𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑
𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

Aurora stood around the side of one of the wagons with a cigarette balanced between her lips. She searched in her pockets and hissed in annoyance when she realised she didn't have anything to light it with.

She scanned the area and her eyes landed on a small group of Lee boys who didn't look too much older than she was. Aurora whistled, catching their attention. "Do you smoke?" Rory shouted to them.

The three shared a glance. "Yeah." One finally spoke up. Aurora took a few steps forward. "Can ya light my cigarette for me?" She asked, extending her arm and holding it in front of them.

The taller one watched his brothers do nothing and shook his head. "She's harmless." He tutted at them, taking out a pack of matches and lighting it for her.

"Thank you," she nodded, taking a drag and offering it to him.

"Are you with them lot?" He nodded toward John and the boys who were making their way up the hill. Aurora sighed. "Sadly. But I ain't apart of them. Just a family friend I suppose."

"How old are ya?" The one beside him asked, earning a smack on the arm.

"Fourteen." She replied. Before they could say anymore, Aurora was called over by Polly who'd been standing at the make shift alter with Finn and Isiah. She didn't bother saying goodbye to the boys— she just walked off.

"Jesus Christ, what have I told you about staying with Finn and Isiah?" Polly scolded. Aurora rolled her eyes and looked away, feeling Finn's gaze on her. "Don't roll your eyes at me, girl."

"What do you want me to do then, eh?" Aurora replied. "I ain't getting on my hands and knees to apologise to no one." She shrugged. Polly stared at the girl with disappointment but said nothing. "Just go and stand with Finn will you."

With a groan, she walked to where Finn and Isiah had been standing and she linked her arm around Isiah's, placing her head on his shoulder. "I need a drink."

"You always need a drink." Finn said under his breath whilst kicking a stone. Aurora glared at him and bit her tongue. "Leave her, Finn." Isiah said quickly, not wanting the pair to argue.

Aurora's eyes shifted to John and Arthur who were walking up towards the alter. John threw his toothpick to the floor and sent a friendly wink to Rory. She held Isiah's arm slightly tighter and they all took a seat.

"Here she is," Tommy nodded behind John. "She better be under fifty." John whispered.

The pair kneeled beside each other and everybody else took their seat.

"We're here today to join in matrimony, this man and this woman—" Johnny Doggs spoke, "in harmony and togetherness. Which is sanctioned and honoured by the presence and power of these two families around us."

The Lee girl lifted the veil from her face and John looked at her, his eyes searching across her face. Aurora had leaned forward in her seat in attempt to catch a look at the girl but it was no use.

"Do you, John Micheal Shelby, take
Esme Martha Lee to be your beautiful wife?" Johnny asked. "To have and to hold through sickness and till death."

"There remains one more part of the ceremony, that's the mingling of the two bloods." he nodded.

Aurora glanced over her shoulder and her stomach dropped. Ada was stood beside Tommy. Her heart pounded slightly and she removed her arm from around Isiah's, digging her nails into her palms.

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

Everyone cheered. "Come on John, kiss the bride will ya!" Johnny shouted.

Finn had noticed Aurora's shift in attention and followed her eyes, noticing what it was she'd been staring at. He swallowed nervously and looked at Rory for a moment. Hesitantly, he moved his knee slightly so that it was touching hers. And Aurora didn't make an effort to move away or tell him off for touching her.

She remained in place. Somehow, physical touch gave Aurora a sense of reassurance. And Finn had managed to realise that from a young age.

-

Aurora sat at the table with Finn and Isiah and watched as John danced with his new wife. She finally stood, getting bored of just sitting there and walked from the table. "Where's she going?" Isiah asked. They watched her swipe a glass of whiskey from a table whilst she walked off.

Finn didn't respond to his friend. Instead he just watched.

"Look at your Ada, Finn." Isiah nudged him, causing him to look toward his sister who was being spun around by a Lee boy. "She's off her head." Finn chuckled, going to look back to find Aurora but she'd gone.

Rory found herself sitting with the same Lee boy she had spoken to earlier that day. The pair were passing a flask back and forward whilst sitting in silence. "Who is she?" The boy finally asked.

Aurora hummed, "who?"

"That girl dancing. Who is she?" He asked. Aurora scoffed. "That's Ada." She replied. The boy looked at Rory. "And why don't you like her?" He asked.

