𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗
𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

Rory sat staring at the ceiling and listening to the muffled talking from the betting den. It was a family meeting about the explosion at the Garrison she assumed. Not something she cared to be involved in.

Her eyes were sore and her head pounded. Whether that was from the alcohol or her crying she didn't know.

All she wanted was to sleep. All she wanted was to go back in time and have things go completely differently. But Aurora knew that wasn't possible. She knew she had to live with what happened.

The clock on the wall ticked and it had began frustrating her. Squeezing her eyes closed, Aurora dragged her hands across her face. With a sigh, she dragged herself up from the couch and used her hands to flatten her hair.

Pushing the doors open, she was met with the face of Finn and Polly— everybody else had left. "Morning, love. How're you feeling?" Polly asked sympathetically.

Aurora shrugged and threw herself into the chair opposite Finn, holding her head in her hands. "My head hurts, Pol." She complained.

Polly tutted and got up to pour the girl a cup of tea. "It'll be all that rubbish you drank last night. I've told you about this before."

"Yeah yeah." Rory said quickly, not wanting another lecture on how often she drank. It had only gotten worse over the two years. Well.. it got better for a while — months after Freddie had moved to London with Ada. But it didn't take long for the old habits to return.

Finn and Rory.. they were a completely different story. After Aurora had started drinking again, she was hardly around. Finn would often hear her throwing up in the bathroom when she'd drank too much. There were certain occasions where she'd let him in and they'd talk for hours until they fell asleep. They were the moments he cherished most.

"Here you are," Polly placed the cup in front of her. Aurora hummed and wrapped her hands around it.

Polly glared at Finn and nodded toward Aurora, implying that he was to say something. Finn just shrugged and frowned at his Aunt in confusion. "We had Mikey at the door with flowers earlier." Polly said, trying to lighten the mood. "They were quite beautiful."

"That's nice." Aurora responded, her gaze fixed on the table.

Finn and Polly shared a glance and the older woman just shook her head. "Listen, i'm to be going over to the wash house later today. Whilst i'm gone, I need you and Finn to go down to the markets and get me some fruit. I'll give you the money for it." Polly said.

"Why can't Finn just go?"

"It isn't up for discussion." Polly scolded. "You're both going. Together." She said sternly.

Rory sighed in defeat and ran a hand through her hair. "Thanks Rory." Finn scoffed, crossing his arms. "Just when I thought we were getting along." He said jokingly, hoping to make her smile.

Rory let out a pathetic laugh and slouched in the chair.

-

The cold, winter air made Rory's skin burn as her and Finn walked through the markets. She hugged her coat to her body and kicked a stone. "We can go to the canal after this. Just like we used to." He offered.

Aurora nodded. "I'd like that." She admitted, wrapping her arm around his.

Rory continued roaming whilst Finn collected the fruits and vegetables Polly had asked for. Obviously there wasn't a big selection of fruit due to it not being summer but they still managed to get the ones she'd asked for.

Rory picked up a book from a stall and flicked through the pages. "I didn't know you could read." Finn teased. "Shut up, I can read better than you can." She fired back quickly.

Finn smirked and continued walking toward the canal.

"Where's Isiah today?" She asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing in hopes it would distract her. Finn thought for a moment. "Think he's down at the church with his dad today."

Over the year, Finn couldn't help but feel like him and Rory had drifted slightly. Well, she'd drifted from a lot of people. Since Freddie moved to London with Ada, Aurora began shutting everyone out through the anger she held toward her brother.

He didn't blame her. Not at all. Freddie was her only blood family and he managed to hurt her time and time again without a second thought.

Finn and Aurora walked to the canal and they just sat there. She sat under the bridge with her knees up to her chest whilst Finn kicked a stone into the water. "It's bloody freezing." He complained. "It was your idea to con here." She reminded him. Finn shrugged and slouched down beside her.

"Do you think Ada will come home?" She asked. Finn shrugged again. "Don't think so. She's too stubborn." He said. "She doesn't like this life." He added.

"I don't like this fucking life either." Aurora muttered, meaning a completely different thing to him. "Just wish we could get away. Don't you?" She asked him. Finn shrugged. "Dunno— sometimes."

"I'll get out of here one day. I'll get out and i'll get a big house— in Italy. Not sure if I want kids." She rambled.

Finn nodded along. "Your mum was from Italy weren't she?" He questioned. Aurora nodded. "Grew up Naples." She told him. "I won't go there though. I'll go somewhere prettier."

"Venice?" He suggested. Aurora hummed. "Yeah— Venice. That's where i'll go. I'll go and i'll never come back." Rory nodded to herself. Finn could never imagine living a life without Rory. He had admired her ever since they were kids. She was never afraid to tell the truth and that was refreshing. And she would never do anything to please anyone but herself.

"Do you reckon we'll ever get married?" He asked. Aurora pulled a funny face at him, furrowing her eyebrows together. Finn's eyes widened and his mouth parted. "No— not us.. i mean like.. you know— separately. To other people—" he stuttered. getting flustered.

Aurora felt a laugh climb up her throat and within seconds she snorted and laughter soon followed. Finn shook his head in embarrassment and looked down. "It's alright, Finny." She patted her arm. "I'll marry you." She joked, tormentingly pulling a kissy face at him.

Finn rolled his eyes. "Shut up," he muttered.

