CHAPTER 11

"Morning," Matilda chimed, smiling widely at Tommy and Arthur as she passed Arthur's office. The older men looked at each other, frowns on their face.

"Why're you so happy, eh?" Arthur asked, watching as she got straight to work. "Well, it's Christmas eve, Arthur!" She said happily, sending him another smile.

"So why're you fucking working?" He questioned.

"Ask ya brother," she said, flicking through the betting papers.

Arthur looked at Tommy, a disappointed expression on her face. "Really, Tom? Seventeen an working on Christmas eve, you're awful do ya know that?"

Tommy laughed at him, shaking his head. "Please, brother. I need her help with something, i'm not that cruel."

Arthur let out a breath, "if you say so."

The week before, after Tilly and Finn's..moment, Tommy had asked her to help him wrap presents. Because for whatever reason, Tommy Shelby didn't know how to do it himself.

"Right, who's present is who's," Matilda placed her hands on her hips. Tommy looked over the pile. "That's Finn's, Ada's..er. Think that's Johns. Oh, that's Polly then that's Arthur's."

Tilly laughed at him, picking up the roll of brown paper and starting to wrap them.

"You seem rather happy recently, Tilly."

"Like I said, it's Christmas eve," she said, not taking her eyes from the presents. "No, i mean in general," He said, watching as she effortlessly folded the paper around the edges.

"I've not got a clue what you're talking about," she sighed, moving the box to the other side of the table.

Both their heads turned to the two green doors as Finn and Isiah ran through them, Finn chasing after Isiah.

"Give me it back, Isiah!" Finn shouted, grabbing the boy by his shoulder and snatching the box from his hands. Isiah laughed loudly.

Both boys suddenly shut their mouths when they saw Tommy and Matilda stood staring. Finn placed his hands behind his back, wide eyed. Isiah cleared his throat.

"Tilly," he smiled.

"Isiah," she said, annoyed as she continued her wrapping. "What are you..er..doing?" he began talking. Matilda let out a frustrated sigh, holding the scissors up to him. "What the fuck does it look like, Isiah?" she hissed.

He looked down at the scissors and held his breath.

"All right, enough." Tommy scolded, pulling her arm back. "You two, fuck off. She's busy and I don't need you two fuckers distracting her."

Finn scoffed, shoving the box into his pocket. "Nice one Tom." He said, walking back through the doors.

Matilda remained helping Thomas for the remainder of that afternoon. She finally picked up her things, checking her time piece. 6.55.

"Oh, Tilly before you go, i have a question."

"Go on Tom, make it quick."

"You and Finn. What's going on?" He asked, a hand on the table. She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "Ask him yourself."

"Do you like my brother?"

"Of course I do, he's been my best friend since I was seven." She shook her head, shoving her arms through her coat. "Tilly, you know what I mean."

"Why're you asking anyway?"

"I need to know if i'm to arrange a Shelby wedding," he joked. Her face dropped. "I'm kidding."

Tilly shook her head again and waiting for him to continue talking.

"He like you ya know," he said. "I know, trust me Thomas."

"Then why aren't you his girlfriend?"

"So direct." She mocked, desperate to leave.

"Matilda. I'm only asking out of interest. Finn needs someone good, what if that someone is you, eh? Put him in line, help him out."

"I'm not understanding what you're saying."

"Doesn't matter, Merry Christmas." He nodded.

Tommy didn't have a specific reason for asking her the questions, he was just curious. He knew that Finn was in love with Tilly, he'd said it himself. Finn would end up in bits whenever he thought he'd upset her. All Tom wanted to know was if his brother was chasing after something he could never had. And as per usual, Tommy got his answer. Finn wasn't chasing after something he couldn't have. He already had her.

-

"Mum?" Tilly walked through the house, two present boxes in hand.

"In ere love," she called out.

Tilly placed her shoes beside the door and joined her mother in the living room. "One of these is off Polly, other is off me." Tilly sighed, placing them under the nicely decorated tree.

"That's lovely," Janice nodded, a cup of tea in hand.

"You okay?" Matilda asked, taking a seat beside her. "I'm just fine, never better." Janice admitted, looking into the fire.

Janice had managed to remain sober, remain calm. Which gave Matilda a massive sense of relief and happiness. She was over the moon that she'd be able to spend Christmas with her mother for the first time in years.

-

"Merry Christmas," Janice stood at Matilda's door frame whilst she fixed her hair.

"Merry Christmas, mum." Tilly said happily, digging through her drawer of ribbons.

"It makes me laugh that you sit there as if you're making a life or death decision. That drawer is full of blue, nothing else." Janice joked, watching the small grin make its way to Tilly's face.

Once she'd finished getting ready, she excused herself for a while, making her way over to the Shelby house where Finn stood waiting outside.

Excitement filled her and she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, laughing loudly when he lifted her from the floor, spinning slowly.

"Put me down!"

He did and held her hands in his. "It's Christmas," he said as if he were a child.

"Yeah, it is." She chuckled, smiling when he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Right, i'm fucking freezing," he exclaimed, dragging her inside where the rest of his family were.

"Matilda," Polly said in a warm tone, standing and touching the girls face before pulling her into a hug. "Hello, Pol."

John stood in the corner with his arms crossed, his wife Esme at his side.

"Can we open presents then," Arthur clapped his hands together. Polly rolled her eyes and moved, allowing Finn and Tilly to sit down.

