The Other Shelby Girl

Chapter 1: Posh Girl

A/N: Thank you for reading! This story will play close to the beautiful canon Steve Knight created for Peaky Blinders (which he owns), as well as some choice phrases, but will feature an OC and of course my own plot and ideas following the original storyline. Some basic knowledge of the show might help, but not having it won't hinder. For reference it begins right before Ep. 1. As a warning, this story will be a strong M in later chapters and while it will feature canon pairings (Grace/Tommy, Freddie/Ada, etc.), it will also feature a Tommy/OC pairing that could be construed as incest (the OC is not related to Tommy in any way, but she will be part of the Shelby family, as you'll see) so please keep that in mind and turn away now if you don't like that. And thank you a million times over for reading this story and I hope to hear from you down below. For now, tuck in and enjoy!

~o0o~

Small Heath, Birmingham, 1919

"Family meeting in five," John Shelby yelled over the dull roar of the office at 6 Watery Lane in Small Heath. His Aunt Polly, who was all but a mother to him and his brothers, nodded her head by her place at the books. He hoped this meeting would go well, seeing as he had already finalized the plans without asking Pol or his brothers first.

"Family meeting?" Tommy Shelby walked through the door to the main office, placing a hand on the left shoulder of Scudboat, one of his bookies, and smiling at the number of bets on Monaghan Boy, their horse in the next race. Five-hundred quid on the horse and counting. "Alright, out. All of ya."

Without much ceremony, Scudboat, Lovelock, and the other bookies made themselves scarce in the adjoining room and the few men placing bets for the race the next day hurried to place their money on the table and scribble their names in the book before getting back out onto the street, leaving only Aunt Pol, Tommy, their oldest brother Arthur, and their youngest, Finn, alone with John.

"So what is it, John boy?" Arthur kicked his feet up onto the table littered with notes and coins.

"I've written to Sophie and I've decided to bring her to Small Heath," John wrung his hands together. His eyes went to Tommy first, knowing he would be the one to ultimately give his blessing. Since the war, Tommy had turned into the patriarch of the family, usurping Arthur no matter how much hetried to hang onto the title.

"Little Sophie? I haven't seen that girl since she was just a bit older than Finn is now," Polly smiled. It made John grin that he would have someone on his side with this.

"Neither have I, you know that. Martha saw her more than me…visited her at the school when she could get into London while I was away. She's a woman now, and about to finish school and I thought she could live with me. Help me take care of the kids. It's been so hard since last winter when Martha…" John stopped so that his voice wouldn't crack.

"God takes the best first, John, you know that," Polly reached out to touch his arm, which he was thankful for. He looked at his brothers. Finn was only a babe when he and his late wife adopted Sophie to take her in after her mother, Martha's sister, died of cholera. But Tommy and Arthur were painfully silent.

"Fuck, Tommy, say something? She's practically my daughter," John filled the silence, getting uncomfortable with his brothers' blank stares.

"But she isn't. She isn't really a Shelby. She's a Davies. I'm sorry about Martha, but hire someone from Small Heath to help with the kids then. Give someone a job here who we owe something to. The Blinders always give honest work to those who need it, and some posh girl from London doesn't need it," Tommy said, pulling his pocket watch out and checking the time, anxious to get back to the betting, "Is that all?"

"Tommy, it might not be so bad. Maybe having another woman around might convince our Ada to be around her family more often," Arthur suggested, and John smiled at his brother. It was one of the most intelligent things he had said all day, given how drunk he was on mild.

"The Blinders have paid for her education at that boarding school, even when times were hard, for you John. I'm not going to have that money wasted so she can come here and play nanny," Tommy sighs, "We'll send her to bloody Oxford if you want. We just don't need her here. We have enough going on with Ada out at all hours and we are about to really make a crack at the races. Meeting adjourned. Back to work."

"I've already bought her the ticket, she's coming up tomorrow," John said when Tommy started to walk away. His brother turned to look at him.

"Then why did you call a family meeting if you already decided?" Tommy adjusted his hat, the razor sewn into the cap glinting in the sunlight coming through the dusty windows.

"She's family, Thomas," Polly's lips pursed.

"I don't know how we are going to protect a girl like that here, but we'll deal with it tomorrow. Now, back to work. We have money to make." Tommy finished, unlatching the door to the office and jerking his hand for the bookies to come back in before fishing in his vest for his lighter and another cigarette.