-

Rory quietly crept down the stairs and walked past the living room. She could hear the indistinct chatter coming from the better den as she passed. "Where are you going?" Finn asked, causing her to jump.

"Out. You coming?" She asked, pulling her shoes onto her feet. Finn pursed his lips together and looked at the door. She frowned. "Finn it's an easy question!" she hissed.

He looked at the betting den door again and thought. "No— no it's fine you go. I'll cover if they ask where you've gone." Finn said.

She breathed out and nodded. "Thank you."

Stepping outside, Aurora was automatically hit with the freezing air. She couldn't wait for summer. She hated the winter. Her hands were clenched into fists whilst she walked. She stopped outside of Isiah's house.

"Isiah!" Aurora whisper-shouted with her hands cupped around her mouth. "Isiah!" She repeated. Huffing in frustration, she reached down and took a small stone in hand to throw at his window.

After a few moments, his head appeared from behind the blinds. Isiah held up a finger to tell her to wait a minute and he disappeared. "What're you doing here?" He asked after opening the door.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. "Left over from the Garrison." Aurora wiggled her eyebrows. Isiah pursed his lips together and let his eyes linger on the bottle for a moment. "Fine— come in." Isiah gave in to her and let her come inside. "Does anybody know you're here?"

Aurora just looked at him with a certain look in her eye.

Isiah sighed. "Rory." He shook his head. She grinned and sat on the couch. "I only wanted to see my best friend!" She said dramatically. "My best friend that I love so dearly!" She continued. Isiah raised a brow at her and poured two glasses of whiskey. "Love you too, Rory." He sighed.

She slid the glass toward her and threw it back, swallowing it all in one go.

"Slow down.." Isiah said seriously.

"I was speaking to Finn earlier," Aurora began, "said that one day i'm going to move to Italy. And i'm never going to come back." She said. Isiah tilted his head. "I'm sick of this city."

"That makes two of us." He agreed. She snorted with laughter and poured herself another glass.

"We love you, Rory. You know that don't you?" Isiah asked, looking at her seriously. She paused and let go of her glass. "Yeah.." she responded quietly. "I love you too, Siah. Swear it." She said.

Isiah smiled at her softly and gently touched her shoulder. "You'll always be my little sister, yeah?" He asked. The corners of her lips turned upward. "Yeah." Aurora agreed.

Isiah felt it was his job to look out for her. Ever since that day he was sent into her classroom and began talking to her. He just got a feeling. A feeling that no matter what happened, he had to look after her. So he made a promise to himself that's what he'd always do.

-

Rory blinked hard as she walked back into the house, stumbling over her own feet. The house was quiet which made her assume everyone was asleep. It was only when she got into her bedroom and saw Tommy sat on her bed that she realised she was wrong.

"Ah.." Rory winced. Tommy placed his hands on his knees and stood. "What you doing getting home at this hour, eh?" He asked softly. Rory twisted her lips together and shrugged. "Sorry." She apologised.

"You've been drinking again, haven't you?" Tommy asked and leaned against the wall.

Rory nodded and took a seat.

"You need to stop drinking so much. It isn't good for a girl your age." Tommy said — he didn't want to lecture her but he was growing worried as the days passed. "Our Finn tried to cover for you but he isn't good under pressure."

Rory stifled a laugh. "He never had been."

"How are you doing, Rory? Answer me honestly." Tommy wanted her to tell the truth. He wanted to help her if there was something bothering her. Ever since she was a little girl, Tommy felt as though Aurora was his own sister.

She took a deep breath. "It's all a bit difficult.." Aurora paused. "I mean— Freddie was never around anyway. But now I feel like i'm a ghost of my own self." She tried to explain although fearing she made no sense.

"I understand that." Tommy admitted. Aurora looked up at him. "You do?"

He nodded and sat next to her. "I didn't return from France the same man. Instead I returned as a shell of my former self." He spoke. "No man returned to same." He added.

"Yeah, Polly says that all the time." Aurora nodded.

"Well, Polly is right then. I'd give anything to go back to the time before France. Absolutely anything." He said. Rory pursed her lips together. "But as time passes I've came to realise that it doesn't stay bad forever." Tommy told her. "And you, Rora—"

Rora. A name she hadn't heard in so long yet she remembered it so clearly. It was a name that Tommy called her before the war. And she'd forgotten about it until now. Nobody else ever called her that. Nobody but Tommy.

"You'll find peace one day." He continued. Aurora looked at her feet. "If I have anything to do with it, you'll find peace. You'll be looked after properly now. You're our family— nothing will ever change that."

She felt herself well up and all of a sudden Tommy had wrapped his arms around her. This was a complete shock as Thomas Shelby never hugged anyone.

Aurora didn't hesitate to hug him back. In fact, she hugged him tighter than she'd ever hugged anybody else. Tommy was important to her. And to hear these types of things from him meant a lot to her. Because she knew he was being honest.

"I don't want to cry, Tom." She croaked into his shoulder. He closed his eyes for a moment and cradled her head.

"Crying is not a weakness dragă.." He assured her. (sweetheart)

Rory couldn't say anything. "You aren't gonna leave me too, are you?" She asked, the alcohol still rushing through her blood. Tommy sighed. "Of course i'm not." Tommy squeezed her slightly.

He hated knowing how deeply Freddie had hurt her. Her own brother left her twice without a second thought. And he resented Freddie deeply for that. Just because he was dead doesn't mean people forgot about all his wrongs.

And Tommy certainly didn't.