Pearl gripped the handle of her trunk anxiously as she awaited the train. The voices around her muffled as she was consumed by her racing thoughts of returning to London. Her eyes flicked over to the clock; eight minutes until the train would arrive.

She'd told Myrtle that she'd be leaving for a few days but would be back before the week drew to a close. Myrtle hadn't minded but made a fuss of making sure she wrapped up warm before she left the house, preparing to face the December frost.

However, Pearl hadn't let Tommy know; she told herself it was because she forgot, but deep down she knew it's because she couldn't face the accusations that she was running away from what had transpired between them in The Garrison.

It was so stupid of her to have let it go on this far; she hadn't noticed when she started falling for Tommy. In her mind she was dedicated to the mission - that's why she made note of his every move, why she always wanted to know his plans, got to know his family, got to know his scent, felt a tug in her abdomen when he walked into a room...

She could no longer deny that she was in a hopeless freefall, which she was desperately grappling to stop. Any attempt just seemed to make her fall further.

So she had to nip it in the bud. Pearl was sure that being counties away from Tommy would do it. Those blazing blue eyes couldn't follow and haunt her there.

Six minutes to the train.

"Pearl!"

She whipped her head around and saw a dainty hand waving through the air between the crowds.

"Move! Does the name Shelby mean nothing to you?" Ada elbowed her way through the people on the platform, clutching her hat atop her head as she rushed forward."What are ya doing?" she breathed, her cheeks slightly red from running.

"Uh, I'm catching a train" Pearl motioned to the platform they were currently standing on.

"No, why are you leaving?"

"I'm going to London for a few days"

Ada's face scrunched in confusion, "So you're not going for good?"

"No" Pearl laughed, "Is that why you're here?"

"For fucks sake. Wasted my breath for bloody nothing" Ada pulled off her hat in frustration and rubbed her hand against her temple.

"Ada, I'm so lost. Why are you here?"

"Tommy thought you were leaving, so he sent me down here to stop you. Only got told ten minutes ago, had to pelt it through the bloody streets to get here in time"

Pearl had learned not to be shocked when Tommy knew exactly where she was going. A blinder must have seen her heading for the station with a suitcase and got the wrong idea. Although, her heart did swell at the idea that he wanted to stop her.

"Wait, Ada. If Tommy didn't want me to go, why did he send you to talk to me?"

"What? You think Tommy Shelby is going to come running through the streets and make a grand gesture in front of everyone?"

Pearl blushed slightly at the notion, or because she thought that perhaps Tommy might actually want to speak to her himself.

"No one said anything about a grand gesture. I just thought maybe he'd want to talk to me in person if he thought I was leaving" Pearl shrugged, trying her best to sound nonchalant.

"Look, Tommy's not the kind of man to be in touch with his feelings. He didn't want you to go, that

tells you all you need to know" Ada smiled and pushed Pearl's arm affectionately.

"There are no feelings between Tommy and I"

Ada simply smirked at Pearl which made her blush more.

"Stop it, Ada. You're being childish"

"And you're being thick. Both of you"

The train rolled into the station and Pearl was glad for the exit from the conversation. She turned away from Ada and picked up her bag. She looked at Ada before moving towards the train.

"It wouldn't work, Tommy and I. It's never going to happen"

With that she moved with the crowd towards the train. Once she'd stepped into the carriage she heard Ada shout behind her:

"He really didn't want you to go, Pearl"

Pearl ignored the comment and moved to her seat.

She lifted her bag onto the storage rack and sat down, removing her many layers of clothing. Pearl picked up a newspaper on the table before her and started to mindlessly flick through the pages, waiting for the train to depart.

A couple of minutes later a sharp whistle rang and the train started to move forward. Pearl turned her head slightly to look out of the window, noticing how ice had settled into the corners of the glass. As the train moved on she noticed a figure stood beside the station: a thick coat and peaky cap sat on a head held low. Just before he was out of view his head lifted and those familiar blue eyes locked with Pearl's for less than a second before they were out of sight.

Pearl quickly turned and sunk back into her seat, closing her eyes and pressing her fingertips into her eye sockets in frustration.

_____

London was gloomier than she remembered it - it no longer felt like home, although realistically she can't remember the last time it did. The once familiar streets were now foreign and the sights she saw everyday were now a nostalgic novelty, despite only being gone a few months.

Pearl turned the corner and saw the same house sitting in a quiet corner of Pimlico, tucked away from the bustle of the streets. The white paint was chipping, exposing the red brick underneath and the windows looked like they could crack at any second. She took a breath as she looked at the shaky home for a second. Pearl had only lived there a few months before leaving and it held only cold memories.

Her thoughts were pushed away as she walked to the door. The wood was rough below her fingertips, falling away just as everything else was. Pearl gripped the cold metal of the doorknob and stepped into the house.

