It wasn't much later that day the Elizabeth found herself perched on a bar stool inside the Garrison, her back to the rest of the group that had huddled around a couple tables in the middle of the bar. Her head rested in her right hand as she swirled her glass with the left, her gaze never leaving the golden liquid as she watched it flow around and around.
She'd actively tuned out the group of men behind her, ignoring any somewhat playful comment Arthur or John had made to try and get her to join in with the banter as she instead focused on solitude. The only person she'd spoken to had been Harry and that was to order the whiskey in her hand the now, her gaze purposefully never meeting Graces as she knew if she got the chance she'd attack the woman, which would put her forever at odds with Tommy.
"All good Miss Shelby?" Harry checked, forcing the girl to look up at the barkeep who was staring at her. Her gaze flashed to the left, sighing as she realised that Grace had disappeared with her twin once more. Wordlessly she downed the whiskey, slamming the glass in front of Harry.
"Make it a double." She sighed, earning a look from the barman who glanced to the side as if to check with her brothers, Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, her anger flaring as she stared down the barman, "I said, make it a double."
"Look Miss Shelby, I don't want,"
"If you don't want any trouble, you'll make it a fucking double and keep your mouth shut." Elizabeth hissed out, moving her gaze to the glass in front of her as she lowered her voice so only Harry would hear, "Don't you forget, I was here when you squealed my brother's location to that Inspector. I overlooked it as you may have prevented my death, but I don't appreciate traitors."
"Miss, Miss Shelby, Tommy said." Harry started to stutter out, shocked at the change in the usually polite yet stern woman. Elizabeth lifted her gaze to the man.
"I won't repeat myself Harry." She uttered coldly, looking at the glass pointedly. The barman instantly poured her drink earning a cold smile from the woman, "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?"
Harry scampered back to the other end of the bar without a response. Elizabeth smirked and looked away from the man, her gaze falling back on the golden liquid in front of her as she picked it up and began swirling it once more. She was all over the place, and she knew it, but she couldn't help it. Her war persona protected her from the hurt and anguish she was going through, the pain of being the outcast after all she'd done. It was easier to be cold and angry than to feel the hurt of being declared the enemy.
Elizabeth was brought out of her thoughts when the front door to the Garrison slammed. At the sound she twisted her head, a frown covering her face as her eyes narrowed in confusion at Jeremiah who had worry written all over his face. Her head tilted as she watched, not understanding what was going on, her interest piquing as he dived to Arthurs side, relaying some message. A light hum escaped her as her eldest brother quickly abandoned his drink at the news, diving through to the back of the bar where she assumed Tommy and Grace had escaped to. She sipped her drink, watching with interest as Tommy near ran out the room, his head twisting around until he caught sight of her. She tilted her head as he moved over to her, a hint of apology in his eyes.
"Lil, I need you." Tommy muttered to her quietly making Elizabeth chuckle.
"Oh, that was quick." She muttered coldly, smirking down at her glass.
"Lil, I don't have time."
"You don't have trust either but that's by the by." Elizabeth cut in, her eyes narrowing at her twin as she took another sip of her drink, "Don't call me that."
"Look, just come with me and I'll explain." Tommy half pleaded, making Elizabeths cold demeanour shrink back slightly, realising how shaken her twin was for him to actively plead with her such close proximity to the other Blinders. She stared at him, trying to work out what was going on before nodding slowly, downing her drink, and getting to her feet. She moved to the front door as Tommy ordered Arthur to get the men ready.
The Shelby twins started walking back through Small Heath, Tommy marching so fast that Elizabeth was struggling to keep up. The unusually quick pace of her twin making her anger slowly twist into greater concern, knowing whatever news Jeremiah had brought must have been bad. She followed as Tommy headed straight back to their home, her brother wasting no time as he barged through the front door, not stopping to hang up his coat, instead diving through the door that led to the living room.
"Ada! Wake up!" Tommy ordered as he entered, Elizabeth pausing in the doorway, crossing her arms as she leaned against the door frame to watch her twin, "You and the baby, get into the bullring where there's lots of people."