~o0o~

Sophie Davies sat in the first class carriage of a train bound from London to Birmingham with all of her belongings in one heavy trunk. She wore her best hat, which rested neatly on her stick straight brown hair that fell a few inches below her shoulders. She also wore her uniform from the girls' school she went to in Edgeware Road: a powder blue and white pinstripe romper with her tan fox fur coat over and stockings paired with her best shoes. She wanted to make a good impression with the Shelbys. When John had written to her, she hadn't even thought about saying 'no' to his request. Being in London, she hadn't been able to attend her Aunt Martha's funeral last year and John and Martha had been the closest thing she had to parents after her own mother died when Sophie was only eleven. She wanted nothing more than to stay with John and meet his children and help him in any way she could.

Sophie was very aware that John and his family footed the rather hefty bill for her private education and it had taught her many things, but she had been lonely. Beyond the few friends she made at the school, she had no family in London to turn to when she needed it, except for the rare visits from her Aunt Martha in bright tea rooms near Kensington. Her Aunt told Sophie about her children, and many times she had visited swollen with pregnancy and glowing. John was her true love and she missed him desperately while he was at war; it seemed that any time he got a chance to visit Birmingham during those four painful years he blessed her with another child. John wrote to Sophie from France and she missed him too; hasty scribbles from the trenches asking after her and sending his love.

She vaguely remembered her one summer in Small Heath, right after her mother had died and begged John and Martha to take her in on her deathbed. They became her new parents in every way, even though they were just barely married. It had been the last she'd seen of the Shelbys. Sophie thought about how her and Ada would run the streets together and called themselves the princesses of Small Heath. Aunt Pol always had tea and biscuits ready for them when they tromped home muddy. The only thing that she remembered about Arthur was how tall he was. Finn was just a swaddled little thing. But she remembered Tommy. His blue eyes and the smile on his face when he would chase her and Ada around before each letting them have a turn being swung around in his arms. It was no secret that Ada loved him best, so of course Sophie followed her lead for those few months.

But she had felt right at home with John and Martha. At eleven, Sophie had been old enough to understand enough about the Shelbys. John had lost his mother too, almost at the same age as Sophie, and his father had abandoned the boys for greener pastures. Their Aunt, Polly Gray, had taken the four Shelby brothers and their sister, Ada, in as her own in the same way her own Aunt had, and it made her feel close to her adoptive parents instantly.

But the middle of the summer brought everything to an end. Sophie turned twelve the day before the Great War and with it came the three oldest Shelby boys going off to fight. Sophie wanted to stay and help Martha, but the Shelbys were sending her back to London, where she was born and grew up, to a boarding school for girls where she would be safe and happy, at John's request. She only had a few months with them, but fate was now bringing her back.

~o0o~

"I'm bloody nervous." John toed the ground as he stood on the Birmingham platform waiting for the train to arrive.

"You'd be a fool if you weren't. She may be grown but this is still a responsibility and you've done the right thing," Polly praised him. She was proud of John for keeping his children in mind when he could be fully occupying himself with whiskey and women.

"What if she doesn't like it here?"

"We'll make her feel at home. Small Heath has its charms. And she's coming for you and the children, not for the scenery," Polly looked down the tracks to see the steam from the train not a mile off, "We'll have a family dinner tonight to celebrate."

"What if I don't recognize her?" John was a mess. After Tommy's less than encouraging reaction this morning, he had been questioning every little thing.

"Something tells me you will." Polly put a light hand on his shoulder as the train shuddered to a stop and the doors were opened. There was an instant rush of people, but they both saw her get out of the carriage, drop her trunk on the ground and run to them.

Sophie threw her arms around John's neck, losing her hat as she did. She had been worried she wouldn't know him from anyone else on the crowded platform, but he looked nearly the same as the last day she saw him. His face was still childlike and he looked her age, even if he did have almost decade on her.

John was glad his brothers weren't around because when he pushed Sophie back to look at her face, there were tears in his eyes. It was like he had a bit of Martha back with him now.

"John, grab her trunk," Polly bent down to pick up Sophie's forgotten hat, stepping in when she knew John was at a loss for words, "And let's be on our way." He handed Sophie her hat and reached for her hand.

"Aunt Polly, it is so good to see you," Sophie smiled and Polly nodded in agreement. To her, the woman had barely aged and looked just as beautiful as she remembered. For their part, Polly and John were instantly struck by her London accent and her sweet, soft way of speaking. Polly then noticed her rich looking fur coat and her buttoned-up, proper school uniform as the three of them walked to the Napier parked outside of the station.

"Sophie, I'm so glad to see ya. So glad you are here," John finally spoke with a big smile on his face as he loaded her trunk into the car and opened the door for her to climb in with Polly as he took the driver's seat, "Everyone is so happy to see ya."

