Florence had regretted walking away from Tommy like that, not because she agreed with him, but by the time she had found herself a Peaky Blinder to drive her to Margaret's house in Warwickshire, her feet were sore and the evening was drawing in. Tommy's words tormented her and she did wonder if she should just leave and go back to London, it would make Elijah content, at least. She just needed things to be as they were, but she struggled, she struggled with the idea of cutting ties with home again.

By the time she arrived at Harrington House it was dark, she stepped out of the car, telling the driver that she would be as quick as possible before walking up the long drive towards Margaret's house.

She approached the front door, knocking against the wood, which was quickly opened by the housekeeper who had been working for the family since Elijah and George were young.

"Evening, Mrs Harrington, do come in," She smiled, stepping to the side as she held the door open.

"I hope the children haven't been too much trouble," Florence replied with a smile.

"They've been angels as always, ma'am," Hilda assured her.

"Thank you, and please, call me Florence," She replied, "Are they in the drawing room?"

"Yes," Hilda nodded, "Margaret and your friend are in there with them."

"My friend?" Florence remarked, wondering if perhaps Tommy had paid a visit to taunt her further.

"The tailor from London," Hilda answered, "Well, he says he knows you from London."

She didn't know any tailors.

"Is George in?" Florence asked and she really hoped that Hilda would say yes.

"He's out at the pub with Lizzie."

"Thank you, Hilda," Florence smiled, feeling her heart begin to race, "Why don't you finish your shift early tonight, join the rest of the staff downstairs?"

"Thank you, ma'am," Hilda nodded before disappearing down a corridor as Florence hurried down the opposite hallway towards the drawing room, following the sound of children's screams.

Screams of laughter.

As she opened the door she saw her two children playing with a dollhouse and train-set that she had never seen before. She looked across the room at Margaret and what came next horrified her.

The tailor from London, or rather, Luca Changretta.

"Florence, how lovely it is to see you!" Margaret exclaimed as she laid eyes on her daughter in law who was staring at her own father, "Your friend here, Mr Coppola, was telling me that he knows you from London, said he was in the area and this was the only address he had for you."

"Could you take the children upstairs, please, Margaret?" Florence asked calmly as she kept her eyes on Luca, regretting that she had left her bag with her gun in it in the car.

"They're quite happy playing with their new toys, Florence," Margaret remarked.

"Margaret, take the children upstairs." Florence replied with a firmer tone.

"Oliver, Daisy, come on," Margaret smiled at the children with a hushed voice, "Mummy will see us upstairs soon."

"Bye bye, Mummy," Daisy smiled at her mother as Margaret led the two children out of the room and Florence closed the door behind them.

"You've got some fucking nerve." Florence muttered with resentment lacing every word.

"I just wanted to meet my grandchildren, so I bought presents." Luca gestured to the new toys on the carpet.

"They don't need your gifts," Florence told him, "Their father is the owner of the biggest fucking brewery in the country, they only have to ask for something and they get it."

"Daisy smiles just like your mother," Luca replied as he stood up from the sofa, "But she also has that mischievous Shelby glimmer in her eyes."

"You know nothing about my mother, and you know even less about my children," Florence warned him.

"But I do, I know that Daisy likes to dance, she likes to paint, her favourite colour is purple, she asked for a dog for Christmas," Luca told her, "I know that Oliver likes trains, he's scared of the dark, he loves roast chicken."

"You need to leave, Tommy is on his way," She warned, hoping he'd believe her.

"No he's not, you wouldn't have told me if that were the truth," Luca smirked, "You see how easy it was for me to reach your children, maybe they'd like to join their grandfather in America once this is over."

"You wouldn't dare, you know what Tommy would do if you tried anything." Florence reminded him.

"Well, it'll be pretty impossible for him to come for them once I've put a bullet through his head," Luca taunted her, because he knew that he could, he knew what angered her, what she cared about.

"You're lucky I'm not armed," Florence warned, "Because I wouldn't hesitate, sacred blood or not."

