𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬

Aurora walked through the Shelby offices and could hear Isiah's voice from down the hall. "Man it's on fire out there— women from the BSA offices, honest. They go out on their own without the men these days. In twos and threes." He said. "Mickey, they go out in twos and threes and buy their own drinks."

She smirked as she entered Micheal's office. Micheal glanced at her and smiled slightly whilst Isiah kept rambling.

"The Marquis— that's where the BSA secretaries go." He said. "Look, they won't serve a black man without a Shelby by his side." Micheal leaned back and sighed. "So you're using me?" Isiah chuckled at his accusation. "Yeah."

Aurora placed her elbows on Isiah's shoulders and hummed. "He isn't wrong, Micheal. They tried to turn me away once because i'm a bit too tanned for their liking." She recited. Isiah nodded. "Yeah." He agreed. Micheal looked between the two. "Come on." Isiah urged.

-

Aurora, who had forced Finn from the betting den to go out drinking with them, followed behind Micheal and Isiah as they got into the Marquis. Isiah was speaking to Micheal about the women that roamed past them without a man on their arm. "Lighten up, Finny." She said happily, her arm linked around his.

He chuckled and looked down at her. "You going to drink?" He asked as they got to the bar. She shook her head. "No."

"Four pints of dark mild, please." Micheal said. Isiah glanced at Rory, knowing she didn't drink that often anymore. "Fuck that, we're Peaky Boys, three whiskeys." He said. Aurora looked up at Finn and took his cap from his head. "Do they know?" She whispered. Finn glanced at the two lads and shook his head. "I haven't told anyone yet."

"Neither.." she spoke. "How about we keep it quiet for a while— see how long it takes until somebody asks questions." She had a playful grin on her lips.

Finn hummed. "My bet is on John being the first." He said, taking the whiskey from the counter and sipping it. "Tommy won't be impressed if he finds out you're drinking whiskey," she teased. Finn raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"I don't drink with blacks." A man spoke after whistling. They all turned. "Here we fucking go." Isiah hissed. The barman watched carefully. "Paddy, they're okay." He said.

The ginger across from them shook his head. "Not with me they're not. I don't drink in pubs with blacks." He stared at Aurora and she let out a pathetic, breathy laugh. It was happening again. "So leave." Micheal said.

"Look, my dad is the preacher round here. He has connections. Ask anybody." Isiah inched closer to Paddy. "I couldn't give a fuck who he is." He fired back.

"I'm telling you to leave it, Paddy." The barman spoke again.

"And i'm telling these two darkies to get out of here." He looked at Aurora and Isiah. Isiah's blood boiled. "You know something?" He turned, "fuck off."

Finn felt uneasy at the man's words and didn't like the way he had spoke about Aurora.

"It's alright, Isiah. Come on, leave it. We will go to my cousin's pub." Micheal offered. "I like it here." Isiah hissed. Rory departed from Finn's side and stepped beside Isiah. "Im white." She said. Paddy hummed. "I don't drink in pubs with little girls either."

Paddy looked her up and down. "Don't look at her like that." Isiah said. Finn clenched his fists and clutched his cap in his hand.

Paddy mumbled a slur toward Isiah before punching him. Finn was quick to pull Aurora back before jumping in to defend his friend. A fight broke out and Rory stayed to the side, unsure what to do.

She picked up a glass from the bar and smashed it over Paddy's head.

He let go of Isiah and grabbed her by her cardigan, pushing her backward against the bar. "Get your hands off her!" Finn demanded.

"Paddy, the white lads are Peaky Blinders! It's Finn Shelby and Polly Gray's son! He's Tommy Shelby's brother!" The barman panicked. Aurora glared at Paddy and watched his eyes widen. He slowly let go of her and Finn shoved him away, standing slightly in front of Aurora with his cap raised.

"Are you fucking suicidal?"

"Sir, sir I'm sorry. I didn't know." He backed away. "Get out the fucking pub." Finn shouted. "I'm sorry lads I really didn't know." He said again before fleeing from the bar.

Aurora breathed heavily and Finn turned to her. "I'm okay." She said before he could ask.

-

"Here they are, junior peaky lads and our angel." Arthur grinned when the four walked in together. John stood to allow his younger brother to sit between him and Arthur before sitting back down. "What, have you been scrapping?" Arthur chuckled, jokingly as he looked at the cuts on the boys faces.