"A lot has changed since the last time you were here, Sophie," Polly said as she looked out the window as the train station disappeared behind them and John turned into the main road to Small Heath. If Sophie were to be part of this family, she would have to learn quickly about their business and how to keep secrets. The Peaky Blinders started a little over a year before Sophie had even come into their lives the first time and had only continued during the war through the efforts of Polly and Ada. Now that the boys were back, the last two years had seen success for the Blinders. They were starting to dabble in respectable work, and were seen as more than just a petty gang. The Blinders controlled all of Small Heath and were looking to expand; their race fixing was paying off handsomely. As far as Polly was concerned, she could use a good woman in the office with her. Sophie was educated in ways that Sophie and the boys weren't, and she knew the girl would get bored without something else to do besides chase after John's children. Sophie would learn and Sophie would help, if Polly had her way.

~o0o~

"Ada?" Polly called out as she opened the door to 7 Watery Lane, the Shelby family house neighboring their office. She had given the girl explicit orders this morning and she hoped to God her niece had followed them.

"Coming! One minute!" Ada's voice rang from up the stairs and there was an audible sigh of relief that passed from John to Polly as Sophie stood awkwardly in the main living room with them with her hands clasped in front of her.

A few moments later, Ada Shelby was coming down the stairs with three little ones around her skirt and one in her arms. They were in their Sunday best and cleaned up, despite the fact that it was a Thursday. John stepped forward with a proud smile on his face, "Sophie, these are my children. This one's George, he's five now," John ruffled the short brown hair of the darling boy squirming next to Ada, "And these are the twins, Mary and Emma. And Ada is holding my youngest, Henry."

Before Sophie could say anything, Ada spoke. "Nice to see you again, Sophie. Funny how it worked out for both of us…"

Polly shot Ada a look of disappointment and Sophie smiled politely, despite the clear resent and bitterness in Ada's tone as the girl looked her over. Naively, Sophie had thought the two of them would fall back into being friends instantly as they were so many years ago. Instead of thinking about it further, Sophie crouched down to George, Emma, and Mary's eye level, "Hello there, darlings. My name is Sophie."

"She's your older sister. She went away to school for a long while, but she is going to help take care of you," John spoke and the children regarded Sophie with instant fondness, but limited understanding. Sophie rose from her position and gently touched Henry's hand as he was nestled in Ada's arms.

"They are lovely, John. We'll be a happy family," Sophie said.

"That's what I like to hear," Polly cut Ada off before her deliberate roll of her eyes could turn into a nasty remark, "Now, I'll show Sophie to her room if you both will watch the little ones."

Polly led Sophie up the stairs to the second floor of the house, "This is my room here, and across the hall is Ada. There's the washroom and a small room for Arthur when he needs it," she pointed to the various old doors before taking the next creaky flight of stairs. "And you'll be in this room here next to the nursery where the children all sleep. John's room is across the hall. Tommy has a room down the hall when he wants it as well. He and Arthur both live down on Garrison Lane. This is your home now, so you may do with your room what you wish."

"Thank you for taking me in like this," Sophie said when Polly led her into her new room, which was spacious but comfortable looking. Polly returned only with a wary smile, knowing that Tommy still wasn't fully on board, "Maybe you'd like to unpack and get to know the children before dinner?"

"Yes…but about Ada…"

"Don't take it personally. She's love struck with some boy and every moment she spends in this house is a moment not with him. She's only a year older than you and I'm sure you'll still find plenty in common," Polly tried her best to sound convincing before she left Sophie and headed down to the kitchen to begin dinner. As nice as that was for Polly to say, Sophie doubted it.

~o0o~

"What's all this Pol?" Tommy asked when he walked through the office to the kitchen of the Shelby home later that night. The table was set for more people than usual and she had brought out the nice china.

"A dinner to welcome Sophie back home. I invited Nipper and Curly but they said the Garrison was calling their name," Polly fussed with the stew on the stove.

"As it's calling mine," Tommy said without expression and walked past her toward the door to the lane.

"The pub can wait for all of you. This is a family dinner," her voice showed no room for argument and Tommy took off his hat as Ada came into the kitchen from upstairs, not wanting to be there either.

"She's horrible with the children. Doesn't even know how to change a nappie," Ada lit a cigarette and Tommy waved her closer for the light, putting one between his lips as well.

"She'll learn, Ada," Polly snapped at her, "I didn't raise the lot of you to act like this. From today on that girl is family and will be treated as such."

"She's not family," Tommy shook his head. He was happy with the way things were going for the Blinders. The last thing he needed was to feel responsible for a girl that knew nothing about their way of life.

"I don't have a drop of Shelby blood in my veins but you wouldn't dare tell me I'm not family, Thomas. End of discussion," Polly was thankful when Arthur stumbled into the room. She didn't care if he was drunk, at least he would be a happier presence than Tommy and Ada. He eagerly took his place at the head of the table and little Finn, who had followed him in, took his seat right next to his big brother.