"What's going on?" Polly called, having quickly made her way through from the kitchen when she'd heard doors slamming. The elder woman glanced at Elizabeth who was staring intently at Tommy, clearly still clueless to what the problem was. Tommy glanced around at the three women in the room as he started to pace, rubbing a hand over his face.
"We've been fucking betrayed. Someone let slip. Kimber's men are on their way here." Tommy revealed. Polly and Ada shared a look of concern as Elizabeth lifted a hand to rub over her face, trying to bite back to cold sense of amusement that was running through her.
"Yeah, but you can handle them, Tommy." Polly tried to reassure, coming over to Ada as Tommy started shaking his head.
"It's just us. All the Lees are on their way to Worcester, we're outnumbered." Tommy explained before turning and slamming his hands on the closest unit, "Fuck!" Elizabeth dropped her hand from her face, realising now why Tommy had called her back, he needed her expertise. Her knowledge on how to spy and more importantly how to catch one. She shook her head as she glanced over the three members of her family, the three that had trusted her the least since she returned and hummed as she internally debated helping, knowing it was cold but struggling to shake off the raw feeling of hurt. Her debate continued until the sound of coos reached her ears, her gaze falling to her youngest nephew, a nephew she'd barely gotten to look at, barely gotten to know.
"Who else knew today was the day you were moving on Kimber?" The question was out before she'd realised that she'd opened her mouth. Elizabeth glanced up from the baby to see all three staring at her. She rolled her eyes, "Come on Thomas, you said you kept it a secret, but you must have mentioned something to someone. Who else did you tell?" Tommy glanced away, Elizabeth knowing just from his stance that he knew but couldn't or wouldn't admit the truth to himself. A snort escaped her as shook her head, watching on with bitter amusement as he seemed to have some internal argument. "You don't want to admit the truth to yourself Tom, so you pushed it away. Pushed me away. I warned you. I told you not to trust anyone outside the family, but you ignored me, continued to push me away and annoyingly I can't blame you, cause no doubt she was using my words and work to twist you from me as well."
"There's only one thing can blind a man as smart as you, Tommy. Love." Polly cottoned on, glancing between the twins, "It's that barmaid."
"Grace." Elizabeth hummed, her eyes falling to Karl as she tried to keep her anger in check, "She was at the bar that night Freddie was allowed to return, she knew about the truce, fuck's sake Thomas, you had her deliver the fucking message." Elizabeth shook her head an impressed smirk over her face, "Kept herself scarce when I was about, if they knew about my job, she realised I would recognise the signs, so worked in the background to manipulate my twin against me, knowing the family would follow his lead."
"Lil, I," Ada started before pausing not knowing what she could say, tears in her eyes as she looked at her elder sister who had been truly innocent of the crime that they'd all assumed she'd committed. Elizabeth glanced up at the name before looking back at Tommy, her twin still hunched over the unit, his knuckles white with his fists clenched so tight. Polly glance between the two.
"I'll deal with Grace. If either of you set eyes on her again, you might kill her." Polly ordered the two. Elizabeth glanced at her aunt and hummed, her eyes holding no emotion as she nodded her agreement to the plan.
"Probably wise but do me a favour and tell her this from me, from spy to spy, if she comes back, comes anywhere near Small Heath once more, I'll burn her from the inside out." Polly stared at her niece, seeing the dark promise in her eyes, seeing the full embracement of the devilment that had always threatened to consume her and felt herself let out a nod, before returning her gaze to her nephew who hadn't moved.
"Thomas, you need to prepare." Elizabeth nodded, understanding what Polly was saying.
"Ada, get dressed and get Karl to the bullring." She ordered, before focusing on her twin, "Come on Thomas, we have a war to win."
"We?" Polly questioned, a hint of hope in her voice. Elizabeth snorted and shrugged her shoulders.
"I promised I'd see Kimber dealt with." Elizabeth reminded them, "Happens to be I'm a fairly decent shot, I'll be out your hair after that."
"Lil," Ada tried again, shock wearing off. Elizabeth glanced at her sister offering a half smile.
