Work Text
Author's note: This fic was inspired by a song, that I'm willing to bet 99% of you have never heard of before. It's called 'Again' and it's sung by Hadley Fraser. Now, I strong recommend listening to the song as it's SO beautiful.
Now, on youtube, there's a video of him singing it live, which I suggest. It was posted by the song writer, Scott Alan, 15 years ago and he gives an AMAZING performance!!
1919,
“Well,” her father stated. “you finally get your wish.” Kate blinked as she looked up from the book she was reading. “You get to marry Thomas Shelby.”The book fell from her hands in astonishment. “What?”She could not believe what she was actually hearing. She’d been in love with Thomas Shelby since they were children. However, she was a Lee and he was a Shelby, so she’d been forbidden to speak to him. However, she and Thomas hadn’t listened, they’d snuck around behind everyone’s back for a while. A stupid argument had resulted in them breaking up with each other and he’d gotten involved with a girl named Greta. That had been short lived because she died of consumption.Then, the night before he shipped off to France, they’d bumped into each other again. They talked as they sat under a blossoming apple tree overlooking Small Heath. All it had taken was one kiss and she’d given herself completely to Thomas Shelby. They’d stayed there all night where he promised that he’d come back for her after he made something of himself.Well, he’d been back for several months, but he’d never sought her out, barely spared her a glance. But when they did make eye contact, the world stopped for them. There was one moment that they’d stood there and just stared at each other for a good thirty seconds. He’d taken two steps forward, as if he were going to approach her, but stopped himself. She’d stood there in the street, cursing herself for allowing him to have her, but she loved him so much that her heart and body overruled her head. She was fortunate that she hadn’t gotten pregnant. Just when she thought that she couldn’t pretend to be fine around Thomas Shelby anymore, her father was announcing that she got to marry Thomas Shelby. “That f**king bastard, went to Zilpha Lee and asked for a union between the Shelby’s and the Lee’s. He picked you.” her heart jumped in her chest. So, he hadn’t forgotten about her after all this time. “Zilpha agreed.” Her father spat. “The two of you marry next Sunday.”With that, he stormed out of the wagon, slamming the door behind him. Kate sat there, her hands shaking and a faint smile on her face. After all this time, she was to be Thomas Shelby’s bride.He kept scanning the camp out of the corner of his eye for her, but he couldn’t see her. He knew that Kate was around, he’d seen her in town on occasion. He hadn’t found the right opportunity to talk to her. His honor demanded that he ‘do right by her’, but, Kate wouldn’t want him like that. She’d want him to have her because he loved her and he did. He loved her like he was mad, which he was, and that’s why he couldn’t ask her to subject herself to share her life with a man like him. But every time he saw her, it was as if a small part of him came to life again, if only for a few moments. Frankly, with the scent of marriage in the air, if she approached him tonight, he didn’t know if he had the willpower to deny himself the right to her. She still had feelings for him; he could see it in her enchanting, emerald green eyes.Zilpha Lee came around the corner, leading a girl in a white dress. She had mahogany hair, just like Kate. He stilled as he studied the figure. She looked very much like Kate. Too similar to Kate, as a matter of fact.“Here she is.” Arthur stated.