"I'm not sure that mother in law of yours would appreciate that, blood all over her lovely walls," Luca muttered as he began to stroll around the room, "She's a very overbearing lady, I bet your mother couldn't stand her."

"Stop acting as though this is normal and leave while you still can," Florence replied, ignoring the mention of her mother.

"You won't kill me." Luca smirked.

"You want to bet on that?" Florence raised her eyebrows.

"If you kill me, there are men waiting in the car down the way who will take your children back to America to be raised by their family and you will never see them again," Luca warned her.

"Why are you here then?" Florence remarked.

"I told you, to see my grandchildren," Luca replied, "I was quite surprised to see that Daisy didn't inherit her father's eyes."

"The Dawson genes are strong." Florence remained strong.

"Have you not wondered to yourself how I knew that Daisy is a Shelby?" Luca remarked, "I still have a lot of connections to this city, and my mother, your grandmother, had a lot to tell me about those wretched Shelbys."

"I wouldn't know, I've never met the woman." Florence sighed.

"See, my mother told me a lot about that family," Luca paced back towards the window, looking out into the darkness, "But there were certain things that only someone on the inside could tell me," He continued, turning to face her again, "Who'd you think that was?"

Florence stayed silent as her mind wandered with fear, overthinking every conversation she had ever had about her daughter's paternity.

"I suggest you use your imagination." Luca smirked again as he slowly approached his daughter.

"Did your husband seem surprised when you told him who Daisy's father is?" Luca asked as Florence looked up at him, her hands trembling as she feared the revelation the man before her was making, "Or is he a better actor than I imagined?"

"You need to leave," Florence muttered, clenching her fists as blood pumped through her veins with fury, "Now."

"I just wanted to make my daughter aware of what the man she married is truly capable of," Luca smiled, "Just as any good father would."

"Get out." Florence told him again, opening the drawing room door.

"Always a pleasure," He nodded as she followed him down the hallway towards the front door with the intention of making sure that he was gone.

She opened the front door and held it open for him as he slipped out.

"You make sure to give those children a good night kiss on the head from their Nonno Luca," He smiled at her as she closed the door without a word, locking the door and resting her back against it in fear and anger as her heart raced.

She ran towards the phone on the sideboard, calling through to Watery Lane, hoping that Arthur or even Tommy would answer.

"Hello?" She heard Isiah answer.

"It's Florence, is Tommy or Arthur there?" She asked, panic obvious in her voice.

"No, they're not, is everything alright?" He replied.

"He was here, Luca fucking Changretta was in my mother in law's house with my grandchildren, with Tommy's daughter." Florence told the young man.

"Are they alright? Are you alright?" Isiah asked.

"We're fine," Florence assured him, "But he'll be leaving now, on his way to God knows where, and he could come back, he threatened to take the children."

"Finn and I will round up some soldiers, Florence," Isiah told her, "We'll handle it."

"Thank you, and if you see my husband, don't tell him about this." Florence replied as she put the phone down before hurrying upstairs in search of Margaret and her children.

She made her way into the first guest room, laying eyes on Margaret and her two children, rushing towards them both and wrapping her arms around her children, kissing the tops of their heads as she clung to them.

"Are you okay, Mummy?" Daisy asked, "You're shaking."

"I'm fine, sweet girl," Florence assured her, "You two try and get some sleep now, I just need to talk to Grandma outside, okay?"

"Alright," The children smiled as they lay down in the large bed while the two women made their way out of the room, Florence softly pulling the door closed.

"Have you got a death wish, Margaret?" Florence asked as the two women stood in the hallway.

"Excuse me?"

"That man who was sitting in your drawing room, he's not a tailor, he's part of the fucking mafia, he is my father and he has a vendetta against the Shelbys," Florence hissed.

"I had no idea-"

"But George told you that we're all at risk, he warned you to be vigilant, I know he did, and yet you allowed a stranger into your house," Florence replied, "The stranger who would kill you to get his way if he really had to."

"He seemed normal." Margaret replied.

"They all do, they get into your head and they make you think you're the crazy one," Florence told her, "There are Peaky Blinders on their way, they'll take me and the children back to Small Heath, that's where we're safest."

