𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
-𝟎𝟎𝟖-
𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟗

The dark haired girl made her way down the stairs and heard the chatter between Polly and Tommy. Pausing, Valerie stopped at the slightly open door to listen.

"Did you speak to her?" Tommy asked plainly. Polly walked around the room, her heels making noise as she did so. "She didn't speak back." Polly said sternly.

Tommy looked around for a moment, wanting to roll his eyes. "Well did you tell her?"

"I'll only tell her what I know to be true." She fired back.

"This is the last time i'm going to say this.. It wasn't me who shopped Freddie Thorne." He said with clear agitation in his voice. Polly turned around. "Tommy, i'd ask you to swear on the bible but you can't swear on that, can you? Nothing you hold is sacred." She then stormed out.

Valerie slowly pushed the door open and offered him a friendly smile. "She doesn't sound too happy," she observed. She walked to the cupboard and carefully took a plate from it to begin making breakfast.

"Well, nobody in this family seems to believe a word I say." He said angrily, pinching the bridge of his nose.

She listened and thought for a second. "I believe you." She said half-truthfully. Tommy almost gasped. "You do?" He asked. She nodded once. "You're a bad man but I don't believe you're that cruel." Valerie said.

"At least somebody believes me, eh?" Tommy let out a pathetic chuckle.

"If i'm going to marry you I should be able to trust you, no?" She asked whilst taking a bite of toast. Tommy looked to her and raised an eyebrow. His eyes discreetly traveled to her stomach but he couldn't see any sign of a baby bump underneath her clothes.

"Are you working today?" He took a breath whilst shrugging his jacket on. She shook her head. "Polly told me to have the day off," She explained.

"Did she now?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

Valerie nodded. "This wedding then.. do you have any sort of idea as to what is going to happen?"

"When I have the plans sorted, you'll be the first to know." He nodded to her, taking his hat off the table and pulling it onto his head.

"And when do we tell the rest of your family?"

"Tonight." He pointed at her. And then he slammed the door behind him.

Valerie sighed and continued eating. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know how John would react to the whole thing. His older brother was going to marry the girl he claimed to be in love with. The girl that was carrying his child — the child he didn't even know about.

-

There was major tension in the air as the Shelby family stood around the table that their father sat at. Their father that had abandoned them ten years prior. Polly stared at the man with cold eyes and John couldn't even look at him.

Valerie walked through, placing a glass of water in front of him like he had asked.

"Thank you, dear girl." He said plainly. He hadn't cared to ask who she was. For all he knew, Valerie was just another one of his children who he had been too drunk to look after.

"Bless the father for these bounties we are about to receive," He began.

"Jesus Christ," Polly groaned, looking away. Valerie stood awkwardly by the door and kept her head down. "Please, woman. Not in vain." He said.

"Finish your sandwich and sling your hook." Polly demanded.

"Pollyanna. I'm a guest of the head of this family so why don't you tend to your mangle or scuttle." He asked.

"The head of the family ain't here." John cut in lowly.

"Tommy — he sometimes helps me with business, dad." Arthur said whilst sounding embarrassed. The door opened and closed and Tommy appeared behind Valerie.

"Ey, well, speak of the devil." Arthur Senior stood. "How are you son?"

"Get out." Tommy said through gritted teeth. Valerie looked up, now confused.
"Come on, son. I'm a changed man!" Arthur Senior offered. Tommy glared at him. "This family needed you ten years ago and you walked out on us. Not now. Get out of this house."

"Tommy, he's different.."

"Shut up." Tommy hissed.

"It's alright, son. Arthur Shelby never stays where he's not welcome." He grabbed his coat and took one last look at Tommy. "Quite something you've become," he said. "Goodbye son.." He ruffled the youngest Shelby's hair on his way out.

John was quick to pull a curious Finn back by his shoulder when he peeked around the door.

"He's our dad." Arthur said quietly.

"I should go.. I feel I have no business being involved in this stuff." Valerie spoke up. Tommy stopped her. "Stay." He instructed. "You'll be in family meetings soon enough."

John furrowed his brows together and looked to Polly who didn't say anything.

"He's a selfish bastard." Tommy continued to Arthur. "You calling someone a selfish bastard? That's a bit rich, Tommy. I mean, thanks to you, we're already down a bloody sister." Arthur reminded him.

"You want to see him, Arthur? You want to see him?" He pointed, "you go with him."

Arthur took one look at the door and pushed away from the table, giving Tommy a harsh look before storming out and slamming the door.

John was still dwelling on the comment about Valerie being in family meetings.

"Tom," he began, "what d'ya mean she'll be in family meetings?" He asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. Tommy shook his head. "Don't worry 'bout it." Tommy dismissed.

Valerie crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

"Family meeting tonight at eight," Tommy sighed, walking past John to leave the house. Valerie took a deep breath after holding one for a long while. "I'll clean up," she whispered, wanting nothing but to get out of the awkward situation she had been placed in.

She could feel John's eyes on her as she took the plate and glass to take into the kitchen and wash up.

"Shouldn't you be with your wife?" Polly asked. John shrugged. "Dunno." He answered truthfully. "Now what does Tommy fucking mean, Pol?" He asked. John quickly looked to Valerie but only for a mere moment.