“She better be under fifty.” John muttered.Tommy had no words, he was too busy trying to see if the girl under the thick veil was indeed his Kate. He patted John on the back and nudged him towards the makeshift altar. He made sure to move to the left so he could get a glimpse at the girl. “We're here today to join in matrimony,” Johnny stated. “this man and this woman, to live together in harmony and togetherness.” It was in that moment that she lifted the veil that his whole world came to a f**king stop.It was Kate. Thomas felt as if every drop of air from his lungs got sucked out of his chest. Kate? John was going to be marrying his Kate? He wasn’t sure why he was still referring to her as his. He hadn’t spoken to her in months since he’d gotten back from France. They’d had one night and that one night had been enough to sustain him through France. And now…she was going to be marrying his brother. Had he been wrong about the depth of her feelings for him?John looked at Kate and shot him a telling smirk that yes; he was pleased with Kate. Kate, however, had a different reaction. She completely froze and stared at John. She looked confused and she hastily turned and looked for her dad, who had a satisfied, condescending smirk on his face. Her reaction made no sense, almost as if she hadn’t been informed as to what was going on. But now, it was too late. She was at the altar with John and there was nothing to be done.Somehow, as if sensing his eyes on her, she turned and looked at him. And as always, the world stopped for a moment. It was just them there for a moment, yes, she was on her knee’s pledging to marry his brother, but it was him that she had eyes for. F**k! Why the f**k was this getting complicated!? It was supposed to be a Lee girl that John married, not his Kate! Yes, Kate was a Lee, but he didn’t think she’d ever marry John! Not when she’d given her virginity to him. But what could he do? No one else knew about Kate and him, he’d kept it a secret from everyone, even from Polly. He couldn’t object to this marriage without causing a war. So, she’d just have to marry John and he’d have to watch them. F**k, his stomach burned with poisonous anger at the thought of John inside Kate, f**king her and making her cry out. Yes, Kate would cry tonight. The only question was would they be happy tears or not? He was forced to remain silent. There was nothing that he could do. He’d lost her and he should had said something to her the moment he came back from France instead of building a life for her first before trying for her hand. Suddenly, Kate jumped up and ran! Everyone let out a surprised sound as the bouquet of roses fell from her hands into the mud. “Katherine!” her father bellowed. “Get back here!”But she didn’t even stop. His heart raced as she threw her veil in the mud, vaulted onto the nearest horse and took off galloping down the street!! Chaos erupted in the camp. John was on his feet, demanding to know what the hell was going on. Tommy, he was so relieved that Kate had left that he needed a moment to collect his thoughts. Arthur, he was angry and shouting at people and Polly was yelling as well. He turned to Zilpha, who was shouting in Kate’s father’s face. “What the hell is this!?” She stated. “You said she agreed to the marriage!!”“She f**king did!” her father turned to him. “It was him!! Did you f**king threaten her?”He shakes his head. “No.”“Don’t you play the fool with me!” He shouted. “I know---“I’ve not spoken to Kate, since before France.” He stated firmly. “Ask her when you catch her.”“Catch her.” He snorted. “We had a dealing, the f**king little tart.”“Well, the wedding is off.” Thomas turns towards Zilpha, who shakes her head as she assures him. “For now, the deal is still in place. We need to find out where she is and what’s going on.”He nods in agreement as her father snorts. “Good luck! Can’t f**king find her these days!”He knew exactly where she was.Kate sniffled and wiped her eyes. Why? Why had her father lied to her like that? He knew that she was in love with Tommy, not John. She’d been so excited, then, she lifted the veil to find that she was marrying John! That excitement turned to pure horror and shock. John? John Shelby of all boys! He was too young for her! Yes, he was only three years younger, but she didn’t like John like that! Not to mention, how could she marry John when she was still in love with Tommy? Yes, there was a deal and she’d agreed to it, but…God, if Tommy but looked at her while she was married to John, she’d let him have in whatever way he desired. Her marriage vows would be cast aside and she couldn’t care less. She couldn’t do this.“Thought you’d be here.”She shrieked as she spun around to see Thomas Shelby standing there, looking as handsome as ever. he exhales sharply. She inhales deeply. “Tommy.”“Kate,” he exhales deeply. “what the f**k are you doing?”She flushed and looked down at the apple in her hands. “Thinking.”He walks towards and clears his throat. “You’re supposed to be marrying John.”She exhales sharply. “I’m aware…Tommy.”