CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

               IT WAS ALWAYS GOING to be a big wedding.

That was what Felicity continued to tell herself as she peeked through the crack of the church door, desperate to catch a glimpse of all those people that she would soon be standing before, in just under ten minutes time. It was always going to be full of relatives and business partners and all of those tedious family friends that Felicity had thought she would never be forced to make polite conversation with ever again when she ran from the Woods' household over seven years ago. 

"Are you ready?" John Woods asked his daughter gruffly. 

She only nodded ― not sure if the words were lodging themselves in her throat out of pure fear about the coming events, or whether she just despised the man so much that she hadn't the energy to utter a single syllable to him.

He looped his arm through hers without another word ― without asking her, much to her annoyance ― and whilst she shivered at the contact, she wouldn't have dreamed of pulling her grip from his for fear that she might cause more trouble for her and Tommy's day than she already had. The doors were pulled open before them, revealing a packed church and more light and hope and dreams than she could have ever imagined. Rows of family friends, both Woods and Shelbys, fell before her: their wide―eyed gazes dropping onto her figure, taking in the snow white dress that took in her frame and contrasted every ounce of bubbling guilt that overwhelmed her with its own sense of purity and innocence. . . the innocence that she once felt had possessed her entire being, but now thought was gone and had been replaced with a traitorous yet naïve personality.

Yet she smiled, plastering the happy beam on her features as though the day was actually the one she had dreamed of. Because Tommy couldn't suspect a thing ― not yet, anyway. Not when he was standing at the end, his shoulders pushed back as a smile threatened to take over.

Felicity caught sight of the Shelby siblings sitting to the right of her, all wearing pleased grins as they watched their blonde, soon―to―be sister in law make her way before them with her arm in her father's and a façade of happiness greeting them. Ada looked particularly elated, as the night before's antics had led to her having a slither of doubt about the wedding as a whole. Not enormous doubts, as she presumed that every bride had anxieties on the evening before marriage. She knew that she had, although she had just reckoned that that was because she was marrying someone of whom her brothers had grown to dislike and distrust. 

After what felt like an eternity and a half, Felicity reached the end of the aisle and a wave of slight relief filled her at that, because the procession was at least on its way. She faced her father, kissed his cheek, as though all of her inner turmoil and raging, trembling guilt had not been caused by him. He smiled, kissed her cheek back, and wished her a lifetime of happiness. Felicity nodded, and left his side to go and stand by Tommy's, who had his eyes fixed on John Woods as though he were a hawk. . . but quickly pulled his gaze away as the blonde came to stand in front of him.

"Hello," he greeted her quietly, now able to show his smile fully as Felicity presented her own.

"Hello," Felicity whispered in return, as his hand took in her veil and slowly, carefully lifted it so that her smile was clear for everyone to see. 

"Are we ready to begin?" Jeremiah Jesus asked the pair, standing barely a foot away, when really it felt like miles to the couple, as both Tommy and Felicity had eyes for only each other. 

Even if she was shaking like a leaf, scared out of her wits that she had fucked it up so much that it wouldn't be fixed later on, she allowed herself to believe that everything was okay, that both he and her would be alright. Because what do you know? The girl would be an optimist until her last breath.

"Lis? You ready?" Tommy took to asking her beneath his breath, when she didn't respond due to all of those emotions which overwhelmed and overran her.

The familiar nickname pulled her back down to earth and she blinked, hard, and nodded. And so did Tommy.

✧

"With this ring, I, Thomas Shelby, take you, Felicity Woods, to be my wife, the only woman that I could ever know I would love for an eternity and longer."

Felicity smiled. Tears sprung to her eyes ― tears that she quickly blinked away, anxious that he would not see them, for fear he would get the wrong idea. She was not sure if she could go with telling another lie, so she prayed that for both his sake and hers, he had not seen the anxiety and sadness that had been so clearly present in those salty drops that she had been so quick to rid herself off. Although, perhaps he would assume it was out of happiness, or gladness. . . gladness that all of this was coming to a close, and that the messy, tedious, enraging business with John Woods would all be over from the minute that the photographer took the family photo and sent the relatives on their way. 

If only he knew. 

If only they all knew, in all fairness. 

So she took a deep breath and spoke the words she knew she meant with every single part of herself.

