CHAPTER 24

David waited in the hall beside the front door with Ada, making light conversation Matilda walked down the stairs, a dark blue dress hugging her body.

Dark blue, typical.

"You ready then, trouble?"Ada teases. "Shut up, Ada." Tilly shook her head laughing. "You look beautiful," Ada then said, touching the side of her arm.

"Yeah, you do" David agreed, taking his suit jacket and shrugging it over his shoulders. "Thank you," Tilly smiled, following them out to the car.

"So, i'll pre-warn you now. There'll be cavalry men there-" Ada began, being cut off by Tilly scoffing and throwing her head back. David laughed at her antics and looked out of the window.

-

Tilly nervously held onto David's arm as they walked into the small church where the wedding was being held.

A few of the Shelby members stood in a small group before it was time to take their seats. Arthur looked over Polly's shoulder and his eyes widened. "Is that fucking.." he began, gently shoving past John and Polly.

"Well if it isn't Matilda!" He said loudly, his arms open as she took a few steps toward him, "come ere you," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hello, Arthur." She chuckled, closing her eyes whilst he hugged her. "Av missed you, i really av." He mumbled, letting her go. "I've missed you too, Arthur," Tilly nodded, smiling at him widely.

"Who's this then?" Arthur asked, looking at the tan boy who stood beside her. "Arthur, this is David. David, this is Arthur."

"Arthur Shelby, i've heard of you." David said, nodding his head. "It's nice to meet you," David held out his hand. Arthur furrowed his brows, hesitantly taking David's hand and shaking it.

"Oi, get here." John said loudly, shoving Arthur out of the way and aggressively pulling Tilly into his embrace. "Hi, John." She laughed as he practically suffocated her. "Where've you been, eh? Where av ya fuckin been." He said, shaking her shoulders once he pulled away.

She frowned. "In London."

He put a smile on his face that said i was joking. "Yeah..i knew that, Tilly. It was a joke, you're supposed to laugh." He spoke to her as if she were a child.

"Oh.."

"Leave the girl alone," Polly scolded, standing behind John. He rolled his eyes and walked back toward Arthur and Ada who stood near the front of the room.

"Ello, love," Polly said softly, placing her hands either side of Matilda's face, admiring the small changes in her face. "You look well," Polly complimented.

"I feel well." Tilly nodded, her hands over Polly's. "Thomas will be so pleased to see your face," she leaned in, "so will Finn." she said quietly.

Matilda's face dropped and she scowled at the older woman, thankful that David's attention was somewhere else.

"Polly," Matilda hissed, screwing her face up and taking a step back. Polly chuckled and took Matilda's arm gently, leading her to where the family were seated.

"Speaking of, there he is now." Polly whispered, nodding toward Isiah, Micheal and Finn who walked in quickly to take a seat. Finn looked up slightly, his heart racing when he saw Tilly sat beside his aunt. He swallowed hard, barely able to move, dread and confusion filling him when he saw the boy beside her.

Tilly grew awkward and looked away, clearing her throat. "Ello, Tilly." Micheal smiled warmly, sitting beside her.

"Micheal," she greeted, moving up to make more room. "How've you been?" She asked.

"Good," he nodded, "and you?"

"Getting there," she assured him, both their head turning to the door when Tommy strolled down the red carpet, looking at his time piece.

"He's a bit late, ain't he?" John muttered, nudging Esme.

Micheal and Matilda created quiet conversation as they waited for Grace to turn up. And when she did, obviously John made a stupid remark.

"Here comes the fucking cavalry, late as usual." He whispered, folding his arms.

Grace was wearing a purple dress and veil, untraditional but nonetheless, it was stunning. On her arm was a male family member who wasn't her father as he died years before.

The other end of the seats was full of men in uniforms.

Finn kept his eyes glued to the floor, counting the cracks in the wood. Ada nudged him, causing him to pay attention.

Grace and Tommy stoop beside each other and everyone watched as he lifted the purple fabric from in front of her face. She looked beautiful. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

They both turned toward Isiah's father, Jeremiah.

"Dearly beloved," he began, "we are gathered here today to join together in holy matrimony, Thomas Micheal Shelby and Grace Helen Burgess."

"Do you, Thomas Micheal Shelby take Grace Helen Burgess to be your lawful wedded wife?" he asked. "I do" Tommy said.  "Do you, Grace Helen Burgess, solemnly swear to love, honour and obey till death do you apart"

Grace nodded slightly. "I do"

"I now pronounce you husband and wife" Jeremiah finished.

They turned to each other, leaning in. "Go on Tom" John shouted. Claps and cheers erupted from the Shelby side of the hall.

Matilda clapped her hands together, feeling nothing but happiness for the older Shelby brother as he stood with the only woman that had ever made him smile.

-

Matilda nodded, bored out of her mind as a two boys around her age began chatting with her. "So..where did ya say you're from again?" the blonde one asked.

"Grew up in Small Heath, live in London," she told them, sipping the champagne from the glass.

"Do ya know the Shelby's then?" The other asked, his cockney accent strong.

"I do. They practically raised me," Tilly nodded, speaking carefully. "Best not mess with you then, if I shag you one of 'em will come after me," he joked, laughing loudly and hitting his mates arm.

"Hilarious." She said sarcastically, "but that wouldn't happen."

"And why not?"

"Because I have a man and besides, I wouldn't let you shag me," she shrugged, finishing off the drink and shoving the glass into his hand. They both stood, completely stunned as she walked off to find someone else to talk to.

"Matilda," Tommy appeared out of nowhere, catching her by surprise.

"Tommy."

"You came," he said. She nodded. "I did" He looked around the room, unsure of what to say. "Thank you for coming, it's nice to see you again."

"Thank you, congratulations by the way."

Tommy nodded and grabbed a glass of champagne off a maid that passed through. He placed it into Tilly's hands and pursed his lips into a straight line.

"Quick question." He began.

She raised an eyebrow, "go on.."

"You and our Finn, is anything going to happen-" she immediately cut him off, "Thomas, what the fuck," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I'm just asking!" He defended.

"Me and Finn, i've got no clue what that is. I left without saying a word, I hurt him. I don't expect anything to happen. And nothing will happen as I've moved on and the boy i'm seeing is here at your wedding!" Matilda said, her voice low incase he was near.

Tommy nodded slowly. "Well, i'll leave you to it then."

She couldn't say anymore because he'd already walked off, leaving her alone once more. She'd be lying if she said that wanting Finn back was completely out of the picture. Because that was the false. All Matilda wanted was to have done things different, be able to talk to him without feeling guilty. Be able to help him the way he helped her. Everyone knew that Finn and Tilly were made for each other. It was just unfortunate that Finn didn't know what to do when she began struggling with things after everything that had happened to her. And it was a shame that Tilly no longer wanted something with the Shelby boy.

Finn felt the exact same. All he wanted was to be able to pull her into a hug and tell her how much she'd missed. He wasn't angry at her, nor was he hurt. When she first left, he was heart broken. But he learned to get over it because he knew that if leaving was what would make her okay, he would let it happen. That's all he ever wanted, for her to be okay. But that didn't change the fact he still loved her. She could leave him a thousand times and he'd still return to her in a heart beat.

He'd do anything she asked him too. After everything that had happened, after her disappearing, she could ask him to stay with her for the night and he'd do it. Not even for sex. If she needed someone to help her. He'd do it, no hesitation.

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