“Why aren’t you?”She shakes her head as she admits honestly. “I-I couldn’t do it.”“Kate…you know,” he sits down beside her and she refuses to look up at him. “if you don’t marry him, there’s no peace between the Lee’s and the Shelby’s.”“I’m aware.” She bites out, angry that he’s putting that pressure on her.“Then why won’t you do it?”“Why haven’t you talked to me since France?” She inquired. There’s a strong silence between them. “You just f**k me and then act like I’m some whore that you’re ashamed to be seen with.”“Oi!” He said sharply. “That wasn’t what it was!”“Then what was it?” She demanded, clenching the apple tight in her hands. “Then, you decide to trick me into marrying your brother that way you’d be rid of me.”“Trick?”“Well, I won’t do that!” She snaps. “If you want me to get out of here, then you have the decency to tell me to my f**king face!!”He groans and shakes his head. “Christ, I forgot how f**king complicated you can be!” “You’re one to talk.” She snorts before taking a bite out of her apple. “God, you make me so mad.”He’s silent for a long time before asking. “Why’d you leave John at the altar?”She rolls her eyes. God, why was he so dense. “You know why.”“No, I don’t. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here."“You’re not a fool Tommy.” She states as she throws the apple. “You know exactly why.”“Well,” he clears his throat. “if you hadn’t agreed to marry John, I’d have thought you were still in love with me.” Heat filled her face. “But since you agreed---“I did not agree!” She snaps as she spins around and shouts in his face.“Then why the f**k were you there!?” He shouts back.“Because I was told that you asked for my hand! I thought…I was marrying you!” She inhales, heat in her cheeks. “Fine!” She gets to her feet. “I’ll marry him if that’s what you want!”He grabbed her and spun her around. “Christ, will you just,” his eyes flashed. “I didn’t say to marry John!”“Well, you’re making a good argument for it!” She snapped. “If you don’t want me to marry him, then you tell me why!”“You know why.”“Well,” she rolled her eyes. “I’d say that you were still in love with me, but---“Shut up.” he gripped her chin and made her look at him. He was studying her face. She inhaled and asked. “Are you going to send me back to John? If you do,” she confessed. “I will spend every minute of that ‘marriage’ wishing he was you.”“No, I’m not sending you back to him.” he shook his head before stating. “I’m gonna marry you myself.”Her eyes bulged. “What?”He pulled her towards him; causing Kate let out a gasp as he kissed her. She let out a groan as those beautiful feelings of love, pleasure, happiness, joy, warmth and desire built up in her again. Oh God, it was almost as if those five years apart hadn’t existed. He let out a mumbled curse against her lips as he laid down on the grass, pulling her down with him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing him passionately while wearing the dress that she’d bought for him. She was his; she’d always been his from the moment they raced each other in the fields at ten and twelve years old.When he pinned her on her back, she shook her head and broke the kiss. “Tommy. Tommy, we have to talk.” He exhaled deeply and nodded. “What do we do? I’m promised to John and if you’re looking for me---“The Lee’s are looking for you.” he nods in confirmation. She lay under him, watching the wheels turn in his blue eyes. She knew he had a plan, he was forming it. She just held onto his wrist, waiting for him to say what the plan is. After a moment, he nodded. “Right.” He pulled her to her feet before moving her towards his horse, Monahan. “Get up on the horse.” We’re going to the Garrison.”She frowned. “But, they’re looking for---“We’re gonna find Johnny Dogs and I know he’s there getting a drink.” He stated. “You agreed to marry a Shelby. You’re marrying a Shelby.”“Tommy, you don’t have to---“Kate,” he spun her around and cupped her face in his hands. “if you’d have married John today, I’d have f**ked you on your wedding night without caring about John. John, he’s seen on you once, he ain’t in love with you, he’ll get over you.”“And you won’t?”