It was small for where it was located in London, the furnishings were bare but it was all she could afford at the time. She looked right, into the barren kitchen and noticed a figure sat at the circular table.

A small beam of light within the dark world.

"Lili?" Pearl called out.

The brunette girl of fifteen twirled her head around and her face broke out into a beaming smile as her eyes met her sisters. She rushed out of her seat and almost knocked Pearl over with the force of her embrace.

Pearl stroked her braided hair and took in her scent, suddenly feeling right at home in this frosty, hopeless place.

Lillian pulled back, smile unwavering.

"Ma-"

Pearl interrupted her with a finger to her lips.

"Pearl."

Lillian let out a relieved sigh, "Pearl. I've missed you"

Pearl scooped her sister off of the floor and spun her around, "I've missed you too!"

"Why do you have to be away for so long?" the girl pouted.

"I'm sure it won't be long now, I know it. Once I'm all done with this business I'll be back for good and we'll live someone far grander like this - like I promised"

"It's not that bad" Lillian took Pearl's hand and led her towards the kitchen table and pointed to a piece of paper with a vase full of flowers drawn on it, "I've decorated, so it's a little better"

Pearl's heart sank at how Lillian had adapted to this life, it wasn't what she deserved. She gave her sister a kiss on the side of her head and inwardly marvelled at her persistent optimism.

"Not too shabby, Lili"

The girls sat down and Lillian caught Pearl up on her life. She enjoyed school, although she didn't have many friends but it was a good escape; the men took her to the market occasionally and she liked to look at all of the flowers - she complained that there weren't enough flowers in London. Pearl learnt that Lillian was excelling in literacy but wasn't the best in mathematics. She'd learnt how to make soup, which is what she ate most days and she was getting quite good at sewing - even managing to add a few additional pieces to her wardrobe.

Pearl congratulated her on the improvement of her sewing and told her no one was really good at mathematics, those who said they were were lying.

Pearl got up and went to the bedroom across the house and slid her trunk underneath the single bed which was pushed up against the wall, facing Lillian's bed on the other side. She took a packet of cigarettes out of her pocket and lit one. She let the smoke fill the small room and make it slightly foggy.

Lillian walked in and sat down on the bed beside her taking a cigarette for herself out of the packet.

"So, how is Birmingham?" Lillian spoke as the smoke slipped through her lips.

Pearl contemplated for a moment, "Complicated. Very, very complicated"

"In what way?"

"I didn't realise I'd have to get so involved with... people"

Lillian furrowed her brow, "Who's people?"

"Thomas Shelby. I'm sure you won't know-"

"Oh, I've heard of him-"

Pearl was stunned by Lillian's statement but Lillian took no notice as she carried on.

"Some of his men have joined the scene down here. Grenfeld doesn't seem worried but his men are definitely taking notice of the blinders."

Oh fucking hell Tommy. What are you doing now?

"Lili, are you saying there are Peaky Blinders in London?" Pearl said whilst trying to suppress the anxiousness in her voice.

"Yep. Have been for a few weeks now" Lillian noticed her sisters concerned expression and smirked slightly, "Seems you're not as informed as you think you are"

"I'm only meant to be looking for the guns. Anything else the blinders are doing is none of my business"

"Yeah, well your face says something else" Lillian scoffed, taking another drag of the cigarette.

Pearl started to laugh but was interrupted by three loud bangs at the door. She looked at her sister with a baffled expression. Lillian simply sighed and put out her cigarette.

"Grenfeld" Lillian groaned with a roll of her eyes.

Was this something Lili had become accustomed to? Men just showing up at the door with no regard for their life? Although she supposed they didn't have much of a life outside of Silver Fang.

Pearl put out her cigarette and walked to the door. When she opened the door she was greeted by two well dressed men about a foot and a half taller than herself. They walked forward without hesitation, forcing Pearl to quickly step backwards to make space for them as they entered the house.

Once they were inside they parted and allowed a shorter man to walk between them. He wore a crisp white shirt, partly covered by a grey waistcoat. His outfit was well pressed, his shoes shined and his hair slicked back with a thick moustache sitting above his lip.

Argo Grenfeld.

"Welcome home, love" he exclaimed whilst opening his arms. "Shall we sit?"

Pearl looked at him sternly for a few seconds before sitting at the table. Argo sat down opposite her and the other men moved beside him.

"Bet you're happy to be back, from what I hear Birmingham's a bit of a shithole"

"It's different" Pearl nodded and clasped her hands in front of her.

Lillian walked into the room and started to pull out a chair to sit down.

"Lili, no" Pearl shot her a sharp look, "Go and wait in the other room"

Lillian frowned, "But I-"

"Lillian." Pearl's voice was authoritative and her answer was final. Lillian didn't try to fight it and quietly left to go and sit in the bedroom.