"So where's the guest of honor, then?" Arthur looked around as Polly started to ladle stew into their bowls and fill their glasses with beer.

"Washing up the children with John," Ada took a long drag of her cigarette as she shared a look with Tommy. Her brother's mouth quirked up at the very edge, understanding her thoughts.

"Oh, this is great Pol," John grinned at the dinner as he came down the stairs with George and the twins. Little Henry was resting in the nursery, and Sophie followed her adoptive father. She had changed into a simple light pink silk dress, which she realized stood out starkly against the table full of black and tweed. John pulled out her chair for her and she helped the girls and George into their seats, overwhelmed at all of the eyes on her.

"Let's pray before the food gets cold," Polly said and for a small moment Sophie felt comfortable. She had been raised Catholic, like the Shelbys, and prayed, crossing herself before taking her first bite of food. When the warming stew slipped down her throat she was thankful for a home-cooked meal. She had been fed well at school, but it was nothing compared to a family meal.

"You grew up into a pretty bird, didn't ya?" Arthur looked over at Sophie, "How old are ya now?"

"Seventeen," Sophie tried not to blush. It was her first time really looking at Arthur. He was still as tall as she remembered from years ago, even sitting down, and his face was thin and weathered, but nothing close to old in her eyes. He was the only Shelby with a mustache and it suited him quite well.

"I remember yous and Ada running around barefoot in the mud together. And now look at ya, a London girl," Arthur smirked but it was good-natured, unlike the way Ada had eyed her earlier.

"I don't see how Small Heath has much to offer a cosmopolitan girl like yourself, Miss Davies," Tommy chimed in. He was careful to keep his distance in addressing her. Like Arthur, he too had memories of Sophie the summer she lived with John and Martha. She had been a vibrant young thing and her and Ada were inseparable. But she wasn't that girl anymore. He looked her over slowly across the table.

Tommy wasn't sure about her, and one of the reasons for that was how he felt looking at her. Sophie had been a slip of a thing at eleven, but all girls grew up into women. He just hadn't expected her to be beautiful. To him, Sophie had been a summer before change, a check every month for her tuition, and the name on letters John used to write as his hands shook in the trenches every time there was a noise. She hadn't been real for years, but now she sat across from him with the doe-eyed innocence of youth that Tommy lost so long ago.

"I came for John and for all of you. That's what Small Heath has to offer me," Sophie told him, her bright green eyes meeting his blue ones and Polly smirked to herself as she sipped her beer.

Tommy couldn't completely fault John for this decision. The man needed help with the brats already fussing in the chairs next to Sophie and Tommy needed John without distractions. But as he watched her try and feed broth to little Mary he just couldn't get comfortable with the idea of her. Her heart shaped face and pale skin was only marked with a smattering of light freckles over the bridge of her nose and he watched her full pink lips open in encouragement for the child when the broth was swallowed down. Tommy already had enough trouble keeping track of Ada. He knew she was running around with some man, but with as pretty as Sophie was, he didn't have time to look after her too.

"Fair enough," Tommy said and turned the conversation elsewhere, to how Danny Whiz-Bang, Tommy's war mate, had gotten into a fight down at the Garrison earlier. Sophie wiped Emma's mouth. War had changed Tommy. It was plainly evident in his eyes, and she wondered how much France had changed John and Arthur as well. But beyond Tommy and Ada, she had received a warmer welcome than she had anticipated.

~o0o~

"Where've you been?" Polly asked Tommy when she heard the door to the house unlock and then close a second later, punctuated only by the sound the soles of his boots made on the wood floor. It was one in the morning and everyone else was in bed. She was sitting by the fire with some clothes that needed mending.

"None of your concern," Tommy pulled up a chair besides her after pouring himself some dark rum. He had a hell of a night at the Garrison, which culminated in him ending up at Lizzie Stark's lodgings and paying her seven quid for a blowjob. Lizzie was one of the few true secrets he had in this town and he had planned on going home and falling asleep after a few drags on his pipe until he didn't regret it anymore, but he still had so much on his mind.

"You want to talk about Sophie, don't you?" Polly kept her stiches neat as she got right to the point.

"She's not made for a life like this, Pol, and you know it," Tommy took a long drink from his glass and stared into the fire.

"We are going to tell her about the Blinders and she'll be one of us. She's smart enough to keep books and help out with the business. She's a blessing, Thomas. To John and the children, and to us," Polly tied a knot with the thread and put the sewing down.

"She won't last in this town," he sighed.

"Then we make sure she does."

A/N: Thanks for reading and pretty please tell me what you think below! Thank you!