“No.” He shakes his head. “You’re the one for me and I’m the one for you.”She inhaled, holding onto his wrists. “Then why didn’t you talk to me after France?”“I had things to do.” He said. “Needed to get things ready so when I asked your father for your hand, he’d have been more inclined to allow it.”She shook her head. “He hates you, Tommy. You could have given him a million pounds and he’d have still refused you.” she inhaled as she stated. “It would have been better if you had just taken me.”He exhaled as he put her up on the horse. “What do you think I’m doing now?” He hopped up behind her. “John nearly had you and I’m not letting another man, get that close to you again.”She nodded in agreement, as she assured him. “I wouldn’t have married him.”“Even if I’d asked?”She shook her head. “No, but you wouldn’t have asked me.”“You know this how?”“You’re in love with me. I could see it.” he kicked the horse into a gallop. “You can’t hide from me, you never could.”“I’m not the same man, Kate.” he stated as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “You may not know who you’re marrying.”“I see you. I see different, new parts of you, but its still you.” she inhaled. “I waited five years without a word from you.”“What do you mean without a word?” He demanded. “I wrote you a hundred, f**king letters!!”She spun around and stared at him. “I never got them! I didn’t get a single letter from you.”He exhaled. “Must have been your father. But I wrote to you Kate, I did.”She gripped his hand as she turned back to where they were going. “I believe you. You can tell me everything you said tonight.”“No.” he kisses her neck. “I won’t be talking about that tonight with you Tommy.”She bit her lip, feeling a bit daring as she asked. “Going to claim me as your personal property tonight?”“I already claimed you as mine that night before France.” He stated. “Gonna make you a wife and mother tonight.”She blushed, heat running down her face to her stomach. “God, Tommy! The things you say!”“You enjoy it.” he stated, causing her to smile. Neither of them said another word after that. Thomas took the back roads to the Garrison; the streets were crawling with the Lees. Somehow, they managed to make it to the Garrison undetected. Thomas hopped off Monahan and helped her down. He then held her elbow firmly and took her inside the Garrison. Johnny Dogs was just walking out and his eyes widened. “Ah, Tommy! Found her, did ya?”“Yeah, I found her.” he stated as he pushed Johnny back into the Garrison. “Johnny, I need you marry us now.” The whole pub went silent. By now, everyone knew that she’d left John at the altar and here she was, with Tommy. Not only with him, but she was marrying him. “Now!”“Tom,” Johnny stammered. “I-I can’t, she’s betrothed to John.”She shook her head. “No. I never agreed to marry John. I agreed to marry Tommy.”Johnny's eyes widened. “What the f**k are---“It’s been her and me since before France.” Thomas stated. “Now, you f**king marry us!”Johnny shook his head. “Tom, do you have any idea what---“The deal was that she marry a Shelby.” He stated firmly. “she’s marrying one, now do it Johnny!”Johnny stammered. “Well…do you even have a ring?” Tommy nodded as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. Johnny stared. “Tom.”“Marry us Johnny, I won’t ask again.”His heart was pounding so loudly in his chest and ears that he could barely hear a word Johnny was saying. This was actually happening. He was marrying Kate, in a pub, with no other family present. The Lee’s were looking for her, he’d probably ruined this whole deal but there was just about enough confusion to allow this deal to still go through. Yes, he’d offered John as a groom, but her father had offered him to Kate. Why, he wanted to trick Kate like that, he didn’t know. But the deal had been altered first and he was going along with it. If it wasn’t acceptable, he’d offer John again and this time, Zilpha would check with the girl and see that she was actually willing and not being forced.God, his Kate looked so beautiful. She stood there, holding his hand firmly, not shaking, her eyes glowing and sparkling with love and anticipation. “I now pronounce you man and wife.”He and Kate shook their heads. “Mingling of the blood, Johnny.”Johnny shot him a sour look. “I forgot.” He hadn’t. Johnny was deliberately trying to stall, but Tommy wasn’t having it. He was taking Kate as his wife tonight and it would all be done right. “There remains one more part of the ceremony.” Thomas took the knife from his pocket. “It's the mingling of the two bloods. So the two families become the one family.” he handed the knife to Johnny who exhaled. “Christ Tommy, are you sure?”