"Some idiots at the Marquis or Lorne. Tried to stop us from drinking but it's all right. We fought them off. We had to stand our ground and we did." Micheal explained.

Aurora glanced at Finn as he held a finger to his bloodied lip.

"The Marquis, eh?" Arthur hummed, standing up, " Where's your dad?" him and John stood, buttoning up their jackets and shoving Finn back down into his seat when he tried to stand. Rory gave him a sympathetic look.

"Preaching." Isiah said.

"Right," Arthur nodded once and picked up his cap before walking to the door. "Don't nick any of me chips Finn!" John pointed to his brother.

"Where are you going?" Micheal asked with slight panic. John patted Rory's shoulder as he passed her. "We won't be long." Arthur assured.

"Where are they going?" Micheal asked Isiah. "The Marquis of Lorne, shame it was a nice pub." He looked down.

"You'll have to get those cleaned up— or they'll go bad, I think. That's what Polly always says." Aurora said, her arms crossed over her chest. She was speaking to all three of the boys. All three of them had some sort of cut on their face — none of them too bad but still able of getting infected.

"You sound like Aunt Pol." Finn scoffed jokingly, earning a glare from Aurora.

She reached over and pulled his golden pocket watch from his suit to check the time. "I think I should be getting back." She winced at the late hour and stood up. Finn was quick to stand. Far too quick for somebody who was supposed to be keeping his relationship quiet. "Same— I think I should too. Let me walk with you?" He offered.

She bit back her grin and nodded. "That'd he fine, thanks Finny." She said. She looked toward Isiah. "You get home soon, too." She said. Isiah sent her a friendly wink and sipped from his glass.

-

Finn sat in the chair that was beside the window in Rory's room as she sat on her bed, her back against the wall. "Do you think they'll notice— that something has changed between us?" Finn asked, watching the way the candle beside her bed lit her face beautifully.

Rory shrugged. "Nothing has changed though. Not really. It's just— we finally admitting things." She said, feeling a slight nervousness come over her. Finn understood what she meant. They had kissed a few times before confirming their feelings. "But I think Polly will notice something." She said.

Finn nodded. "Yeah. That woman can see the bloody future, I swear." He chuckled.

Aurora smiled slightly and nodded. "Do you ever think about your mum?" She asked. Finn thought for a moment. "I don't really remember her but— I try and think about what it would be like if she was still here. Ada used to always say I remind her of our mum." He said.

"Freddie said the same about me." She said. "Except, to him, it wasn't a good thing." She furrowed her brows. "I miss her. I'm not sure if I should— but... I do. From what I can remember, she's worthy of missing." Aurora stared at the bedsheets.

"You're allowed to miss her. Just because Freddie resented you and your mother doesn't mean you need to resent her to." He said. "I mean, you're bound to be angry that she left but what if she comes back? You can't stay angry at her forever."

"No.. but what if she isn't even alive?" Aurora asked.

"Don't think like that." Finn said. "You won't help yourself thinking about all these possibilities." He said. "It doesn't matter anyway. She isn't going to come back." Aurora sighed. Finn pursed his lips together and leaned back in the chair. "I don't even remember what she looks like."

"I think—" he paused, "if she was to come back, you'd know it was her." He said.

Aurora nodded in understanding and moved to lay on her back. "It's strange isn't it? The way people run away from their children." She stared up at the ceiling. "The way they can hurt them and feel nothing."

Finn nodded in agreement.

"I'd never do that." She said. "If i had kids, i'd look after them." She added. "You'd be a good mum." Finn complimented. His words made her feel strange. Her face softened and she turned her head to look at him. "Really?"

Finn nodded. "You were so good with Karl." He reminded her.

She took a deep breath. "Thank you."

Finn nodded and got comfortable on the chair. "I spoke to Tommy yesterday." She said. Finn waited for her to continue. "About school. I'm going back there tomorrow." She began playing with her fingers. "That's good." Finn nodded. She wanted to ask him to go back with her but she knew he couldn't. School made him feel like there was something wrong with him.

"I'm going to do this, Finn. I'm going to prove everybody wrong. Every single one of them. I'm going to do what Freddie couldn't, what my mum and dad couldn't. I'll be the one who did good— made everybody proud."

"I know." Finn hummed. "I know you will."

