst themselves with Lizzie and a few other women that had made their way inside.

They had a singer with a small band come in for the evening's entertainment. A modest stage area had been integrated into a corner of the room to accommodate them. It was a miniscule area but considering they would have originally pulled out a chair for the singer to stand on it was an enhancement to the atmosphere of the whole place.

All in all, the opening was a success. The tea room wasn't open but everyone who walked in this evening would go home knowing that there was one and word would spread quickly. He had no doubts that it would receive a lot of patrons tomorrow during dining hours. Same went for the spa and the notable rooms for rent.

He'd heard quite a few praises for the house blends drift into the snug and made a mental note to check and see what the levels of each were come morning. He wanted to get an idea of which one was the most popular. With their own brewmaster they could rotate the less popular brews with new ones as they ran low.

Polly POV

The night had been going swimmingly up until Grace walked through the door. She'd been good about keeping her distance from all of them till now. She supposed the Garrison was the only place close by to find some revelry and entertainment though. Seemed to her that the girl was somewhat over-dressed for the evening, hopefully she wasn't going to try and make yet another move on Thomas.

Glancing around the room in search of him but not finding him amongst the crowd meant he was either in the snug or in the tea room. She was betting on the snug as she saw Grace making her way towards it.

Grace POV

The Garrison was filled to the brim with Blinders and residents alike. She wasn't certain there was a free seat in the pub, it looked to be standing room only. She heard music above the general noise of the crowd and did a quick survey of the room. Spotting the band tucked into a corner, Polly, Esme and Lizzie sitting at the far corner of the bar. John mixed in with a group of other Blinders joking around, Arthur behind the bar with another man who must be the new bar man. But no sign of Tommy.

As she came in further she automatically looked toward the door of the snug, it was ajar and she saw smoke curling up towards the ceiling inside. She took a deep breath and headed in that direction. She was still waiting to hear whether the Shelby's would help her or not. She was trying to be patient as she knew from experience Tommy worked on his own timetable and wouldn't be rushed into anything.

She wasn't going to push, just wanted to congratulate him on the re-opening before she bought a drink and then went back to her flat.

Tommy POV

Tommy was lounging in his chair, the back of his head resting against the wall, eyes closed, as he slowly inhaled the smoke from his cigarette. It was a deep draw, filling his lungs before he softly blew the smoke back out into the room. He wondered if Aoife would ask him to cut back on them. His mind drifting to the conversation they'd had about cigarettes and tobacco in general.

"You don't smoke Aoife?"

"No. It's not a good vice for an airman to have."

"You ever tried it?"

"As a matter of fact Tommy, I have. Can't say as I found what the appeal was."

"Why's that?"

"Well for one, I could literally feel my throat shriveling up and my lungs constricting as they burned from inhaling hot fumes. It wasn't hard to picture my lungs and airways turning to ash the same as the end of what I was smoking did. I understand that smokers grow used to this sensation in time and often even come to crave it. However an airman needs to have healthy fully working lungs to live comfortably in the higher altitudes of the sky. Hindering and or damaging my ability to breathe in any way could jeopardize not only my safety but that of my fellow crew members as well. There've also been recent studies that show there may be a link between smoking and lung sickness. When did you start smoking?"

"Hm. I was twelve when Arthur snuck me my first. From that point it depended on whether we could nick any. Became more of a regular occurrence when I was around fourteen."

"Was there any particular reason behind why you started?... Besides the fact that everyone else was doing it."

"Hmm. I guess you could say it became a serious habit in France, smoking has a calming effect I suppose. Helps to settle frayed nerves and gives you something repetitive to do. After a while it feels strange not having one."

"I can understand that."

She'd mentioned how smoking was being linked to lung sickness but she hadn't said that he should consider quitting. She'd just been sharing a fact that she'd heard about it, more as another reason for her decision not to smoke than as one to ask him to stop. At this point he wasn't even sure if it would be possible for him to. He enjoyed it too much and he figured that a bullet would take him to his grave before any side effects to his smoking would.

He heard a light tap on the door above the sounds of revelry from the bar and opened his eyes to watch it slowly swing open. Grace came into view and dipped her head slightly, her eyes demure and uncertain.

"What can I do for ya Grace?"

"Just wanted to congratulate you on a successful opening. Seems to be standing room only out there. It looks lovely, you did a wonderful job of rebuilding it."

"Hm. Arthur did do an admirable job. Polly and Esme's two cents seems to have helped its image as well."

"I'll be sure to congratulate Arthur before I leave..."

"... I haven't heard anything yet Grace. We both know that's what you're really here about. I will let you know when I know something."

"... Right. Have good evening Tommy."

"You as well Grace."

Tommy watched as she turned around and removed herself from the snug, closing the door softly behind her. He had caught the flash of yearning in her eyes but was grateful that it had no pull over him. The Adelisa hadn't checked in on Monday but he knew not to worry and since he still had no word about Graces troubles there really was no need to rush into a conversation with Aoife about Grace. He took another drink and laid his head back against the wall. Thoughts of Aoife filling his mind as he closed his eyes and allowed them to flow through him.

Sorry for the cliffhanger guys!