𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲:
do you hate me?

SECONDS, MINUTES, HOURS FELT LIKE eternity as Margaret Kegley stood in the silent home, Charles on the side of her hip as she softly rocked him. Ever since she came back home, his eyes were heavy and yawning was all he could do. Apparently, falling asleep in his bed wasn't an option as he kept asking Maggie to hold him so that was what she did.

Her mind was being consumed with thoughts, and she couldn't help but ask herself millions of questions wondering if Thomas Shelby would make it alive. Perhaps, he would but there were chances he wouldn't, and it kept worrying her.

Margaret heard knocks on the door as she was putting Charles to bed, she quietly closed the bedroom door and grabbed her gun. Her hand tightened around it as she reached the door, it slowly opened and Maggie held it up. Finn appeared, his eyes widening as he put his hands in surrender.

"Fucking hell, Finn!" Muttered Margaret slamming her gun on the dresser on the side. "Are you fucking insane? I almost shot you!"

Finn chuckled closing the door behind him, "Aye, sorry. Polly asked me to check up on you."

Margaret sighed, "Well, I'm fine. Drink?" Finn nodded his head as she grabbed two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. "Have you heard from Tommy?" Queried Maggie, not having any idea if his brothers actually knew.

Finn's lips formed a thin line as he shook his head, "Nah. Haven't heard a thing. He must be around."

The room went silent again as Margaret grabbed a cigarette and lighted it, she offered one to the Youngest Shelby but he refused and kept his drink in hand. The smoke filled the room as ashes went to the ground, and all Maggie could do was smile and look at Finn. He seemed so innocent, too young to be brought in this bloody world. Somehow Finn was way too good for this type of world.

"Maggie!" Arthur's voice echoed through the house and she rushed to the hall, already cursing under her breath. "Maggie!" He repeated once again.

Margaret put a finger on his mouth, stopping him from screaming, "Stop screaming. Charles is asleep, aye!" Complained the woman and Arthur chuckled before trying to bite her finger. "Sod off, Arthur." Added Maggie, slapping his chest before leading him in the kitchen.

"Polly asked me. . ."

". . . to check up on me." Finished Margaret as she poured a drink to Arthur and gave it to him. "Did Polly asked the whole fucking family to come 'ere?" Laughed the brunette.

"Thought Tommy would be here." Admitted Arthur, holding his flat cap. "If something bad happened Tommy will make it alive, Maggie." Reassured the man reaching for her hand across the table. Margaret could say how much she hated Thomas Shelby for everything he did to her, but eyes didn't lie. Hers, especially.

"For fuck's sake!" Shouted Margaret, hitting the wooden table with her fist. "You Shelby men will be the death of me!" She exclaimed.

Suddenly the stairs cracked, meaning someone was, either way, going upstairs or downstairs.  Their heads snapped towards the noise as they all saw Charles, rubbing his eyes in a sleepy manner. Margaret stood up and rushed to the toddler, taking him in her arms, and walked back to the kitchen table.

"Too loud for you sweetheart, eh?" Sympathetically smiled Margaret as Charles nodded his head. She kissed his forehead, putting a few hairs out of his face. "Sorry. Your uncles and I are sorry, aren't we? Finn, Arthur?"

The two quickly nodded their heads, "Yes. That's right. We're sorry, Charlie."

"Dada said this a beauty spot." He murmured laying a finger on Mag's neck and showed it to his uncles. "What's a beauty spot?"

Margaret cleared her throat, "Well, it means this part of your body is pretty. I think?" Stated the woman as she eyed the two men behind little Charles, both shrugging. "Arthur, you're a dad. You could give me a hand here, don't you think?"

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head, "Sorry, Mags. Little Billy doesn't ask these types of things yet."

"Finn. . ." Mumbled the woman, darting her eyes towards him as he stared at her. ". . . do not ever trust your brothers with ye kids."

Margaret held Charles in her arms as she went to the living room and put him down on the floor, she handed him a few tows as he started playing with it.  Maggie tilted her head to the side, a smile graced her features as she felt love for the little boy who wasn't even hers.  At this right moment, she wished for a family— someone to call hers, a little her running in the house— she wanted it. Maybe she could have it, one day.  Thomas, Arthur, John had kids and wives meaning Margaret could have all of this one day.

Finn and Arthur shared a look as their eyes settled on Margaret kissing Tommy's son's head. Both knowing how much she cared for them and not only Charlie, she loved them both and would do everything for this family who was hers too in a way. 

An hour later or so, the Shelby brothers had already left the house leaving her on her own with Charles. All of a sudden, the door swung open, revealing Tommy with a cigarette not even lighted.  He walked over to the fireplace and sat down on a love chair, his blue eyes never leaving his son.