-

"Are you sure you're ready, kid?" Tommy stood with his hands in his pockets as him and Rory looked at the school building opposite them. She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. "I think so." She said. Tommy smiled slightly and turned to her, kneeling slightly. "If you change your mind just let me know."

"I'll be fine, Tom." She assured him with a soft smile.

Tommy nodded. "Okay." He said, standing straight and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Once you get today out of the way, the rest will be easy." He said. "I'm proud of you for getting better," he said honestly. "Thank you, Tommy." She said, staring up at the fatherly figure that stood in front of her.

Words couldn't explain how much he meant to her. He was the father she never had. John and Arthur were the brothers she never got. Polly the woman who gave her the love that her mother could not.

"Alright, go on." Tommy urged, waiting until she turned to walk toward the school to get a cigarette out. Tommy was proud of her — genuinely proud of her. She promised to get better and she had kept that promise.

Aurora was shown to her classroom and the nerves crept up on her but nevertheless she walked in. All eyes were on her. Charlotte sat up in her chair and beamed at her, a wide smile on her lips.

Alfie was leaning back in his chair, feet on the table. He smiled at her and nodded in a greeting way.

"Aurora," the teacher nodded, "take a seat. Sit anywhere." The old woman said kindly.

Aurora breathed and nodded, glancing at the chair in between Alfie and Charlotte. Alfie removed his feet from the chair and turned toward Elizabeth who sat on the other side of Charlotte. "Keep ya bloody mouth shut, do you hear me?" He pointed a finger at her. The girl rolled her eyes and faced the front.

Rory sat down and Charlotte turned to face her. "Nobody thought we would see you in school again. " She said honestly. "But it's nice to have you back." She added.

-

Aurora opened the door of the betting den to see John and Tommy talking in the office. John was the first to see her and they both walked out. "How was it?" John asked eagerly. She nodded. "It was fine." She said. John grinned happily and leaned against the wall. "That's good." Tommy responded.

She looked around. "Where's Finn?"

John too looked around. "He's at the gym with Isiah, I think." John shrugged.

Aurora put down her back and turned to the door. "I'll be back later," she said to them both before making the walk to the gym not too far from them. The weather was getting warmer and she loved that. Thankfully, the walk to the gym didn't take long and Finn was in fact there with Isiah.

She said nothing and leaned her elbows against the side of the ring and watched as the two boys sent punches to one another.

"Go on, Isiah, get him." She teased finally. Finn glanced at her and furrowed his brows. He backed away from Isiah and shook his head. "Have a break." He said, taking the towel that hung on the side and wiping his forehead on it.

He stood opposite Aurora, the short wall separating them. "What're you doing here?" He asked. Rory hummed and looked up at him. "Just got back from school. It was a good first day back." She said. Finn placed his hands either side of her elbows. "You enjoyed it then?"

"I did." She said. "I'm gonna call Ada when we get back. I'll tell her i'm back in school."

"Listen," Finn whispered, "I was thinking maybe we could go somewhere tonight?" He asked confidently despite the nerves that flooded throughout him.

"Like where?"

"Anywhere." He shrugged.

She bit back her smile. "Hm, i'll think about it. I'll have to check my schedule." She joked. Finn scoffed and shook his head. Her head turned to the door when Harvey burst in. "Finn, Rory— youse need to get home, now." He said sternly but with slight panic.

Rory and Finn looked at each other.

"Why?" Rory furrowed her brows together. Harvey took a deep breath. "Arthur and Micheal have been arrested."

-

Aurora had never ran so fast. Her feet were moving quicker than she could comprehend. Finn couldn't keep up. "Rory!" He shouted, "Rory, slow down!" He added. She couldn't hear him. Her skin burned as she ran. She stopped outside the house and burst the door open. "Has Arthur been arrested?" She asked as soon as she got in.

Everybody was there.

John lowered his head and Polly looked at the girl from across the room.

"I'm fucking talking to youse!" She shouted, hitting her fist on the table. Tommy walked in and she stared at him. "John," he said with a nod.

"Coppers have lifted ten of our men in Camden Town. The rest of them are on the run." John said. Finn looked at his older brother. "Tom, they've taken Micheal." Finn said. Aurora scoffed. "They've taken Arthur too." She hissed.

"Business first." Tommy began. Rory shook her head in disbelief.

"They took Micheal—" Polly tried. "Business first— Polly! Business first!" He shouted over her. She quietened down. "John." He tried again.