Aurora leaned back in her chair and stared at her feet, rocking them slightly. "She took my brother away from me. Got herself pregnant and then he left me to fend for myself." She said.

There was silence for a few moments and she didn't like that. "You never told me your name." She stated. He passed her the flask again and sighed. "It's Fletcher." He said.

The Thorne girl nodded and took a big swig from the flask. "Mines Aurora."

"Well, Aurora, what do you reckon about us going to dance?" Fletcher suggested. Aurora watched him stand and offer her his hand. A grin crept onto her face and she used his hand to pull herself up. "Go on." She agreed.

Fletcher was quick to pull the girl over to the crowd and start dancing about with her. Aurora laughed loudly when he spun her about.

"Oh here we go." Isiah muttered. Finn had already spotted Aurora and the Lee boy. He was watching them carefully. "How much has she had to drink?" He asked. Isiah shrugged. "That's the question we ask too often." He replied.

Suddenly Rory backed away from the boy and held her head. Fletcher placed a hand on her shoulder and frowned. "I'm going to be sick," she muttered to him.

She quickly moved to the side, stumbling as she did so and gagged. Finn got up from his chair and rushed to her side. "Ya alright?" He asked, placing a hand on her back. Rory mumbled a few things that he couldn't make out. He held her hair back and winced as she began bringing up all the alcohol she'd drank.

"How much have you drank, Rory?" He asked softly. She shook her head, unsure. "Finn, I need to sit down— i need to.." she grabbed onto his arms, her head feeling as though it was spinning.

Finn held her and walked her over to a chair. "Come on, Rory." He whispered, helping her sit and kneeling in front of her.

"Ada come on have a rest sit down." Tommy approached Ada. "Come and look Esme!" Ada shouted, "Look at the family you've joined. Come look at the man who runs it. He chooses his brothers wives!"

"He hunts his own sister down like a rat and tries to kill his own brother in law!" she shouted. "Ada." Polly said.

"Oh shut up, Ada!" Aurora shouted loudly, her words slurring together.

"Ada that's enough." Arthur warned. "Now he won't even let me have a fucking dance! Not even at a fucking wedding." She continued.

"Sit her down." Polly said.

Ada stopped, panting heavily and grabbing onto Polly's arms. "Holy shit, water, right." Polly said. "Bloody hell Ada you do pick your times!" Arthur shook his head.

"Jesus Christ isn't she dramatic." Aurora scoffed, unable to keep her head up. Finn put his arms under hers and lifted her to her feet. "We're going— i think." Finn told her. "Isiah, some help?"

Isiah put his hands up in defence and let the boy struggle alone.

Aurora dragged her feet and sighed in relief when Finn got her into the car. "Finny." She said before he closed the door. He turned to look at her. "Finny where are you going?" She asked.

Finn frowned. "What?"

"I don't want you to leave me by myself." She said with panic, assuming he was going to leave her in the car alone. Finn let out a breath and closed the door to walk to the other side of the car.

He climbed in beside her and leaned across her to buckle her seatbelt. "I'm not going anywhere." He muttered under his breath.

The moment the car began moving was the moment she fell asleep. Finn stared out of the window, stealing a glance of her every now and again.

He didn't understand how she always let herself get in such a state.

-

Upon arriving back on Watery Lane, Finn had to wake up Rory. And it could go one of two ways. She could either wake up and get into the house without saying a word to anyone or she could go absolutely mental on whoever it was that had woke her up.

He cautiously opened the door and unbuckled her seat belt. "Rory," Finn whispered, gently nudging her. She hummed. "Rory we're back home." He told her. She remained quiet but slowly opened her eyes.

"Where is John— did he enjoy his wedding?" She asked, still clearly drunk. Finn smiled slightly and helped her get out of the car. "Yeah he enjoyed it."

"Until Ada had to ruin it," she muttered quiet enough for Finn not to hear.

"Jesus wept, how much have you drank girl?" Polly sighed when she saw her nephew practically carrying the Thorne girl to the house. "Enough to have a good time!" Aurora said, pointing a finger at Polly.

Tommy stood with his hands in his pockets and chuckled at Rory. "You get her inside, Finn. Get her some food."

Finn nodded and led Aurora into the kitchen where Ada was sat with Esme, breathing heavily and crying slightly at the pain that was striking through her. He pushed Rory down onto the couch and she groaned. "Fucking hell!" She shouted.