"Get to the bullring, we'll take care of everything else." She promised, pushing off the frame and turning towards the front door, and moving to pull on her coat and cap, "Come on, Thomas, we need to go."
Elizabeth didn't get a verbal response, nor did she expect one, the only indication she got was the flap of her brothers' coat brushing past her side as he pulled the door open and marched out onto the street. She followed behind, tying her coat as she walked just behind her twin, the fact she could keep up indicating to her that Tommy was either apologetic or his mind was running away trying to solve the problem he'd created. She hummed hearing a set of footsteps chasing after them, twisting her head back and tilting her head in greeting to John who was carrying a large bag of what she assumed would be guns.
"Tommy! We've had word from Nipper at Hay Mills, and he says the police are letting them through. And how come all our police have disappeared?" John questioned as he joined the twins, casting Elizabeth an odd look before focusing on the elder twin.
"'Cause it was the police who told Kimber about the plan." Tommy revealed to John who glanced over at Elizabeth at the news, her eyes narrowing at the insinuation.
"And who told the police?"
"You know what, John? For all I think I'm the smart one, I'm guessing it was me." Tommy cut in, seeing Elizabeth open her mouth and knowing it was not the time for family arguments. Elizabeth scoffed at the interruption, knowing what exactly was running through her twins' mind but not about to allow him to stop her own defence.
"Fuck off John." She bit out, "I didn't shop no one. You're the idiots who spoke about business outside the family."
"Lil." Tommy snapped back drawing her attention, the man knowing John would rile easy.
"Don't start Thomas." Elizabeth cut back, "This is all your fault anyway, I'm only here to clean up your mess, as always." She turned her glare back on John, "Keep calling me a liar and a traitor and you'll be having no more kids." John eyed her but kept his mouth closed, never having seen Elizabeth so angry as to threaten him before. Elizabeth huffed as she rolled her eyes, glaring at the ground as both her brothers backed down.
The group of three arrived at the factory outside the Garrison, Elizabeth slowing her pace to allow distance between her and the family to grow once more as John joined the group and Tommy moved to stand at the top of the ramp leading into the closest factory. She leaned against the front door of the pub, watching on as the group gathered around her twin and began loading up on the guns and weapons John had brought, her eyes narrowing in on Finn as he stood between the cousins.
"All right, men. You were mostly in the war, so you know that battle plans always change and get fucked up, well here it is. Things have changed. We fight them here. Today. Alone. Now, they're gonna come for the pub, they're gonna try and break us up for good. And we'll have no help from the law today. That pub there is called The Garrison! Well, now it really is one. And it belongs to us! Right?" Tommy cheered, trying to rally the troops as Elizabeth watched on, the anger being chipped back by a small lick of pride as she watched her brothers and cousins rallying together.
"Right!"
"How many are there?" Arthur called up to Tommy.
"Jeremiah said two Reilly vans. So, I reckon we're outnumbered three to one." Tommy admitted, "But it's us, boys, it's us! The Small Heath rifles. Never lost a fight yet, did we?"
"No!"
"All right! Jeremiah, I know you vowed to God to never pick up a weapon again. But can you ask him from me if you can help us today." Tommy asked the man.
"God says he don't deal with Small Heath, sir." Jeremiah answered earning a nod of thanks from Tommy.
"Good man! Arthur, Scudboat, you take the flanks. Just like at St Marie." Tommy continued to order, as John began handing out rifles earning a nod and from both Arthur and Scudboat as they took their guns.
"Curly. If any Shelby man dies here today, you bury us side by side. All right. We've about ten minutes. Make your peace with whoever." Tommy called back as he slowly descended the ramp, grabbing a handgun from the pile before he pulled back from the group. Elizabeth watched as he came closer to her, nodding his head for her to follow him as he pushed open the door. A sigh escaped her as she glanced back once more at Finn who was now getting a chat from Arthur before she shook her head and followed her twin inside.
Elizabeth lifted a hand and rubbed it across her face as she followed Tommy to the bar, saying nothing to him as he set the guns on the bar and immediately got to work pulling out two glasses before picking up some whiskey. Elizabeth hummed under her breath as she leaned against the bar opposite him, folding her arms before placing her head on top as she watched her twin light himself a cigarette before offering her. She stared at the packet, knowing this was his peace offering but unsure if she was willing to take it this time.
