𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒

The weeks were passing quickly and Madeline was getting closer to having her child. Nothing was ever mentioned about hers and Tommy's conversation in the office that one time. Although funnily enough John seemed to be working the same amount if not more.

Obviously, it infuriated Madeline but she didn't feel like seeing Tommy over the matter again. He'd only make things worse. And the last thing she wanted was for him to accuse her of some sort of infidelity.

She sat in the Garrison beside him whilst he played what seemed to be a game of poker with Finn and Arthur.
"So it's as easy as that?" John asked, placing down a card.

"Easy as that, John boy." Arthur said happily with his arms resting on the back of the seat. "You wouldn't believe it— Finn stick your head in the bucket." He said. Young Finn furrowed his eyebrows together and shook his head with a scoff. "No."

"The women, John boy. The women." He said. He leaned in slightly, "i've got this one dancer, right— she can do things with her.." he looked at Finn who just looked between his two brothers.

Madeline played with her hands, completely fed up of Arthur's talk of women and the fact John was entertaining it.

"If Finn would just piss off I'd explain it a bit better." Arthur said. John nudged Finn and he pulled away. "If it's so good why're you here then?" Finn asked sternly.

"He misses us, Finn. That's what it is." John grabbed the back of Finn's neck as Micheal, Isiah and George strolled in.

Madeline ignored the chatter that began and sat with her arms across her chest angrily. John had hardly spoken a word to her the whole night. He was too engrossed in drinking and playing games.

"What, have you been scrapping?" Arthur questioned the boys.

This made her look up, her eyes landing on George and his bloodied lip and knuckles. "Some idiot at the Marquis of Lorne tried to stop us from drinking but it's alright— we fought them off. Arthur, we had to stand our ground and we did." Micheal explained.

Arthur buttoned up his suit jacket and grinned. "The Marquis, eh?" The three brothers stood in unison but they were quick to shove Finn back down into his seat. "Where's your dad?"

"Preaching." Isiah said.

"Don't nick any of my chips, Finn." John pointed. "Where are you going?" Madeline and Micheal asked at the same time. "We won't be long." Arthur grumbled.

"Where are they going?" Micheal turned to Isiah. "Marquis of Lorne. It's a shame— it was a nice pub." He said shamefully.

Madeline glanced at Finn and felt her mood falter further. "I'm going." She said and abruptly stood to her feet. George hesitantly stood too. "Let me walk you. Wherever you're going. It's dark out and I know John won't appreciate us leaving you to walk by yourself." He said, his dark eyes searching hers.

She swallowed hard and nodded in acceptance. George nodded to his friends once and followed her outside. "What's bothering you?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I won't trouble you with my doubts, George." She refused. George smiled slightly. "I've known you since we were kids, Lina. You can tell me anything." He assured her.

She watched her feet as she walked which was nearly impossible due to the baby bump. "How did the fight happen?" She avoided his question. George shrugged. "Racial comment toward Isiah. Some scouser from Liverpool." He said. "Said we couldn't drink in the pub so.." George shrugged.

Maddie hummed and looked up at the stars. They were all out. She loved the stars. They were so peaceful yet so beautiful.

She led him toward the house where she planned to stay up for a while before going to sleep. George stopped outside the door and Madeline stepped inside. "You can come in. Katie is over at Polly's. You need that cleaned up or it'll get infected." She referred to the cut on his face.

He, with no hesitation, stepped into the house. "I never would've imagined you'd be married— let alone to a Peaky Blinder." He said.

She huffed. "Well I didn't really have a choice."

"You'd always go on about how you thought men were useless." He reminded her. "Said you could get on just fine by yourself." George watched her. She shrugged. "Well.. i'm here now and i couldn't be happier I suppose." She said wearily.

"What's bothering you, Lina?" He asked again.

Madeline leaned against the wall and met his eyes as he sat at the table. "It's fine, honestly." She said. She began to gather something to clean his cuts. "Lina." He warned. She wet a cloth and pulled a chair in front of him. "John's hardly home anymore. Always working on Tommy's behalf."

"Have you spoken to him about it?"

"Who, Tommy? I spoke to him a few weeks back and he just kept John away more." She explained, holding George's chin between her fingers and gently wiping his bloodied lip.

"No, have you spoke to John?" He corrected.

She pursed her lips together. "No. Not had the chance to. He wakes up, gives me a kiss goodbye, sometimes talks to Katie if he has time, then he will go to the betting den and he'll be out for hours, come home and i'll already be asleep. And the times i'm not asleep, I pretend I am."

"Why?"

"Because—" she paused. She didn't know why. "Because I don't have the energy to greet him. I'm just afraid, George. I'm scared that when this baby comes he won't have a single minute for either of us." She said.

