Thomas hadn't slept. It had been less than twelve hours since Blair and Charlie disappeared up stairs, leaving Thomas to stare blankly at the shattered glass in the fireplace, but those hours felt like years.

Sunlight streaming through the curtains told Tommy that there was no use trying to sleep any longer. Birds were tweeting loudly outside the bedroom window and he winced as he saw the time was just after six on his pocket watch, yawning as he stretched his arms behind his back.

He dressed and headed downstairs, mumbling good morning to Frances who was already up and working around the house, though he didn't care to stay and talk to her on that particular day.

Instead, Thomas poured himself a cup of tea and wandered out into the garden, heading over the dewy grass towards the stables, mild air chilling his skin beneath his blue shirt.

The grey horse Blair had picked out on her birthday approached Thomas, nuzzling it's head into Tommy's hand as he stroked it gently.

"Why do I do the things that I do, ey?" Tommy said, sighing loudly, "I try and become a better person and I end up becoming worse. I suppose that's a sign to stop trying to change."

The horse kicked dirt with its hooves, whinnying quietly. Tommy laughed to himself, kissing his teeth as he fell deeper into thought, realising that talking to a horse wasn't going to get him anywhere, even if he did prefer them to humans most of the time.

Leant on the fencing around the paddock, Tommy bathed in the early morning sunshine whilst finishing his cup of tea, only turning to walk back towards the house when he heard his son's laughter faintly from inside.

He walked into the kitchen, setting his mug down by the sink and smiled at Charles.

"Morning, Charlie. I was thinking I could give you a horse riding lesson after you're done with your school work today, what do you think?"

Charlie was sat on his knees at the table, a glass of water in his hands that he peered over the top of as he took a sip, reserving a silence for a moment before answering.

"Can Blair come too? She likes horses."

Tommy swallowed, leaning back on the counter with his hands resting on the wood. There was no sign of Blair coming downstairs yet, but he knew she wouldn't be far behind if Charles was up and dressed.

"Of course," he nodded, "I'm sure she'd like that."

Charles gave his father a small, shy smile before thanking Frances for his breakfast, tucking into the toast straight away.

"Would you like some breakfast, Mr Shelby?" Frances asked Tommy.

He shook his head, pushing himself up off the counter, "No thank you, Frances. I have some work to be getting on with."

She just nodded, watching as Thomas walked out of the room, not before kissing the top of his son's head, squeezing his shoulders lightly.

He wandered out into the hall and in the direction of his office, frowning when he noticed the door was already open.

"Gosh!"

Blair's heart was thumping heavily when she walked straight into Thomas on her way out of his office, his hands grabbing her arms as she stumbled backwards slightly, taking a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Sorry," she said quietly, looking up into his eyes for a split second, "I was just putting some post on your desk."

Tommy shook his head, letting his hands fall down her arms so their fingers were touching, gently intertwining them together.

"It's alright," he whispered, "Can I talk to you?"

Blair swallowed, sniffling slightly as she looked down at the way he'd grabbed hold of her hands, his thumbs stroking her skin lightly.

She nodded, saying nothing as Thomas closed the door, pulling her over to the window by the hand, both of them leaning on the small ledge. The window was warm from the heat of the sun, though condensation from overnight left water droplets at the bottom, Blair drawing a small heart in the corner of the glass, a childlike impulse that made her cheeks blush when she noticed Tommy smiling down at her.

"Are you alright?" He said, feeling a tug on his heartstrings at the way her eyes seemed glazed over with something more than sleep that morning.

"No," she replied, forcing herself to look at him.

It made Blair feel sick with love at how beautiful Thomas was. She thought it was impossible to love somebody so much but it seemed like she fell deeper and deeper every time she looked into his eyes. He was captivating in the coldest way possible, holding so much power in simple things like a glance or a brush of his fingertips.

She felt powerless trying to fight him, but so powerful when she loved him. Blair felt as if she could defy the weight of the world when Thomas held her, like the entire universe was held on a single string for them to spin when they pleased. She was totally besotted by him and the way he made her feel, but feeling scared of losing him again tainted her world red.

"I'm so sorry, Blair. I had pure intentions, I swear, I just got it wrong. I want to be a good person, a better person, for you and for Charlie. I want you to be proud of me, for everything that I do and everything that I am. I got it wrong this time, and I'm so sorry that I've hurt you."

Blair held her breath, blinking back tears that she told herself she would not spill that day, no matter how much she wanted to. She'd been hurt so many times by Tommy that it happening again sadly didn't surprise her anymore. The difference that time was that Blair could see what he was trying to do. As painful as it was to see him treat people the way he should've treated her, Blair knew that Thomas was trying his best to be better.

"I understand that you're trying to change, Thomas, I know you were trying to do a good thing, but it just seems like whenever you try and do these things, I'm always the last person that you consider."

Tommy sighed, a wave of disappointment drowning his insides as he listened to her speak. It hurt him to know how Blair felt, and to know that again it was his fault. She was right, he constantly tried his best to do better, but his tunnel vision made it hard for him to see anything but the end result, immune to any collateral damage along the way.

"I'm sorry, Blair," he said, taking her hand inside his own again, "I've said it before, I know, but I will do better, because you deserve better. I will be the man you deserve, the husband that you deserve."

Thomas kissed the engagement ring on her finger, smiling at her softly with his eyes, watching the anger melt away from her face. Her lips curved into a smile that Tommy knew she was trying her best to hold back, but if she felt even half of the love burning inside his own chest in that moment, he knew it was impossible for her to not crumble at the feeling.

"Think before you act, Thomas, about me. I know the entire world doesn't revolve around me but-"

"No," he interrupted her, placing a hand on her cheek, "It does. My world does."

Blair rolled her eyes at his words, laughing inside at how cheesey he was, yet allowing the butterflies in her chest to forgive him instantly, placing a hand on his neck as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his lips softly.

Tommy felt a weight lift from his shoulders as Blair kissed him, tension releasing from his bones as she squeezed his hand, her nails grazing the skin on the back of his neck.

They pulled apart, Tommy brushing strands of blonde hair from her face as the sun cast a bronze shadow across her body, making her eyes glow bright like the moon.

"I'm teaching Charlie to ride later, he wants you there, we want you there. It'll be nice for him to have his parents teach him together, to do something as a family."

Blair looked up at him, resting a hand on his chest as she tilted her head, intrigued at his choice of words.

"Yes," Tommy continued, reading her mind through her eyes, "I couldn't wish for a better mother for my son than you. We are a family, now, that won't ever be broken."

Although Blair had told herself she wouldn't cry that day, a single tear fell down her cheek at Tommy's words. She had felt a maternal love for Charlie for a long time, though imposing on the role of another woman had played heavily on her mind. She knew Charlie saw her as a mother, but she had always been skeptical of overstepping a boundary that hadn't been discussed with Thomas.

"I would never want to repl-"

"Shh," Thomas held her face in his hands, pressing a soft kiss to her lips to silence her, knowing exactly what she was thinking, "You are your own person, Blair, nobody can compare to you. There is no doubt in my mind that you'd do anything for Charlie, you've had a bond with him since the day that you met and now, we are a family. A mother, father, and child. I wouldn't change a thing."

Blair sighed quietly, her lips falling into a saddened smile as her heart thudded inside her chest, her eyes filling with tears.

"I love you, Thomas."

He smiled, seeing his entire world looking back at him as he gazed into her eyes, feeling like he had everything he could ever need in his hands as he held her.

"And I love you, Blair, more than you could ever know."