The presents got shared out and it took seconds for the room to become a mess, the paper that had once's been wrapped neatly around boxed now laying across the floor. The family exchanged thank you's and hugs. This was the first time she'd seen the family together, happy, in a long time.

Finally, Finn retrieved a small box from under the Christmas tree. He was nervous.

"It's not a lot, but i saw it and it reminded me of you." His voice was shaky as he handed her the box. She took it from his hands and opened it.

Another necklace. Except this time, it had a small blue sapphire on it. A warm feeling washed over her.

"Thank you," Tilly practically squealed, wrapping her arms around him. Finn leaned into her touch.

John and Arthur stood watching from the corner, pointed at the two.

"Told ya, didn't i fuckin tell you!" John whispered. "Yeah alright John boy," Arthur mumbled, begging for him to stop getting excited over the younger kids interaction.

"He loves her, swear" he added, earning a slap on the back of the head from his older brother.

"Told ya to fucking stop." Arthur repeated.

John lowered his head, trying not to laugh.

Multiple members of the family stole glanced at Finn and Matilda as they sat closely, exchanging words which placed wide smiles on each others faces.

Tilly read the card that he had shoved into her hand.

Merry Christmas to my Tilly.
-Love Finn.

He sat proudly as she read it. No mistakes, every work spelt correctly. Her eyes scanned the first few words again. My Tilly.

"You spelt everything right, Finn!" She looked up at him, noticing his proud smile. "Well done i'm proud of you," she praised.

I'm proud of you. Words he didn't hear often.

"Oh, that reminds me," she said, grabbing her coat and digging through the pockets. She finally pulled out a box similar to the one he'd given her.

His eyes widened when he revealed a gold time piece inside. He knew it would have been expensive, at least three weeks wages. It wasn't much but he loved it. He turned it over and looked at the words engraved on the back. Shelby.

Finn hadn't been given one like the rest of his brothers considering they hardly payed attention to him. So she took it upon herself to get it for him. She knew how much he hated feeling like an outcast.

-

The Shelby family had crowded into the Garrison, alongside the small Willows family. A happy feeling filled the air as they all spent time with each other.

"Ay, what're ya drinking?" An already drunk Arthur asked, leaning against the window that separated the snug from the bar.

"Gin please Arthur!" Tilly shouted over the noise.

She sat in between John and Finn. Finn's arm draped over her shoulders. Janice sat beside Polly, creating small talk.

Tilly's mood shifted as she saw Billy pass through the pub. She nudged Finn's knee with her own and he looked away from John. Tilly nodded toward the dark haired boy and Finn frowned.

"The fuck is he doing here," he hissed, standing up but only to be dragged back to his seat by Tilly. "It's Christmas, don't." she warned.

"This is our fucking pub, I don't want him in ere." Finn said bluntly, attempting to stand again.

She shook her head. "Leave it."

"No i won't leave it, Tilly." He argued, finally standing and making his way through the door, over to Billy. "Oi," he said loudly, catching his attention.

Billy turned around. "Ello, Finn."

"No, don't. Get out of our pub." He said quickly, looking over his shoulder.

"Finn, mate, come on." Billy pleaded.

"I'm not your fucking mate, not after what you did to Matilda." Finn pointed a finger at him, glancing at Tilly who sat, shaking her head in disappointment.

"What, has she let you shag her then?" Billy tormented.

Finn lunged forward, grabbing Billy by the shirt and pushing him up against the wall. "You ever speak a word about her again and i'll-"

Tommy whistled, catching both of their attention. "No fighting, not on Christmas day." He warned the two of them. "You, out." He pointed a finger at Billy, placing a hand on Finn's shoulder.

Billy fumed, taking a few steps backward, out of the garrison.

"You're going to upset Matilda." Tommy whispered into his brothers ear. "Let her have a nice day, for once. This is her first Christmas with her mother, don't ruin it."

Finn licked his bottom lip as Tommy walked off.

-

Finn and Tilly walked in the dark as snow fell around them. Tilly's head was fuzzy from all the drink. She held onto his arm tightly as he walked her down Watery Lane.

"Can't believe they kicked us out," Finn said, referring to the older members of the family.

"I don't care, i'm ready to go to bed." She admitted, leaning into him slightly.

He hummed and looked up at the sky, watching as the small white flakes fell, some falling on his nose.

Soon enough, they stopped outside her house.

"Before you go," she stopped him, grabbing his arm. He frowned, slightly confused. Tilly stood on the tip of her toes, leaning up and placing a kiss on his lips. "Merry Christmas Finn,"

His lips parted and he grabbed her face with both of his hands, pulling her in to kiss her once more.

"I've got something to ask you," he grew extremely nervous.

"Go on,"

"I..er," he paused, his heart pounding. "Really like you, Tilly." He continued. She listened carefully. "Like, it's fucking mad, you make me feel all..weird an stuff." His words made her chuckle. "And." he paused again. "And i want you to be my girlfriend." He finally spat out.

Matilda relaxed, her hands still on his arms.

"How long have you waited to ask that?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Fucking ages," he laughed as she kissed him again. "Is that a yeah?"

"I suppose it is, Finn Shelby." The corner of her lips turned upward as she held the sides of his coat. "Goodnight, Finn." She finally sat, too cold to remain outside.

"Night," he dismissed, waiting for her to properly be inside before he left.

As he was walking away, he smiled at himself, looking back her house. He'd finally done it, finally stopped chasing.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