𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼:
this life doesn't choose you.

BACK PAIN, TREMENDOUS NAUSEAS was nothing she hadn't experienced before, but she didn't want to experience them. . .  especially now. The time was crucial, and definitely wasn't a good time to be pregnant. Margaret and Tommy wanted kids again, Charlie was growing and so was Elliot—maybe they were just eager to have a full house with noise, and running children. Both didn't like silence, even though Thomas had grown quite attached to it after the War, and Maggie understood that. But there was nothing more enjoyable and warm than waking up to giggles, coos, and loud mama! daddy! around the house.

Margaret slipped out of bed, following the two voices of the little boys as she wandered through the house and reached the playroom. She warmly smiled at Mary, waving at her before kneeling to the ground next to Elliot and Charles.

"Hello, my boys." Sweetly muttered Maggie, cupping their faces and kissing their cheeks. "Had breakfast yet?"

Elliot vigorously nodded his head, "Yes. Mary made us some bacon and eggs."

Margaret gratefully smiled at Mary as she stood up, "Thank you, Mary. I know we don't say it enough."

The woman stopped her, "Please, it's my pleasure, Mrs.Shelby." She reassured with a smile. "Mr.Shelby told me he'd be back for lunchtime."

"Thank you." Repeated Margaret as the maid exited the room, leaving her with the two little boys.

A smile graced her features as she stared at the boys, sure Charlie wasn't entirely hers but it felt like it. Tommy had instantly approved of her as a kind of mother figure, and Charlie had loved her from the beginning. Then there was Elliot, he had blue eyes and brown hair, a mix between Thomas and her. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach as she wondered if she was really pregnant, would it be a boy? A girl? Would Tommy be happy? Or too busy with his business to even care? Sure, she wanted to keep it, she just didn't want to raise it on her own.

"Mama, can we go see the horses?" Asked Charlie as Margaret nodded her head as she took their hands and led them outside.

The air was slightly colder than usual yet the sky was blue and no clouds seemed to be around the Arrow House, Charles and Elliot's laughs echoed through the staples as they ran to the horses. Maybe loving horses so much was a family thing, Thomas loved them, Margaret did too, and now the boys. Reaching the staples, she noticed Tom's horse was gone so she knew he was around and would come home sooner or later.

"They're pretty, aren't they?" Said Maggie as they reached a white one. "Say hi, Elliot."

The little boy mumbled a few words as someone cleared their throat behind them, Maggie turned around, her eyes falling on her husband as he stood next to his own horse. Elliot let go of his mother's hand and jogged to his father, Tommy knelt down taking him instantly in his arms. Charlie did the opposite of his brother, instead, he glued himself to Mag's side as if he was afraid of his own father. Margaret reckoned he was still somehow mad at Tom for all the bad things he'd hear at school or around the kitchen.

"Go see the horses with Charlie, eh? I need to have a talk with Ma." He softly told Elliot, kissing his temple before putting him back down. "How are you?"

Margaret stepped closer to him, holding her coat closer to her body trying to find warmth in it, "Thought I'd find you in bed this morning."

"I know. Had to think." He confessed, puffing the smoke away as he handed one cigarette to his wife. "Looks like you need to smoke."

Chuckling, Margaret took the cigarette and placed it between her lips and covered it as Tom lighted it, "Thank you." The two watched their kids as they played around. "Remind me of when we were kids."

Tom let out a laugh, "We used to run around all the time."

"Right." Answered Margaret, hugging herself as the cold wind went through her hair. "What are you doing today?"

He let out a sigh, grimacing, "Gonna meet Arthur and Michael, then we'll see. Linda's supposed to come over."

"Right."

Silence reigned upon them again as Tom quietly walked his horse back to his box, Margaret watched him tilting her head as she wondered what was going on. He was silent, something he was when he thought too much or he had something was going in his head. Besides, he didn't talk to her anymore—sure, he wouldn't tell her much before but he wasn't as silent as he was today. Around one in the afternoon, he kissed her lips before starting the engine and leaving the Arrow house. A few minutes later, Linda with Billy appeared in the alley as they parked the car.

"Hello, Maggie." Smiled Linda, walking in the house as Billy waved shyly at his aunt. "Tommy isn't here?"

Shaking her head, she led them to the playroom where Charles and Elliot were, "Look, Billy, you can go play." Cooed Margaret as the little boy let go of his mum's hand and ran to his cousins. "No, Tommy is not here."

"Good." Muttered the blonde Shelby as they walked to the living room.

With a frown, she peered at Linda who seemed anxious. She could tell by how she was looking around, constantly gulping and holding her hat as if she was trying to find some relief in squeezing it. The two women sat down as Frances brought them cups of tea, Linda gave her a tiny smile thanking the maid as she walked away leaving them both alone.

"What's going on, Linda?" Queried Maggie.

No, she didn't like Linda that much, she thought she was forcing Arthur to be someone he wasn't, and also that she was trying to take him away from the Shelbys...even though, it had seemed to change this past few months. Well, ever since they made their way back to Birmingham. After all, Linda was a Shelby so she was family and Margaret cared about her family.

"You have to promise me, you won't talk about it with Thomas." Started the woman, quite nervous. Margaret reassured her she won't talk about it as she continued. "I met someone."

As soon as she heard those words, Margaret straightened, clearing her throat, "A friend? Linda, please tell me for God's sake it's a friend."

"It's a friend." She replied, unsure. "He's a recent widower and has a daughter." Added Linda.

Maggie rolled her eyes, "Who cares, Linda? What you're doing is dangerous." Stated the Shelby woman as the blonde simply licked her lips knowing she was right. "If you go on this path, the only widower I'll know is Arthur because he'll kill you."

"Come on, Maggie, haven't you ever thought of leaving Thomas?" Asked Linda with a dry chuckle.

As surprising as it sounded, she never did, "No."

"I don't want this life for Billy or me." Remarked Linda, both of her hands falling on her thighs. "I didn't want this life before and I certainly don't want it now."

Squinting her eyes, she cocked her head lightly as she stared at the Shelby woman. There were a few reasons why Margaret hated Arthur's wife, Linda Shelby always had the tendency to talk to people as if she was sitting on a throne, her words sounded posh, and she was absolutely the worst when she wanted to.

"Linda, this life doesn't choose you, you choose her." Spoke the brunette, crossing her legs together. "I chose this life because I love Tom, this was a choice."

With a scoff, the woman shook her head, "You don't get to choose this life, Margaret. Who would?"

"You did." Recalled Maggie. "I did. Divorce isn't something I want. Now, why would you want to do it?"

"He's not a good man, not anymore. This business and his own brother fucked him up." Admitted Linda, finally revealing how she felt towards him. "He drinks, does drugs, he won't stop."

Clearing her throat, Margaret leaned closer to Linda, "Darling, Arthur has been like this for a long time. You knew what you were getting into when you married him." Told the woman, biting the inside of her cheek. "But. . . I know someone who knows who to meet."

"Thank you." Whispered Linda, giving her a sad smile.

Margaret knew there were no ways out of divorcing a Shelby, only because the last name brought fear to every attorney who would dare trying.

————————————

AUTHORS NOTE, i feel like this is the start of their downfall...😜😜😜😜

how's everyone, though? i'm personally great, i'm on school break so it's cool and i spend my time reading, love it 😩

would any of you be interested in a remus lupin fic? it starts in the marauders era!!!