“Do it.”Kate held out her hand without even blinking. Johnny cut his hand and then Kate’s. They pressed their hands together and Kate exhaled in relief. He brushed her hair back with his free hand, causing her to smile. “I now pronounce you man and wife.” he allowed a faint smile to creep onto his lips as he cupped her face in his hands before kissing her. Kate let out a moan, leaning into his kiss. The whole pub started cheering, applauding, whistling and offering congratulations. It wasn’t as it should have been for her, but it was what had happened.Kate let out a laugh, blushing as she held onto him. She smiled as he kissed her once more. “I love you, Tommy Shelby.”“I love you too, Mrs. Shelby.” he said those words low enough for only her to hear. “Tom.” Johnny shakes his head. “This won’t go well. You know it.”“Don’t give a f**k.” he exhaled as he looked at his watch. There was no reason; he just looked at it. He exhaled. “Right. You go find Zilpha Lee and her father, tell them we’ve married.” Kate flushed. He didn’t go into further details because he wasn’t talking about taking her to his bed in the pub. He exhaled. “They can find us at the house.”“Tom, the two of you---“Just go, Johnny.” He stated as he guided her out the front door. “Come on.” She laughed as he hoisted her up on Monahan."I’m sorry.” He said as he hopped up behind her. She frowned. “What on earth for?”“All of this.” he stated as he kicked Monahan into a trot. “You probably didn’t think you’d get married like this, in a pub.”“No, but,” she shakes her head as she smiles at him. “This…was probably the most romantic gesture you could have ever done for me.”“Romantic?” he shakes his head. “You and your f**king ideas.”“This is romantic. You,” she laughs. “you always have a plan. You want things done proper. You just randomly decided that you were going to marry me! You didn’t even ask me. You just told me that we were getting married and we did! This was all very romantic, Tommy. I’ll never forget it, as long as I live.”He exhales as he heads towards home. “We can marry again, proper if you like.”“For your family, but,” she sighs in contentment. “really Tommy, this was romantic. You swooping in on your horse, whisking me away and taking me for yourself. Once you make up your mind, you make it up.”“I already made it up.” He stated. “Your father just made me marry you several months earlier.”“Months!?” She turns and looks at him in anger. “Really? You’d have me wait months before marrying me?” “Kate,” he exhaled. “I’m in the middle of something, it’s big and you are a f**king distraction.”“Distraction!?” She turned, wrapping an arm around his neck.“You are and you have always been a f**king distraction.” She glowers at him. “Believe me, it’s going to be very hard getting up to go to work in the morning instead of staying in bed with you!”“Good!” She states. “Because you’re trouble and you’re always causing trouble. Maybe I’ll be able to keep you out of it!”“For a while at least.” He muttered as he pulled up in front of the house. “But, I’ve got things to do and you…just got added to the list.”“Bastard.” She muttered as he got off the horse before helping her off.At that moment, the door to the house opened and Arthur came out. He exhaled in relief. “F**k.” he turned and yelled inside. “Tommy’s got her!” Kate bites her lip. “God, how do we explain this?”“We don’t.” he states as he moves her towards the inside of the house. He didn’t even have a house for her yet. She’d have to share his room for a month or two. Kate was uneasy, but he didn’t care. When they entered the house, he saw Uncle Charlie, Curly, Polly, Arthur and then John, come into the main room.Kate bit her lip and looked up at him. “Tommy, I---“I’ll answer it.” He said calmly. “Right, go up the stairs there, my room is on the left, green door.”She shakes her head. “No, I’m not running---“You’re not running away from anything.” He states. “I’ll be up in a minute. It’s my family.”She frowns at him as she hisses. “They’re my family too.”He adds in a lower voice. “Haven’t complete the ceremony yet, so, go upstairs.” She shakes her head and goes up the stairs. He clears his throat. “Right. Now, obviously, everyone has questions. Curly, Monahan is outside, take him back to his stall.”