"She's gone, then?" A voice called, drawing Elizabeths attention and making Tommy sigh as he dropped his hand. Elizabeth eyed Harry as he walked over to the pair, "You're not accustomed to not getting what you want, are you, Tommy? You wanted my pub, and you took it." Elizabeth continued to watch the man, her eyes dropping slightly in guilt at the deal they'd perhaps forced on the man. Seeing Elizabeths look, Tommy felt a second sigh rise in him but held it in, turning around and pulling out another glass for the barman.
"You got a fair price." Tommy reminded the pair while trying to get rid of Harry, having wanted a moment to talk to his twin.
"What I got was an ultimatum. Like you give to everybody. Do it, or else." Harry countered, picking up the glass and looking down at the drink. Elizabeth tilted her head in light acceptance, "And yet, it's funny, everybody around here, they want you to win this battle. I think what it is, you're bad men, but you're our bad men." Elizabeth smirked and looked down at her own glass, reaching out to take it and swirling it around, "Will you go looking for her?" Elizabeth's eyes narrowed at the question as she glanced up at her twin who didn't look back.
"She's in the past. The past is not my concern. The future is no longer my concern either."
"What is your concern, Tommy?" Harry questioned, eyeing the man as Elizabeth downed her drink, needing some type of courage for the oncoming march of death.
"One minute. The soldier's minute. In a battle, that's all you get. One minute of everything at once. Anything before is nothing. Everything after, nothing. Nothing in comparison to that one minute." Tommy answered, his eyes not meeting his twins as she stared at her glass, her hands beginning to shake, something she hadn't experienced in what felt like months.
"Didn't you get enough minutes over there?" Harry asked, his gaze moving to the younger of the two who continued to stare at her hands.
"Seems not, doesn't it?" Tommy replied with a huff of amusement as he lifted his free hand and took the glass out of Elizabeths hold, quickly replacing it with a handgun making the woman glance up. The twins shared a look, Tommy's eyes filled with the long list of apologies he had to make to her as hers gazed back with all her upset and anger mixed in with the understanding and acceptance. Elizabeth removed her gaze, her hands tightening around the gun as she took a quiet breath. The pair glanced around at the sound of the front door slamming, eyes falling on their youngest sibling.
"Tommy, they're here!" Finn called. Elizabeth nodded her head once, pulling her hands off the bar and sticking her gun in her coat pocket. She pulled back her anger and upset from her face before she turned and walked over to Finn, kneeling down in front of him as she fixed his coat that had become unruffled from what she was sure had been a fairly long sprint.
"You have done so well Finn." Elizabeth smiled, ruffling his hair as he smiled at her praise, obviously unaware of the lies that had been spread about her, "You head back to Pols now, you hear? Straight to Pol, and we'll be home in no time."
"You will make sure they'll all come home, right?" Finn questioned, Elizabeths heart silently breaking at the near repeat of the question he'd asked her when Arthur, Tommy and John had left for war. Not allowing her smile to budge she nodded.
"Course I will! I've been draggin them home since you were in a cot, todays no different." Liar.
"Thanks Lil." Finn smiled, whatever worries he'd had dissipated by his eldest sister's confidence and smile. Elizabeth nodded her head, ruffling his hair once more.
"Hey, anything for you. Now, best head before Pol wonders where you got to." Finn nodded his head to her before diving off out towards the backdoor of the bar. Elizabeth looked down, letting out a breath before biting her lip to hold back tears that threatened to gather, fear and guilt from being unable to do anything to get her brothers out of this smothering her.
"It's not your fault." Tommy reminded her as he offered his hand, having walked over to join her at the front door. Elizabeth glanced up at her twin, eyeing his hand for a moment before taking it, pulling herself up off the floor. Once back on her feet, she mimicked as she had done for Finn, and fixed her twin's coat, not wanting her potential last moments to be anger.