"And I, Felicity Woods, take you, Thomas Shelby, with this ring and know that as I do, I am placing my faith in a man that I know I will forever love, so I have no fear in doing so. If I could, I would love you for longer than eternity, because I know that I couldn't love you for any less."

Jeremiah Jesus nodded at the pairs words, aware of the pair's burning red love for each other, but unaware of Felicity Woods' inner turmoil and anguish. 

"So, you take each other to be each other's lawfully wedded husband and wife?" He asked, glancing between the couple.

Tommy smiled ― a real, genuine smile that had a tendency of only showing itself in front of the blonde angel of a girl. "I do."

And Felicity smiled ― hers too was genuine, but in contrast to his, it held a fear that only she knew to be there. "I do," she echoed. 

Somewhere to the right of her, John Shelby let out a cheer, which was soon followed by a sharp scolding from Polly and Ada, and laughter from both Arthur and Finn. 

"Well," Jeremiah continued, almost beginning to beam. "Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. In so much as Thomas Michael Shelby and Felicity Dawn Woods have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings. . ."

The two held each other's gazes as Jeremiah Jesus spoke those words: their gazes burning, their hearts full, both unaware of the future but both, in that moment, completely and utterly willing to give everything and anything just to secure the other's elation.

Felicity still held her old fear, though, but that didn't change a thing. No matter how fast her heart beat, how much tears threatened to cascade over her cheeks like raging waterfalls of uncontrollable guilt, or how much her father wished to break apart everything good and true and moral in this agreement and in his daughter, she knew that she'd risk it all for the gangster called Thomas Shelby.

". . . so I ask you now to seal the promises you have made with each other. You may now kiss the bride."

So he did. Tommy took the woman's face gently in his arms and, with the same ease and love and adoration as he had with each and every one of their kisses, their lips met. Passion ruled at the same level as the king of Small Heath did, and fireworks ignited in his queen's being. The room disappeared along with all of their friends, all of their family. Because nothing else mattered when they had one another. Not now, not ever again.

From the pews before them, John Woods sat in silence. 

One part of the man felt a strong, overwhelming sense of terror as he watched the procession take place; whilst he had managed to manipulate Felicity into the deal by threatening her losing Tommy Shelby's life otherwise, he suspected that the good―willed, too―nice―for―her―own―good, angel of Small Heath would one day spill all of her secrets and traitorous betrayal to his rival and the jest would be over. Their romance might die, he would claim to despise her for the rest of her days, but he would make it his next mission to kill and bury John Woods in a shallow grave. Maybe to make sure that he never managed to make another shilling off the races, or maybe to make him pay for the fact that he had twisted Felicity's good nature around his little finger and used it to his advantage. Because Tommy would forever love the blonde―haired girl, and as he would fire as many bullets as he could into John Woods' body as it took to end him once and for all, it would be because of that one particular fact. 

So yes, John Woods was terrified. Terrified that Tommy's anger would reign supreme once he realised that he had been lied to, betrayed, coaxed into a faux business plan and made to look like a fool at his wedding. Terrified that he would kill the Woods patriarch. Terrified that everything would go to shit when John's idiotic daughter let her guilt eat her from the inside out and therefore told everything to her eternal beloved. . . therefore losing his trust, but giving him the ability to let his fury rule.

There was really only one thing that John Woods could do, then.

Because ― no matter if she ever told him about her betrayal and he chose to declare that he hated her for eternity ― there would always be one weakness to Thomas Shelby.

And that just so happened to be losing Felicity Dawn Woods. She was his Achilles heel. She was the angel that would forever ground him, forever remind him that there was good in this horrid, horrid world. She would be the thing that would make him, and the thing that would break him.

So John Woods rose from his seat, pulled his pistol from his coat pocket, curled his finger around the trigger and sent a bullet spiralling towards his daughter for the second time in his and her life. . . 

Except this time, he didn't miss. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE!

i'm really sorry. . .?

but that's the end to part two! i'm afraid there probably won't be any updates for two weeks ― or there shouldn't be, anyway, because i'm supposed to be revising / doing exams. idk i might come on and write when i'm procrastinating. idk. i just wanted to get this chapter out of the way so you would all have two weeks to hate me before i release part three >:0 

( also i listened to 'all too well' and 'sad beautiful tragic' whilst writing this and cried, if that makes you feel any better )

love you all so much!!