"What about me?"

"It's up to you whether you tell George what happened here tonight, but I will tell my husband, because I am sick and tired of where lying has got us," Florence sighed, unsure what to make of the revelation that Elijah had fed information to the mafia, for all she knew that could've been another Changretta lie.

After some time, Isiah, Finn and other Peaky Blinders arrived at the house. Isiah waited in the driver's seat while Finn helped Florence get the children into the car, carrying a sleeping Daisy in his arms while Florence carried Oliver. They then drove back to Small Heath in the dark while the other Blinders stayed on watch at Harrington House. Florence might not have liked her mother in law, but she wasn't going to see her become another casualty of the war that raged on.

The car pulled up onto Watery Lane and Finn and Isiah were quick to jump out of the front seats, Finn carrying Daisy again while Florence carried Oliver, Isiah carrying the bags.

Florence unlocked the door to see Vinnie and Elijah sitting in the living room, neither of them making much conversation as they turned to look at her.

Without a word Florence carried Oliver upstairs, Finn close behind as he carried a sleepy Daisy, following Florence into the children's bedroom before they placed the children in the bed, Florence tucking them under the covers.

Quietly, they slipped out of the room, Florence pulled the door shut, looking up at Finn, "Thank you."

"It's alright," Finn assured her as they lingered on the landing, "Like I said when I was a kid, I'll always look after Daisy, and I suppose I'm her uncle too."

"You're a good man, Finn," Florence whispered with a smile, hoping to avoid the inevitable painful conversation with Elijah, "Don't you forget that."

"I won't," Finn nodded, "Do you want me to find Tommy, tell him what happened?"

"It'll keep till the morning," Florence sighed, "But if you happen to see him before then, don't lie, you can tell him the truth."

"Alright," Finn nodded before the pair made their way downstairs where Elijah, Vinnie and Isiah waited in silence.

"Vinnie, would you help the boys?" Florence asked her brother, needing a reason for him to leave her on her own with Elijah, "They'll tell you what needs to be done."

"Of course," Vinnie nodded, following the two young men out of the house, leaving Florence and Elijah alone in the living room.

"What happened?" Elijah asked as Florence made her way into the kitchen, opening a bottle of whiskey and pouring herself a glass, "The boys just said they brought you back here because you weren't safe up there, is Mum alright?"

"Your mother is fine," Florence sighed with her back to him, "It's you that I'm worried about."

"What?" Elijah frowned as Florence turned to face him.

"The reason the children and I came back with the boys is because my father, Luca Changretta was at your mother's house," Florence told him, "He didn't do anything out of order, he's a smart man, he bought them presents, and we had a very, very interesting conversation."

"Florence-"

"Would you like to tell me why you gave information about me and the children to the Mafia?" Florence asked, "Or would you rather I guess?"

"Florence, it's complicated." Elijah sighed.

"It's complicated?" Florence laughed humorlessly, "Would you like me to uncomplicate it? You knew all along that Tommy is Daisy's father, you gave that information to the Mafia, they used that information to bring us back here, and then they killed John, and it seems they've only just begun."

"With all due respect, the vendetta against the Peaky Blinders has nothing to do with me," Elijah told her.

"It does when Daisy's father is at the top of their kill list," Florence hissed, "You know how Tommy's mind works, you know that if they took Daisy he would do whatever it takes to get her back."

"There you go again," Elijah scoffed, "It all comes back to Tommy."

"How long have you known?" Florence asked.

"I think I've always known," Elijah sighed, "Before you and I, I could see it in the way you looked at him, the way he was fiercely protective of you, everyone knew that he would die or kill for you."

"So why didn't you say anything?" Florence asked, "It's been six years."

"I thought we'd finally got rid of him, he was out of your life, out of our life," Elijah replied, "But then it was about three years after your brother arrived, roughly the same time Grace died, and you changed again."

"It has nothing to do with that." Florence muttered.

"Why then?" Elijah asked, "Give me one good reason."

"I can't tell you," Florence answered, "For Vinnie."

"What do you mean?" Elijah frowned.