"Tommy?" Margaret's soft voice echoed through his ears, but he wasn't able to tear out his eyes from his boy. The brunette grabbed a lighter and circled the cigarette with her hand before lighting it, Tommy looked up and deeply inhaled.

He gulped, "I killed three men today. Head-butted a policeman." He admitted, and he seemed— even sounded scared she might look at him differently instead a sweet laugh left her lips. "What's so funny?"

"Do you remember the first time we ran from the coppers?" Asked Margaret as she watched Charles too. "We were young, innocent, a little too stupid." Commented the woman. "When you became OBE, I didn't think they'd be a next time. What are you going to tell Arthur?"

"The truth."

——————————

The whole family sat around the table, Maggie included as Arthur grabbed a blue vial and put the snow on the table before sniffing it.  He looked up at his brother with an arched eyebrow.

"What the fuck happened today, Tom?" He asked. "After we left your house, we all heard. Shooting in Artillery Square."

Tommy nodded his head, "Yeah, there was. Today I killed three men." He confessed as everyone looked away or down, except for Arthur. "Now our enemies will have to wait."

Margaret listened as Polly explained what happened with Luca Changretta, and she could feel Arthur tense up as his brother admitted he knew they were coming for him.  Arthur was pissed.  Pissed his brother didn't bother ask for help and tried to take on Luca himself, without help.

"You are a fucking idiot, Tom." Stated the Eldest. "Margaret was at home, shit scared for ye life, and you just left her with your son not even knowing if you were going to make it home."

Thomas sighed, "Look, I didn't get Luca but I got three. All right? That's it. That's what happened."

Maggie gazed at Arthur, reaching for his hand across the table just like he did earlier and held it, "I'm all right, Arthur. Okay? We are all right."

Footsteps made Tommy turn his head as Charlie erupted from the corridor, and immediately went into his father's arms.

"Let's drink to him, eh?" Proposed Margaret as they all agreed with a laugh, and Finn started pouring drinks.

"Dad, you got three what?" Asked Charles with a cheeky smile on his face.

Tommy smiled gently, "I got three shillings for a two-shilling horse. Now, my boy, you come with us, eh?"

Charles shook his head telling his dad he was tired, so Thomas instead turned back and walked him to his bed.  Margaret later joined them as the Shelby man was sitting on the edge of the bed, reading a book to his half asleep son.

He smiled at Margaret and patted the bed next to him, motioning for her to come sit by his side. The brunette gently sighed as she reached him, the butterflies in her stomach forming again as his hand laid on her knee.

"Thank you for. . ."

Margaret cut him off, "You'll have to stop thanking me one day, Tommy. It makes me happy to take care of him."

Thomas hummed, "I know but. . ."

"It feels right." Kindly answered Maggie. "I always wondered how women could simply know what motherhood was as soon as their eyes landed on their child, now I know. Charles isn't me kid, but I care for him as much as you do."

Tommy rubbed his thumb on her knee, his lips forming a smile, "I know. I know." He stood up, holding his hand to Margaret so she could take it. "Come in the office, it'll be better to talk."

The two of them strolled to his office as he sat down, and invited her to do the same. They sat across each other, their knees slightly touching. A real, genuine smile displayed on Thomas' face as she realized she was still here. She hadn't left, or died— she was safe and in the office with him, smoking a cigarette.

Margaret noticed his look and beamed, "I don't hate you, you know." She told him, puffing the smoke away and soon a grey cloud was forming around them. "Do you hate me?" She timidly asked.

"Who ever said I hated you, eh?" He quizzed as she shrugged. "For a long time, I thought I did. I thought you were a ghost from me past coming back to haunt me, I was wrong."

Margaret's hands found the back of Tommy's neck as she gently scratched his scalp as he let out a sigh of relief, as if he had been waiting for this all day.  His blue eyes opened again just to find Maggie's, she stared at his features and a smile graced her face.

She slowly leaned toward him, unsure but ended up kissing his cheek. Her lips soft on his shaved skin, and his jaw clenched missing the feeling right away.  He followed her with his eyes, until she disappeared, he let out a long tired puff of air knowing it would be harder than this to have her trust back— if he ever had it.

Maggie carefully closed the door behind her, her forehead rested on the wood and she could hear Tommy clearing his throat— probably in frustration.  She discerned his heavy footsteps, and suddenly no more noises.  The house was back to this deadly silence and she quietly made her way to her bed, letting her back hit the mattress first and allowed herself to fall asleep.   

Wishing nothing more but to dream.  Dream of him.

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AUTHORS NOTE,
double update bc i won't be
updating for 2 weeks or so!!

i'm trying to write more for
my other books, so yeah <333

chapter dedicated to minzynari
bc she's basically the one HARASSING
me for chapters, and my number 1 fan <3
love you

thank you for the love 💖💕💓