“Yes, Tommy.” curly said, hurrying out, grateful to be away from people and their drama.“Why the f**k is she going up to your room Tommy?” Polly asked directly, going straight to the point. “And why the f**k, is there a ring on her hand.”He nodded, deciding to get to the point. “I married Kate.” everyone started in complete shock. He cleared his throat and addressed John, who was beyond stunned. “John, I’m sure this is a mess for you.”“What the f**k Tom!” He demands. “What’d you---“You weren’t supposed to marry Kate.” He stated. “Look, Kate and I have been together for years,” everyone let out loud protests of outrage. “I told her, I’d be back for her when I got back from France. Now---“What the f**k!?” Arthur shouted. “Tommy! You didn’t say---He holds up his hand. “Now, her father, told her that she was marrying me, not John. Otherwise, she’d have never wound up at the altar with you John. It was a mistake, it wasn’t her fault and it was not meant to be a slight against you.”“You just married her??” Polly stated. “We didn’t even know that you had a thing for her!”“Since we were kids.” He stated calmly. “KIDS?!” Arthur shouted. “No! Not a f**king Lee! Tom!”“Yeah, I know.” He shrugged. “Inconvenient, but, I don’t care.”“I told you,” Uncle Charlie stated. “that no good would come from chasing that Lee girl. I told you Tommy.”He nods. “I know. It’s always been her and me.”“You know that her father and Zilpha Lee are looking for you.” Arthur stated. “They’ll be furious!”“I know.” he exhaled and turned to go up the stairs. “Try and give us fifteen minutes.”Polly’s eyes bulged. “What the f**k are you---He hurried up the stairs. “Need a minute to make her my wife.” everyone protests. “Has to be legal.”He ignored everyone’s protests and hurried up the stairs to his waiting wife. He opens the door to see her sitting on a chair. He closes and locks the door behind him. She stands up. “Are we---He frowns before stating. “No.”She looks confused. “I don’t understand, did you send me up here to make a point?”“Set the stage.” He lit the lamp and turned off the lights. “When your father and Zilpha get here, needs to look like we completed the ceremony.”She blinks. “So, we’re not having sex?”“Not now.” he assures her as he moves to sit down on the bed and she sits down beside him. “I don’t want it to be fast for you, sweetheart. Now, I’m going to have you tonight, it’ll be proper and then, I’ll f**k you anyway that you want. Understood?” She sniffled and nodded. “Good girl.”She shivered. “Oh God.”“Aye. I still remember.” He exhaled as he ran his hand down her cheek. “All this time, eh?”“I know.” she said softly. “It was always you, Tommy.”“You still love me.” he leans forward and kisses her on the mouth, causing her to moan. “Could see it every time you looked at me.”“Yet you didn’t approach me?”He shook his head. “Wanted to come to you with more than my hat in hand.”“That was enough for me.”“I know.” He stated. “I knew, that if I got close to you…I’d take you off with me, didn’t matter if I had nothing to give you.”“I wanted you.” She inhaled as she asked. “Was it hard for you, seeing me every day, yet staying away from me?”He nodded. “Yes.”“How hard?”“Like being in hell.”“Good.” she stated pointedly before relaxing back on his bed. “So, what’s the idea for tonight?”“Well,” he clears his throat as he takes off his coat. “I’ll talk to Zilpha, explain that you’d agreed to marry me, not John and you’d already betrothed yourself to me.”She makes a face. “Damn my father. He always liked John over you.”“Well,” he clears his throat as he runs his hand through her hair. “you love me.”She nods. “That, I do. And you love me.” He nods. She sighs and runs her finger softly down his cheekbones, causing him to still. “You’ve changed…I can feel it. See it. You don’t talk as much, smile even less, but…you’re still there.” He wasn’t. “But…I don’t care. Because I knew, way back when you kissed me for the first time, that it was going to be you and me.”He nods as he admits. “The same.” He lets out a sigh. “I won’t let you in my head Kate.”