"It's Vinnie's story to tell, not mine," Florence replied, thinking of Vinnie's childhood, and the things the two siblings had done in an attempt to correct the past, "And if I tell you, then you'll have it on your conscience, and I can't do that to you."

"You're confusing me now, Florence," Elijah sighed.

"How did you meet Luca?" Florence asked.

"He found me in a hotel bar in New York, he knew who I was, my name, my job, the names of my parents, he asked me what I knew about Tommy Shelby." Elijah explained.

"And you must've thought you'd won the jackpot," Florence exhaled.

"Don't make it sound worse than it is," Elijah sighed.

"Why?" Florence hissed, conscious that the children were asleep upstairs, watching her husband as he stared back at her in silence, "Did you give Luca Changretta that information, knowing that it might risk Tommy's life?"

"I can't believe you still have so much time for him after everything that he put you through, all that pain that consumed you in our first year in London," Elijah replied.

"Answer the question," Florence replied as her hands trembled.

"Yes," Elijah answered, "I was aware of what could happen to him, and I don't care."

"Don't say that."

"But it's the truth," Elijah remarked, "It's always going to be me or him isn't it? I couldn't bear the thought of losing you to him."

"Did he tell you that he was my father? That I'd be safe?"

"No."

"So you took the risk of helping Luca Changretta get close to us?" Florence huffed, "He killed John, the man who you served beside in France, the boy you went to school with."

"Don't remind me."

"Why?" Florence quipped, "Is it too painful? Does it remind you of the people you wrongly put your trust in?"

"You're just like Tommy, ironically you became more like that man when we weren't living in the same city," Elijah muttered, "And I think you always will be."

"This is my life, Elijah, you know what Tommy is capable of," Florence replied, "He would kill you if he found out."

"So what'll you do?" Elijah asked.

"I won't tell him," Florence replied, "But we can't stay in this city."

"Yes, you can," Elijah assured her, because deep down he knew they weren't the same people, she had changed, but her heart had stayed the same, her heart continued to belong to the person he despised, "But I can't."

"What do you mean?" Florence muttered.

"I won't make you come with me, Florence," He sighed, "Not when the answer has been staring us both in the face since we got married."

"You're confusing me."

"Do you love me, Florence?" Elijah asked.

"You know I do." Florence replied.

"But you can't say it, can you?" Elijah muttered, "Because we're broken by design."

"What will you do?" Florence asked, unsure if she was willing to accept that this was the end of whatever they had left.

"I'll go back to London, and I'll be there when all this is over," Elijah told her, "You have to make a choice, Florence."

Florence wanted to fight for whatever they had left, but there were too many lies to consider. It wasn't just a pile of little lies, it was one massive lie that could have risked the safety of her and her children, not to mention the people she cared so deeply about. It wasn't just Tommy, it was all of the Shelbys that were at risk. She didn't dare to ask if Elijah had told the mafia more than what she knew, but it still hurt, because she knew that the Shelbys would never be family to him in the way they were to her.

Florence and Elijah said their goodbyes, he kissed the children on the head as they slept, before slipping out into the night with just a suitcase full of clothes and a briefcase containing various work documents. Both Florence and Elijah knew that the best way for him to get out of Birmingham and into London undetected and out of sight was by boat.

So there Elijah was, in Charlie's yard as Curly readied a boat in the darkness, preparing to help Elijah Harrington leave the city under the cover of night. He hadn't ever really wanted to be there, but he complied for Florence's sake, the way he did in most instances. He had always cared about her, and somewhere along the line that care turned to love, and that love grew until it wilted, because it takes two to tend a garden.

"Going somewhere?" He heard the familiar local accent over his shoulder.

Elijah turned around to see Tommy Shelby standing opposite him with his hands behind his back. Elijah wondered what the man knew, whether Florence had lied and told Tommy everything, but Florence would never put Elijah in danger that way, knowing what Tommy was truly capable of.

"I'm going back to London, there's work that needs doing," Elijah explained calmly.

"And you didn't think to wait for the next train?" Tommy remarked as he took a few steps closer towards Elijah, "Or wait till the morning and drive?"