Finn took one look at his sister and felt sick. "Er..Aurora, you might have to wait on that food." He said. Aurora just hummed and closed her eyes again.

"Keep going, that's right," Polly urged, "push," A scream left Ada's mouth and Esme frowned and placed her hands on Ada's lower stomach. "Think it might be the wrong way round," She spoke.

Polly thought for a moment. "Yeah, I think you're right. Come on Ada, come on." they both gently leaned Ada forward. "Right come on, not long to go now darling. Push, two three,"

After a while, Ada's screams stopped and instead the light crying of a baby filled the room. That made Aurora sit up. She leaned her hands under her chin and looked at the small baby in Ada's arm. And for the first time in a while, the hatred she held against Ada Shelby disappeared.

Ada looked up at Rory and gave her a soft, somewhat sympathetic smile. "Ada?!" They heard a shout followed with a bang on the door.

Esme was quick to go and open the door and within seconds, Freddie stormed in. "It's a boy, Freddie." Ada smiled at the man who had entered.

Aurora snapped her head toward the door and gasped. "Freddie?" She asked. Freddie didn't even look at Aurora, he just slowly walked to Ada and looked at her newborn baby in awe.

Finn noticed the defeat on Aurora's face and shook his head.

Bangs sounded throughout the house again and they knew it was the police. Well, Aurora knew. Freddie handed the baby back to Ada and Rory practically jumped from the couch, standing in front of Freddie.

"Get away!" She shouted, holding Freddie's arm. Freddie, without thinking, wrapped an arm around his little sister and his eyes grew wide. "Leave him alone!" Aurora begged, holding onto him tightly.

"Rory let go." He whispered. "Rory come on." He said. She shook her head quickly and held onto him.

Finn grabbed Aurora and pulled her back. She kicked her feet and shouted. "Leave my brother alone!" She begged. "Stop it you're hurting him!" Ada pleaded. They all watched as Freddie was pinned against a wall.

Finn held his arms around Aurora's front and kept her in place. "You can't take him away— his baby has just been born!" She shouted. Her voice cracked and Finn held her tightly, leaning his chin on her shoulder.

-

Aurora walked into the Garrison, a look of complete defeat across her features. Tommy looked over to her with a frown. "Ya alright?" He asked. She shook her head slowly and dropped her hands to her sides.

Aurora went to walk to him but Polly had burst in behind her. "It's a boy." She charged at Thomas. "But the police came and took his father away— don't you dare look at me like that." She hissed, spitting at his feet. "You liar."

Aurora's chest heaved up and down and Polly stormed out. John and Arthur turned to look at her. "Angel?" John asked.

"Was it you?" She asked, "did you tell the police?" She was talking to Tommy. His mouth parted and he shook his head. "No— no, i was the one to tell Freddie he was in the clear." He said quickly.

Her eyes were burning and she shook her head. "If you've lied to me, Tommy. If you've lied and you gave him up, i swear i'll kill you."

-

Aurora sat on the step of Polly's home with a cigarette between her fingers. She jumped slightly when she heard the door behind her open. If she had one guess as to who it was, it would be Finn.

She was correct.

"Can I sit?" He asked. Aurora nodded, moving over to make room. Finn stared at the cigarette in her hand. "Would it be stupid to ask if you were okay?"

"Probably." She said bluntly.

Finn nodded and kept quiet. A comforting silence fell over them and after a few seconds, Finn felt Aurora lean her head on his shoulder. His eyes widened and he held his breath. She never did this. Like ever. And if she did it was with Isiah.

Hesitantly, Finn leaned his head on hers. He felt her snake her arm under his, linking him the same way she had Isiah.

He didn't get it. Aurora hardly ever had a civil conversation with him never mind do this. But he wasn't complaining. Clearly she was going through a hard time and quite literally needed a shoulder to lean on.

"I'm sorry about earlier." Finn said. "I shouldn't have said that to you." He admitted. Rory closed her eyes. "Forget about it, Finny. It's alright." She assured him.

"Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you were to just run away?" She spoke up. "Go to some place where nobody knows your name. Start over." She said. Finn listened and nodded slightly, "i suppose— why, you're not planning on leaving any time soon are ya?" He joked.

Rory was quick to shake her head. "I don't abandon the people that I love."