“You don’t need to.” She says. “I can still read your mind Tommy Shelby. Argue all you want, but, I can see it. I know you too well.”He holds her hand tightly, twisting the ring on her finger. “I hope you’re right Kate.”“I know I am.” she smiled at him. “I don’t expect this to be easy, Tommy. I know some days, are going to be hard as hell, but, know that I didn’t run into this marriage with my eyes shut. I know, things are different but…I still choose you over everyone else”A part of him felt lighter at her words. She said that she knew him, maybe she did, she was always able to see through him, even as kids. She was one of the few people who could tell when he was lying; he always had a hard time hiding from her. Perhaps, that’s why he needed to keep her close. She knew him; she’d keep him sane, keep him right. She had a warm heart, she was understanding, sympathetic and she could love. God, those days when they were young, so full of love and that night before France, he knew. He knew that he’d come back for her and make her his wife. She’d waited for him. Even when he came back to her, she waited for him to be ready for her. She’d waited long enough; it was time to take her to him as his wife.A tap on the door caused them to jolt. “Tommy,” it was Arthur. “they’re here.”He groaned. “Tell them, we’ll be down in a minute.” He stood up and looked at her. “You look too neat.”“As do you.” she stated, ruffling his hair in her hands before undoing the lower button on his vest. She blushed as she said. “Make it worth my while tonight, Tommy.”“Make no mistake,” he promised as he gripped the sleeve on her wedding dress and tore it, causing her to whine. “I’ll do right by you.”“Tommy,” she pouted. “this is my wedding dress.”“Needs to look like I pulled it off you in a hurry.” He cleared his throat. “You do look beautiful though.”She flushed. “Do I?”He nodded. “Aye. Most beautiful woman in all the world.”She shakes her head. “You and the things you say.”After a few moments of rearranging their clothes and Kate leaving a mark on his neck and collar, they were ready to go downstairs. He held her hand and went down first to where her father was in Arthur and John’s faces, trying to get up the stairs. Zilpha and Polly were standing there, shaking their heads, clearly silently thinking about what fools men are.Kate felt like an outsider as she stood on the stairs with Thomas. “Right!” He said loudly. “Let’s get this dealt with.”Everyone turned and looked towards him. Her father was the first to explode and he shouted. “You bastard! You stole my daughter and---“No.” Tommy calmly shakes his head. “You tricked her and tried to get her to marry John.”“What’s he talking about?” Zilpha demands. “Kate spoke up. “My father, told me that it was Thomas who had asked for my hand, not John. That’s why I agreed to the marriage. I agreed to marry Thomas, not John.”“Why?”Kate inhaled as she confessed. “Because we’ve been together for years.” Zilpha’s brows rose. “Father, has issues with Tommy and forbade us seeing each other, which we did in secret for years. We kept it so quiet that, I’ve never had the opportunity to meet any of his family.”“You were betrothed to John!” Her father stated. “You wouldn’t dare to enter into a contract with him without my consent!”“I did.” She stated, flushing as she stated. “The night before France, I gave myself to him and I promised to wait for him.”“And wait she did.” Thomas stated. “Look, the deal was…that there be a union between the Shelby and the Lee family. The union has happened and I’m asking that the deal be honored.” “No!” Her father shouted. “The deal was that she marry John!”“Yet you told her that she’d marry Thomas, which is what she agreed to. You altered the deal behind my back and you knew that she’d agree because she wanted to marry him.” Zilpha studied her. “You wanted to marry Thomas?”She nods. “Yes, I did, with all my heart and we married properly.”“Was the mingling of the blood done?” they hold up their hands. “Was the marriage consummated?”“Yes.” he exhaled. Zilpha looked between the two of them. She exhales and nods. “The deal will be honored.” Kate exhaled in relief as Thomas wrapped his arm around her waist. “I forbid it!” Her father shouted. “I forbid it!”“Well,” Polly stated. “not much you can do now. They’re stuck with each other now.”Her father spat on the floor before turning and stomping out of the room. She exhaled and looked to Zilpha. “I apologize, for the drama.”