"No."

"No?" Tommy laughed under his breath, "It's almost as if you wanted to leave the city without anyone knowing," He looked up at Elijah, wondering if the information shared with him was true, "But you see, there's not much I don't know about things that happen in this city."

"What do you mean?" Elijah frowned, attempting to play the situation off as innocence.

"You really ought to keep your doors locked at night, Elijah, especially amidst a vendetta, you never know who could get into your house," Tommy sighed, "Or who could be listening."

"What?"

"I have eyes and ears everywhere, Elijah," Tommy muttered, "And those eyes and ears, they have mouths too."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your brother in law was concerned for his sister when she told him to leave the house, so rather than joining Finn and Isiah he made his way round to the back of the house, and he heard everything," Tommy told Elijah, "Can you guess what he did with that information?"

Elijah remained silent, his hands trembling as the most feared man of Birmingham stood opposite him. He knew that he was backed into a corner with no way out, like a mouse in a trap.

"if you help my enemy, well that makes you one of them, and I assume you know what happens to men who make an enemy out of me." Tommy explained to the Harrington man.

"Wouldn't you rather save your bullets for the Italians?" Elijah sighed, knowing how Peaky Blinders worked.

"I won't kill you."

"What?"

"Enough blood has been spilled over this city, and killing you will only hurt the one person we both care about," Tommy explained, forming a far cleaner and more satisfying plan in his mind, "So I will let you walk, but you are to leave Small Heath, to leave Birmingham, actually you can leave this godforsaken country behind, because if I lay eyes on you again, it could easily be the last time."

"Where do you expect me to go?" Elijah sighed.

"I don't know, and I don't really care, maybe if you ask Changretta nicely he'll give you a place to stay," Tommy suggested, "Where you end up really doesn't concern me."

"What's to stop me from staying in London?" Elijah remarked.

"Well, I know where you live," Tommy told him, "I've had Peaky Blinders watching your house and the club for the past five and a half years, and I know every person that has come and gone through those doors...Every person."

"This is all part of your plan, isn't it?" Elijah scoffed, "Get rid of me, and be there for Florence in her hour of need."

"I'm not that kind of man, Elijah," Tommy remarked, "If she wants to come to me that's up to her, I won't be the first to move, but I won't resist if she does."

"Why are you doing this?" Elijah sighed, "If I were anyone else you would've killed me by now."

"I know that the pain you'd feel when you leave Florence and the children behind will be of great satisfaction to me," Tommy replied, knowing from what Vinnie had relayed that the plan for Elijah to flee was also acknowledged by Florence, "But to put a bullet through your heart and see the look on Florence's face when I tell her, that's not something I could bare to see."

"Right."

"Don't be mistaken," Tommy warned, "If anything happens to my daughter, I'll find you, and you'll wish I just put a bullet in your head."

"They're going to kill you all, this town will be a sea of Shelby blood once the Changrettas are done with you," Elijah told him, "And when you're dead, Florence will see sense, and she'll return to London with the children."

"You think it's that simple?" Tommy quipped as Curly pulled up alongside them in the boat.

"I do."

"Well then, don't let me keep you, it's a long way to wherever you're going," Tommy sighed.

"You won't win this war, Tommy Shelby," Elijah replied as he stepped onto the boat.

"I'd rather die trying than die a coward," Tommy hummed.

"She won't love you anymore for this," Elijah replied as he stood on the boat.

"But she'll love you less."

author's note: i bet you weren't expecting that! so it was quite inevitable to me that for this fic to return to its roots of being a tommy shelby fanfiction, elijah would need to be gone (because florence wouldn't cheat) and I didn't think she'd turn to tommy if elijah wound up dead, so honestly, this felt like like the best way to carry the narrative.

here are a few hints of moments that hinted at elijah's betrayal:
• he was in new york on business where the changrettas are based, luca changretta also arrived in england from new york
• he didn't confront tommy about daisy when florence told him the truth
• in the tiktok trailer: george says to elijah 'now you're on the wrong side of me, aren't you?'