George tutted and grabbed her wrist, stopping her from wiping his face again. "Did I hurt you?" Madeline frowned. He shook his head. "You've got more than one place to turn to for support, Maddie. I'm sure Ada and Polly would help you if you needed." He said. Madeline just stared at him. "And i'm never doing much so— all you have to do is call."

"Thank you, George. It means a lot." She muttered, gently beginning to wipe his face again.

George couldn't help but watch as she concentrated. She could feel his eyes burning into hers but couldn't bring herself to look at him. But she did. They locked eyes and her hand stayed in place. Madeline's breath hitched and she didn't move. George gently moved her hand away from his face and his fingers brushed her skin for a second.

Madeline was quick to snap out of it and push her chair away. "Sorry." She apologised, blinking hard and leaving the cloth on the counter.

"I should get going." George sensed her shift in mood and pushed his chair back under. "Goodnight, Lina. You'll be fine." He gave her a nod and left the house.

She placed her head in her hands and sighed. Tears burned her eyes and it was only seconds before a sob left her mouth. Madeline shook her head and covered her mouth as if she was trying to quieten the sobs even though nobody was in the house to hear her.

Madeline felt like she was grieving someone who wasn't even dead. And it hurt. It hurt so badly.

She just wanted her husband back. She wanted her John back.

The door opened and she turned away from it, two hands on the counter as she sniffed. "Mads, you here?" John's  voice sounded. She wiped underneath her eyes and turned to him. "Yeah." She responded.

John put his jacket on the hook and his hat on the table. "When did you come home?" He asked.

Madeline blinked hard to stop tears forming. "Just after you left." She said. John hummed and leaned against the wall. There was an awkward silence. "Have you been crying?" He shifted his weight from one foot to another and his expression changed.

Maddie looked at him and said nothing.

"Mads?"

"I'm scared, John." She admitted. If the Madeline from before she married John could see her right now, she'd laugh and point. John went straight toward her and placed his hands on her arms. "Why?" He asked.

"You're never here anymore." She blurted out. His face dropped and his heart sank. She was right. "Maddie— I'm sorry." John said quietly. Maddie shook her head. "But will you make a change?" She asked. "You can apologise but it doesn't count if you don't do something about it."

John had doubt in his eyes and he took a deep breath. "Listen— it's Tommy. There's shit going on that we need to sort.. you know with the expansion and stuff." He said.

"But i'm your wife!" Madeline said with sad eyes. "I'm your wife." She pressed her finger into his chest. "And I could have this baby any day now." She said. John bit down on his tongue. "I spoke to Thomas a while ago about how I felt. And he just made you work more!" There was a slight anger in her voice.

John shook his head. "I'll fucking kill him." He said. "Why didn't you speak to me Mads?"

"Because you were never here!" She spoke up. John held her chin between his finger and thumb. "I see more of George than I see of you." Madeline said. John let out a breath. "I'll fix this all." John nodded. Madeline wanted to believe him so bad. "I promise."

"If you break this promise, John—"

"I won't." He cut her off. "I swear." He nodded. John slowly moved his hand down her arm and to her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "I'll do what I can."

Madeline nodded and leaned her forehead on his. "I just want my husband back."

John's heart sank. "You've got me. I never left." He tried to assure her. Madeline hooked her arms around the back of his neck and pulled him down to hug her. John leaned his head on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her waist loosely.

"Tommy threatened me.." she whispered. John pulled back. "What?" He asked through gritted teeth. She realised it sounded a lot worse than it was. "Not physically.." she said. "He implied that he was going to make up some story that i'd slept with him."

"And did you?" John tilted his head.

Her mouth fell open. "You cannot be seriously asking me that question."

He didn't say anything. He was seriously asking her that question. Madeline scoffed and shoved away from him.

"Well, did you?!" John called out to her. She shook her head and stormed off. "Madeline!"

"Fuck off John." She shouted through anger. John ran a hand through his hair and followed her. She slammed the bedroom door in his face and he aggressively pushed it back open. "Go away!" She snapped.

John grabbed her wrists and forced her against the wall. "It was a question. Answer it."

Madeline got in his face. "I did not fucking sleep with Thomas fucking Shelby." She hissed at him. John loosened his grip. She grabbed his face with one hand, squeezing his cheeks together. "But if you ever fucking think that for one moment i'd go near that man—" Madeline stared at him with complete and utter anger. "You've got another thing coming." She said, shoving his face away harshly and moving around him.

John bit the inside of his cheek and kept his eyes on the wall where she had previously been stood. He was shocked to say the least. He'd never seen her act like that.. ever. Not toward him anyway.

And, oh, if Madeline from before she married John could've seen her then... she'd be smiling proudly that her girl was still the same as ever.

Madeline did not need a man.