"You know, I've been looking after you lot since I was a teenager." Elizabeth let out a sigh, "I've done a pretty shitty job really, but I still think mum would have been proud of the people we've become." A snort of amusement escaped as she looked up at Tommy, "She always said we were the toughest pair to raise, could fight like cats and dogs one moment then be thick as thieves the next - lord help the soul that got in our way." Her gaze moved to the doors, her gaze hardening as she prepared herself, "And Tom, I think Kimber's in our way." Tommy felt a smirk grace his face, knowing this was Elizabeths way of offering a truce and that he still had quite the apology to give, but he'd take what he could.
"Then sister, I suggest we make our move. I have one more ace up my sleeve yet." Elizabeth tilted her head at the admission, curiosity eating her as she released his jacket. Instead of asking, she stepped back, her own devious smirk covering her face.
"Well then, after you brother."
The Shelby twins exited the Garrison together both pulling out their guns to check the ammunition. Tommy glanced over at Elizabeth as soon as he was set and had placed his gun in its holster, his twin nodding in response before lifting a hand to tilt back her cap so it sat back further on her head sticking her gun back in her pocket. The pair began to walk forward, the rest of the boys joining the pair as they walked forward to meet Kimber's army. Elizabeths grip on her gun tightened, the adrenaline rush pushing any negative emotion out of mind as she focused on the battle ahead.
"All guns and no balls, right, Billy boy?" John called across to the men in front of them, making a ghost of a smile crossing Elizabeths face as her hand tightened around her gun.
"So what do we do now? Just give the order." Arthur nodded to Tommy, earning a glance from Elizabeth. Arthur catching the movement, looking down at his sister, his gaze unsure as he glanced at her, she offered a small smile, a clear sign of forgiveness and her own apology. He nodded before looking back at the group ahead of them, unhappy with her involvement but knowing there was nothing he could say to stop her, and even if there had been, it was too late now.
"It doesn't have to be like this, Kimber." Tommy called across.
"It's too late for all that. You've bit off more than you can chew, you little toe-rag, and now I'm going to take over this shithole." Kimber shouted back, the tone indicating to Elizabeth that the man was on the brink of a temper tantrum. Tommy glanced at his twin, Elizabeth feeling the gaze turned to look back, her eyes narrowing lightly as he silently told her it was time for his ace.
"Well... If we have to use guns... Let's use proper guns!" At his call, Elizabeth looked back over her shoulder, a hint of surprise coming over her face at the sight of both Danny and Freddie appearing from the factory, one of the machine guns in the communists' arms.
"Sergeant Thorne reporting for duty, sir." Freddie nodded to Tommy as Elizabeth smiled at Danny.
"Hey Danny." Elizabeth offered the man, the sight of the two men and the machine gun relaxing her slightly.
"Hey Sweetheart." Danny winked back before they both refocused on the enemy, smiles drifting from their faces.
"You were saying something about being out-gunned?" Tommy questioned Kimber before all the Blinders raised their weapons at Kimber's men, the other group doing the same in return. The two groups continued to stare each other down, both waiting for someone to make the first move or their leader to call out a command.
"Move!"
Elizabeth and Freddie both tensed at the voice, Elizabeth dropping her gun immediately as she stared at her younger sister who wordlessly continued to make her way through Kimber's men. Karl crying in his pram as she walked without acknowledging anyone.
"What are you doing?" Freddie shouted across to his wife as Elizabeth let out an exasperated call of her sister's name.
"I believe you boys call this "no man's land"." Ada answered back, casting her sister a look that would normally have given Elizabeth a feeling of confidence that her sister had thought this through, but this time all that filled her was dread, feeling perhaps she'd maybe taught her sister too much about how to handle men like their brothers.
"Ada!" Freddie tried, unease filling him at seeing his son and wife between two sets of guns.
"Shut up and listen!" Ada ordered.
"Have you lost your mind?" Freddie tried again.
"I said shut up!" Ada shouted, pointing directly at her husband who went to open his mouth again. Elizabeth huffed, looking over at Freddie, sensing Ada getting close to losing her temper more than she had already.
"Freddie, shut your hole and let your wife talk." Ada nodded to her in thanks before she looked around the group of men surrounding them.