"They took all of our whiskey. So no doubt they'll be sipping that for Christmas. They've impounded all our vans. Put their own locks on the warehouse. The Eden Club and all our pubs have been raided by the coppers and handed back to Sabini and Solomons. The Black Country Boys think it was Arthur that killed Billy cause that's what the coppers told them. So there'll be no more free passes for our whiskey boats."

"I don't give a fuck about whiskey, i don't give a fuck about Billy Kitchen— I want my son out of prison now." Polly raised her voice.

"Are you forgetting about Arthur? He's in there too!" Aurora argued. "Thomas, i've spoken to Johnny Dogs—" Esme began

"This meeting should just he family." Polly glared at the two. Rory's lips parted and she stepped back. "I can help!" Esme offered. "Polly, why would you say that?" Aurora muttered.

"It's family only— they're not blood, Tommy. Or is this a business— have you forgotten.."

"Enough!" Tommy roared. "Enough, Polly. Esme," he allowed.

Aurora looked at her feet and didn't listen to what Esme was proposing. Finn discreetly put his hand on her back in a reassuring way and stepped closer to her. She looked over her shoulder at him with an upset look in her eye.

Suddenly, Polly stormed forward and grabbed Finn by the arm. Rory bit down on her tongue and stepped away. Finn looked at her with confusion then at his Aunt.

"Aunt Pol, what're you doing?" He asked. "Shut up and walk." She ordered.

Rory dug her nails into her palms and glanced at John who had been watching her since Polly's outburst. She locked eyes with him and he sighed.

"John, go bring up the car." Esme said. John tutted and got up, taking his cap and stopping beside Aurora briefly. "Ignore her, Angel. You're apart of this family whether she likes it or not." He whispered.

She nodded once and looked over at Tommy for some sort of reassurance but he gave her nothing, being too busy talking to Esme. Rory slowly turned and walked up the stairs, pinching at skin uncomfortably.

Not family. They are not family. This should be family only.

Words so harsh from such a comforting woman. Rory pushed the door to her bedroom open and carefully sat on her bed. The words repeated in her head. Not family. Family. Not family.

Her heart began beating rapidly and she squeezed her eyes closed, placing a hand on her chest. "It's fine," she tried to reassure herself. "Arthur's fine." She added. Her hands trembled ever so slightly and that oh so familiar feeling of neglect washed over her. She could hear mumbling downstairs and a door slam. Then footsteps. They got closer and closer to her door until the door opened.

Her eyes were blurred with tears and her hearing drowned out.

She could hear something but couldn't make out what it was. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Then on her chin to tilt her head up. Then it cupped her cheek. It was a tall figure. Tall and thin. She blinked a few times and her vision slowly went back to normal.

"Rory?" Finn whispered. Her breath hitched. "I'm sorry about Polly." He said. She said nothing and just looked at him. Finn brushed her hair away from her face and sat beside her on the bed. She put her hand over his, the one that cupped her face.

Slowly, her heart stopped beating so harshly.

"Say something—" he frowned slightly, not sure what was going on. Instead, Rory gently wrapped her arms around his torso, closing her eyes. Finn was taken aback and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her.

He slowly lay back and held her carefully.

"She doesn't mean it." He tried to assure her. "She's just worried about Micheal. Polly loves you. We all love you. I love you." He rambled, worry creeping up on him. Rory listened and let him talk. His hand rested on her back. "Are you okay?"

She just hummed in response.

He placed a kiss on the top of her head and sighed. "One day we will move to Venice just like you wanted to. And we will have a nice house."

She smiled slightly.

"Did I do something— for Polly to say that to me?"

"No." Finn answered plainly. "She's just angry at Tommy. Micheal got arrested for what John and Arthur did to the Marquis. He took blame. Arthur's been accused of killing someone— at least I think that's what's happened."

"Oh.." She whispered.

"Polly said Ada is coming to stay for a few days." He told her. Aurora tilted her head up to look at him. "She is?"

"Her and the baby." Finn nodded. "They're going to stay at Polly's, I think." He added. "She's going to help get Arthur out. Something to do with lawyers and all that."

Finn noticed the freckles that dusted her face. He hadn't noticed them before. Since confessing how he felt, Finn had this new profound confidence toward her. He didn't find himself getting so nervous in her presence. Instead it seemed to be the other way around.

Finn was the type of person she was waiting for — someone to stay. Except he was always there. It's just neither of them had realised.