“Your father did that.” She nodded. “Well, tomorrow, come and collect your things. I doubt your father will allow you to take them, so, I’ll have them gathered for you.”“Thank you.” She bit her lip before stating. “Also, Tommy wrote me letters from France. I never got any. Can you please see if he had something to do with that?”She nodded. “Yes.” with that, she turned and left the house.Thomas nodded at Arthur, who closed the door. “F**king hell, Tommy. Are you mad!?”“I love my wife. Wasn’t going to let any man have her, including John.”Kate bit her lip and turned towards him. “I’m so sorry John.” he exhaled. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that… I, I’ve just been in love with Thomas for so many years. I couldn’t marry you when I was still in love with him.”John nods in dejection. “Yeah, I get it. Not your fault.”“I am sorry.” She inhaled and offered. “There’s a girl, Esme…she’s a distant cousin. I really think you’d like her. She’s pretty and I think…love could follow.”“No.” John shakes his head. “No, I’ve had enough of women for a bit. Need time to gather me head.”With that, John turned and walked out of the room. Polly shoots them a look. “Both of you, have to fix that. John needs a wife before he decides to go of and marry Lizzie Stark again!”He nods. “We will.”“I’ll introduce them later.” Kate promises. “I’m sorry, this just happened.”“Clearly.” Polly steps towards her and studies her. “I know nothing about you. You just decided to up and marry Tommy, leaving John at the altar.”She swallowed and held her gaze. “No matter what I did, I would have caused pain. I could have married John, but I would still be in love with Tommy. He’d be upset, I’d be wanting him and when something did happen between us, then John would be hurt. I did not intend to hurt anyone.”“The two of you could have waited.”“She’s waited long enough, Polly.” He stated. “Time to bring her into the family and I wasn’t letting her father try to get her married off to someone else.”Polly studied her. “We’ll see Tommy.”“It’ll all work out.” He stated. “John’ll find someone. Just can’t have mine.”She snorts and rolls her eyes. “Bastard.”“Whatever.” He exhaled. “Look, it’s late, there’s been a lot happening. We’ll all talk in the morning. Alright?”Polly shoots him a look. “Don’t think there’s anything to be said for now. But you’ve got a fine way of making a f**king mess for yourself, Thomas Shelby!”Polly turned and stomped off. Arthur exhales and extends a hand. “Hope you’re happy brother.”He nods. “Yeah, she’s the one Arthur, she’s always been.”“Must be if you’re ready to start a f**king war for her.”“I’d do it again to have her.” he pats Arthur on the back. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Ok?”Arthur nodded. As Kate and Tommy went up the stairs together, she asked him. “Is that true?”“What true?”“That, you’d go to war for me, to have me?”“Yes.” He nodded. “I’d go to war for you again and again. I let you go once, I’m not letting you go again.” he backed her up into the room. “I love you, still. I’ve never stopped and I know I never will.”“You better not, Tommy Shelby.” he kissed her, causing her to moan against his lips. “Tommy.”“I know.” he broke the kiss. “Thank you, for choosing me again.”“I love you. There was no choice to be made.” She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You going to make love to me?”“Yes.” He groaned. “Ready to start living a life with me, Mrs. Shelby?”“Been ready for a long time.” She smiles as he holds onto her. “Let’s begin.”He closed the door behind them, starting the next chapter of their lives together.
Author's note: I was initially planning on posting this and taking a break, but then.... Shariebery had a story request. Normally, I don't do requests, but I was listening to an old Jesse McCartney song as I was reading her request. That set off a chain reaction. 23 hours later, and I've typed over, 10,000 words. However, I want more put together before posting.
So, to tide you all over, I recommend 'Your doll' by Storisage. It's an Alpha/Omega fic, takes place during season 2 and Tommy's girl is mute! So, it's a unique take and I suggest checking it out while waiting for me to get my next one together! Enjoy!