"Now, most of you were in France. So, you all know what happens next. I've got brothers, a sister, and a husband here, but you've all got somebody waiting for you. Now, I'm wearing black in preparation. I want you to look at me. I want you all to look at me! We'll be wearing black for you. Think about them. Think about them right now, and fight if you want to, but that baby ain't moving anywhere. And neither am I." Ada finished, Elizabeth glancing around the men uneasy, desperately wanting to move forward to stand with her sister, to be able to move her out the way if her speech didn't work but knowing her movements could cause the fight to break out.
"She's right, you know." Elizabeth glared over at Kimber who'd spoken out, "Why should all you men die? It should just be them whose caused it!"
BANG!
Chaos broke out.
Before Elizabeth could even think, she moved over to catch Tommy who'd been shot. She could hear Arthur shouting but couldn't make out a word. Anger flooded her veins as she watched her twin crumple in pain before a sharp stab of fear followed, remembering about her sister that had been stood between. Her eyes snapped up and scanned for Ada, relief filling her when she saw her with Freddie.
BANG!
Elizabeth glanced over, watching Danny fall to the floor, her eyes widening in shock. She could see his blood pooling around him, and knew Danny was dead. He was dead. The anger returned full force, making her race forward and lift her gun even as she heard Arthur and John calling for her to stop.
BANG!
Elizabeth grunted as she fell, her gun falling from her grip as she hit the floor. She ignored Arthur who had immediately appeared at her side, her gaze lifting to her twin who stood with his own gun raised, panting from all the force and speed he'd put into pushing her out the way. She tore her gaze away to look at Kimber's prone body, letting out a breath of relief as both groups seemed to stand stunned.
"Enough!" Tommy shouted, lowering his weapon as he looked over the army in front of him, Elizabeth watching the group warily as Arthur helped her back up, praying to God that for once things would go their way. He seemed to listen as the army slowly began to lower their weapons, a look of shock and confusion over their faces, "Kimber and me fought this battle one-on-one. It's over. Go home to your families."
Kimber's army of men seemed to debate the option, seeming to be unsure if the offer was genuine of a ploy. They glanced uneasily back and fore between the body of their former boss and the man that hand killed him before one of the older men in the army nodded, handing his gun to a younger man, and leaning down to pick up Kimber's body. The Peaky Blinders continued to watch on until the group dispersed, Kimber's body being loaded up into the van they'd arrived in.
Elizabeth let out a breath of relief before her gaze fell on Danny. The kindest soul she'd ever known. A man who'd done so much for her family. A man she'd loved once upon a time. Her body sagged against her eldest brother, who wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave a squeeze of comfort. Tears appeared in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. Tommy glanced over at Elizabeth, seeming to sense her upset.
"Scudboat, Curly, pick him up." Tommy ordered, gesturing to Danny with his gun as Arthur turned Elizabeth around and led her back to the Garrison, the woman putting up no fight, only glancing over her shoulder once to make sure Ada was ok, a light smile appearing over her face seeing her younger sister finally getting to hug her husband.
Once inside the Garrison, Elizabeth immediately shrugged Arthur off and moved to the snug, moving the empty mugs and glasses out the way and clearing space. She carried the empties to the bar just as Scudboat and Curly came in, her eyes narrowing at them as they went to place Danny on the floor.
"No." She called to the two, "No. He, Danny." Elizabeth cleared her throat, trying to push back the emotions, "Put him in there." She ordered, lifting a hand to point at the table inside the snug that she'd just cleared. Neither argued, lifting Danny's body once more and moving him to lie inside the snug.
Elizabeth watched as Danny's hand dangled limp off the side of the table. She was unsure what to think or feel. She'd not shed a tear when he'd "died" the first time. Not blinked at the news. Maybe she hadn't thought it real. Maybe her gut had told her it wasn't true. Maybe she had been still too cold from the war and the constant bad news. Maybe she'd never watched someone she'd cared for die in front of her since her mother.