"Well that wasn't very nice now was it?" Grenfeld laughed.

"This business doesn't concern her"

"No, you're right. A girl that young should never be involved in this business, should they?" He raised his eyebrow. He was provoking her but she wouldn't rise to it, "You must be glad i'm running things now"

"I hear you're keeping a very watchful eye on her" she seethed.

"Well, I know what you lot are like. Rebellion runs in her blood, so I just want to make sure she stays in line. Plus, keeping her in line keeps you in line"

Pearl bit her tongue and nodded.

"Right, let's get down to business shall we?" he said as he slapped his hands against the table. He pointed at the man to his left, "Tea."

The man instantly got to work boiling the kettle.

"I'm very proud of the work you've been doing in Birmingham. From what you're telling me you're close now, I expect you'll have found the guns by the new year"

"Hopefully. I've gained the trust of the Shelby family, I don't think it'll take long for them to reveal where the guns are hidden" Pearl's lips were pressed into a hard line, she didn't want to give Grenfeld more than she needed to.

"That Shelby family are slimy bastards" Grenfeld grimaced, "Starting to move into London. Not much of an issue as of now but if they push too much I might have to have a word with that Thomas" He fiddled with his gold rings as he spoke and cracked his knuckles.

"What's the point of waging war on the Peaky Blinders? They're not causing you any issues with an expansion into London, so why bother?"

Grenfeld laughed and a cup of tea was placed in front of him. "See this is why I'm running this business and not you. We all have our places, you see. The Shelby's place is in Birmingham. London is crowded enough as it is, we don't need gypsy's clogging up our streets with their razors"

Pearl physically bit the inside of her cheek this time to stop herself from responding.

"Anyway, the Fenians - they still poking about?" Grenfeld took a sip of his tea and instantly spit it back into his cup, "Fuck- this tastes like piss"

Pearl smiled smugly, "Sorry, we can't afford fine china-"

"Watch it" he warned with a pointed finger.

Deep breath.

"No. I dealt with them, they won't be coming for the guns anymore"

Grenfeld rubbed his finger along his chin in thought, "Yes, that was beautifully executed, really. It would've made your father proud"

Pearl nodded stiffly. She found it hard to respond with anything more than a sharp movement of her head.

"Fenians won't go near the city now they know we're there"

"That's what I hoped" Pearl spoke, "Campbell's proving to be an issue though"

"Heard he gave you a wallop" he hummed in response as he bowed his head and smirked slightly.

Pearl instantly picked up on this, finding it odd, she thought he'd be at least slightly irritated that Campbell was interfering with the guns. She assumed he didn't know he'd be there, or else he would have told her...

"You knew Campbell would be in Birmingham?" Pearl gasped.

Grenfeld looked at her and swiped his hand along his mouth to suppress a laugh, "Well... what is knowing?"

You bastard.

"That's why you chose me to go to Birmingham, you knew I'd have to run into him at some point. What is wrong with you?" a horrified look plastered across her face.

"Calm down, love. It's funny"

All she did was glare at him.

"You have to admit it's a little funny"

Pearl looked at the ceiling and took a deep breath. She was biting so hard on the inside of her cheek she thought it would bleed. "After everything that happened you thought sending me right to Campbell would be funny?"

"Yes" he nodded.

"I want a nicer house for Lillian. Penance for that little joke of yours" she seethed. Grenfeld scoffed at the absurdity of her request. Pearl thought Argo Grenfeld might be the only person she ever knew who could possibly match Tommy's level of arrogance, "Doesn't the name 'Wright' mean anything anymore?"

"Of course the name 'Wright' means something" he spat, "It's a shame you're a 'Moore' now"

Pearl felt the metallic taste spill over her tongue as she finally drew blood from her cheek.

"I'll move Lillian out of here because I'm a reasonable man. You'll see that one day. Remember, I saved you only because of how much I respected your father. Don't push it, love"

Saved? You're joking. Stole what was hers would be a better way to put it.

Grenfeld stood abruptly from the table, so much so that the chair almost toppled over behind him, "Right, best be going. Can't stay in this shithole any longer"

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out" Pearl whispered to herself.

"Hmm?" Grenfeld turned on his heel to face her but she stayed silent, "Yeah, I thought so. Keep up the good work, I'll be sending some men back to Birmingham with you seeing as you're so close to these guns"

With that he left the house and one of his henchmen slammed the door behind them which slightly rattled the foundation of the building. Pearl huffed as she dropped her head into her hands. Lillian emerged from the other room and came to sit beside her sister.

"God, he's awful" Lillian exclaimed.

"Hopefully we won't have to put up with him for much longer. I'm going to take back what's mine Lili, I promise" Pearl gripped her sister's hand and gave her a tight lipped smile.