"He'll tell you in the bloody meeting." Polly snapped at him. "Now stop being such a bloody pest!"

John grimaced slightly and shook his head, swiping his cap from the table and storming out.

"They have no clue do they?" Polly huffed. Valerie had a pit of doubt in her stomach. "Is this all just a bad idea? I don't want to be creating problems.." She said sheepishly.

"Please - John created the problem when he got you pregnant." Polly said.

-

Valerie waited patiently in the snug whilst Tommy spoke to Grace outside. It was just herself and Arthur who was sat fuming in his chair after the events from earlier that day.

John stumbled in and his eyes automatically landed on Valerie. His heart sank slightly and he composed himself, leaning against the wall. "Where's Tommy?"

"Here." Tommy appeared. He walked in with Polly close behind him and she closed the door over. Tommy sighed. "I've called the meeting 'cause there's something i'd like to tell you all." He began.

Valerie chewed down on her bottom lip and crossed her arm over her stomach.

"Me and Valerie are to be married before the month is out." He said. John's mouth parted. "You what?" He asked. Valerie began feeling guilty. John looked between Valerie and his older brother and refused to believe what he had said was true.

"Why, you haven't gotten her pregnant have you?" Arthur joked, a light laugh escaping his lips.

But Tommy's lack of response kind of confirmed the accusation. The accusation that Valerie was pregnant even though it wasn't by him.

Arthur's smile dropped and his laugh faded. "Bloody hell, Tom! You have ain't you? Well congratulations!" Arthur exclaimed. John's chest heaved up and down and his eyes burned.

Valerie hesitantly looked up at John and the moment she saw the look on his face, she wanted to hug him and tell him how it was all a lie and that she loved him and only him.

"Congratulations.." he sniffed, shoving past Polly to open the door and leave.

Without thinking, Valerie got up and followed after him. Tommy bit the inside of his cheek and looked down. "John!" She said, close enough for him to hear. "John please wait." She begged.

John exited the Garrison and walked around the corner. "John.." She continued.

He spun around to face her and looked down at her. "My brother, Valerie? Really?" He asked. She couldn't find the words to speak. "You told me nothing was going on between you both and now you're having his fucking kid?" John raised his voice, tapping the side of his head.

Valerie shook her head slowly and tried to take his hand. "Please, John." She whispered when he ripped his hand away.

"How long?" He asked. "How long have you been fucking him?"

"John," Valerie warned. John pointed a finger at her. "How fucking long?" He asked again. She tried to think of something. "Not long after you told me about your wedding.." She lied.

John grabbed her chin aggressively. "Do you love him?"

Valerie looked into his eyes with panic. "John that hurts," she said truthfully. He didn't let go. "Do you love him?" John asked again. She said nothing. "Do you love my fucking brother?" John shouted, making her jump.

She winced and closed her eyes to push back and tears. "You're hurting me." She said sheepishly.

John let go and ran a hand through his hair, pacing slightly. "We could've been together again, Val. We could've given it a few months and we could've been back with each other." He hissed.

"It'd never work." Valerie refused. "You're married."

"Yeah— and she'll never fucking be you, Valerie!" John shouted again, tears threatening to fall. "She'll never be you. Not even close. Do you know what you're getting yourself into if you marry him? He'll never love you. Not like I do."

Valerie really didn't know what to say.

"He always seems to get what I want." John croaked. "Did you know he is the reason me and Lizzie didn't marry?" He asked. She gently shook her head. "We didn't marry because she was still fucking him on the side. And now he's taking you from me."

"I was never yours John." She said. Valerie knew that was not true. Not in the slightest — she'd do anything to be back with him.

"Don't say that." John shook his head. "We had something good." He added.

She could feel the lump in her throat. Valerie was tired of crying about it all. So tired. If she couldn't have him, she needed to find a way to let go of him. Which would be virtually impossible as she was marrying into the family.

"When did he ask you to marry him?" He asked, walking back to her. "The day you and Esme married." She said with her arms across her stomach. "Tell me the truth, Valerie, do you love him?" He placed two hands on her shoulders.

Valerie stared at him intently. "Of course I fucking don't." She leaned forward, whispering. Her breath was hot against his skin and it gave him goosebumps. "How could I love the man that took you away from me? The man that stopped me from being with you?"

For a mere moment, John had a doubt that the baby was in fact Tommy's but instead his. But that was a stupid idea. Right?

John nodded slowly. "From now on, you'll experience nothing but pain. You know that don't you? Marrying Tommy won't bring you any joy. Because he'll still fuck prostitutes whilst you're alone in bed."

And with that John walked away, leaving her alone in the dark. She didn't know what to do — what to say. Her and John were officially done. He was married, she was to be married. And he was to have a kid that he didn't even know about.

©-shelbysecret-

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Authors Note:

-The next chapter will have a time skip so it seems realistic that Valerie has the baby
-I will not be writing a chapter on Valerie and Tommy's wedding unless enough people want it.
-The time skip will be around 6ish months so the baby will be born early.
-It will take place before they defeat Billy Kimber

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