Grunts of pain brought her back to focus. She spun on her heel, her eyes wide as she caught sight of her twin being held by John and Arthur as Jeremiah performed surgery. She pushed her grief aside, she dived over to the bar and pulled out the first spirit that came to her hand before walking back over and handing it to Arthur who nodded in thanks as he continued to coach Tommy through the pain. Elizabeth winced as her twin continued to scream out in pain as Jeremiah dug into him to try and pull out the bullet. She bit her lip as she watched, wanting to offer support but unsure of what she could do to help, thankfully it wasn't much longer before Jeremiah sat back.
"There! I still have the knack." Jeremiah called as he dropped the bullet into a glass as Tommy panted from the pain.
"Have a drink." Arthur ordered Tommy, handing him the spirit Elizabeth had pulled out, patting his brother on the head as Tommy did as he was told, "All right. Deep breath!" Arthur ordered, pulling the bottle back before pouring it over the wound to clean it, Elizabeth wincing as she swore the ghost of the sting in her own arm came back as she watched Tommy squirm, "That's it. It's done!" Arthur promised, clapping Tommy on the back of the head.
"Alright Tom?" Elizabeth asked gently, drawing her twins' attention.
"I'll be fine Lil." Tommy nodded through his pants, gesturing for Arthur to hand her the bottle. Elizabeth shook her head.
"I'm alright, Tom." She half smiled, before looking at the gin bottle, "I'd prefer some whiskey." Arthur chuckled, clapping her on the back of the head as he had done for Tommy, but using it to pull her into a half hug making her chuckle as Tommy let out a huff of amusement.
"That's our Lil." Arthur cheered quietly, hint of pride in his voice. Elizabeth shook her head at him before focusing once more on her twin who pushed himself to stand.
"I'm glad you're alright Tom." Thomas reached out and pulled her in for a half hug as Arthur had, able to tell his sister was needing comfort from the fact all previous anger and upset from before had all but disappeared. Elizabeth bit her lip once more at the action, before taking a breath and trying to re-centre herself, needing to focus. Pulling back from her twin, she offered a half smile and nodded her head in thanks, before wondering back over to the snug to allow him to pull back on his shirt.
Once inside the snug she sat to the side, pulling off her cap as she gazed over Danny once more. The man who'd seen and experienced too much. The sweetest soul she'd met.
"Oh Dan, you deserved so much better." She let out a sigh, pressing a kiss to his hand before letting it drop, "I'm sure I'll see you soon, but hopefully not too soon." Elizabeth muttered quietly before pushing herself to her feet as the rest of the gang began to join her in the booth, all pulling off their caps out of respect to their fallen comrade. Elizabeth glancing over the group and smiling sadly at Finn who was now experiencing his first brush with death, something she'd wished she'd prepared him for more as she saw his face fill with horror and sadness at the sight of the body.
"Now we can bury him properly, in the grave we dug for him." John breathed, nodding to his elder sister who half smiled and nodded back in agreement.
"Yeah. It's high on a hill. He'll like that." Tommy agreed, before holding up a bottle he'd picked up from the bar, "To Danny Whizz-Bang."
"Danny." Charlie nodded.
"May we all die twice." Tommy saluted before taking a drink and passing the bottle to John, who held up the bottle.
"To Danny Whizz-Bang." He passed it on to Scudboat.
"Danny Whizz-Bang." He cheered before passing to Lil who stared down at Danny once more before lifting the bottle.
"To Dan." She muttered, taking a drink as her hands began to shake once more before passing it to Freddie who nodded his head to her.
"Danny Whizz-Bang." He breathed softly, wrapping his arm around Ada who held Karl. The group stood in a moments silence for the man, Tommy glancing at Elizabeth who bowed her head for a moment before lifting it and meeting his gaze, she offered a half smile in silent thanks for giving Danny the send off he deserved before nodding her head to indicate she was content. He nodded back before clapping Freddie on the shoulder.
"Come on. The day is ours. Let's celebrate." Tommy called gently to the group, gesturing out the door of the snug. Slowly the group exited, Elizabeth casting one last glance over her shoulder before closing the door, letting out a sigh and pushing any grief out her mind as she moved over to speak to Finn, pulling him in for a hug as soon as he was close, needing a moment to remind her why she kept going.