𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝

Aurora stared at the ring that Finn was holding before her. He had asked her to marry him. Her lips were parted, words begging to escape. Finn took a deep breath. "Please say something.." he whispered, afraid she was about to break his heart.

She locked eyes with him. Rory gently placed her hands either side of his arms and pulled him back onto his feet. He looked down at her, preparing himself for whatever she said next. Her hands made their way to cup his face and she laughed slightly. "I'll marry you.."

"You will?" Finn breathed with relief.

Aurora let out a slight laugh and nodded, her forehead leaning on his. "I'll marry you." She repeated, letting him place the ring on her finger.

Finn felt his lips turn upward into a smile and he placed the ring box down onto the table before wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the floor. "I was afraid you'd say no.." he admitted.

She pulled her head back and laughed, shaking her head. "Why would I say no?" She asked.

Finn couldn't answer her. "Well— I doubt you thought you'd end up with a boy like me. Or with a family like mine.." he admitted.

"Don't be silly." Aurora stopped him. "Oh, I have to tell Ada!" She gasped with excitement. Finn lowered her back to the floor and she placed a quick kiss on his lips before practically running down the stairs. "Ada— oh, Ada! Are you here?"

Ada popped her head out from the kitchen with panic, thinking something had happened.

"I'm getting married!" Aurora practically shouted, "i'm going to be a wife!"

Ada's mouth fell open. "What?" She grabbed Rory's hand and looked at the ring. "Oh, my." She whispered, "it's beautiful." She complimented.

Finn soon appeared behind Rory and Ada grinned at him. "I was beginning to wonder when this would happen," she teased, giving her younger brother a hug. "Congratulations. Both of you." She brushed her hand over Aurora's face.

The pair looked at each other.

"Since we're speaking of exciting news," she sighed, sitting down with her cup of tea, "Why don't you go and check the post," she nodded toward the door.

Aurora frowned slightly and walked toward the pile of letters that sat on the wooden shelf beside the front door. She picked up the one that had been opened and began reading over the words. Finn inched toward her with confusion. "What?" He asked when seeing the expression on her face.

She looked up at him, her eyes glossy. "Ada, is this a joke?" Rory asked.

Ada shook her head.

"Rory, what!?" Finn asked again. She read over it again, double checking, before shoving it into his hands. "They're coming home, Finn. They've been pardoned.." she spoke. Finn slowly looked up at her.

She stared ahead, her eyes focused on the wall. "They're alive.." she muttered to herself.

Finn shook his head. "Are you sure.. how— how are they alive? Ada, I don't understand." He  turned to Ada and shook his head again.

Ada sighed. "I'm not sure, little brother. Their execution had been brought forward to.. last night actually. But somehow they got out of it." She said. "It has Tommy's name written all over it." She spoke.

Aurora tensed at the name. Tommy. Tommy Shelby.

She hadn't spoken to him in a while. Not since the arrest had been made. She was afraid to talk to him. Afraid that he would have her locked up next. Afraid that Finn would be annoyed at her for speaking with him.

Aurora missed him. She couldn't lie to herself about that.

She looked down at the ring that sat on her finger. It didn't feel real. She glanced at Finn who was talking to Ada in the kitchen, a happy smile on his face as it sank in that his family was returning.

She stared at the phone for a few moments, her hand reaching for it.

But she pulled her hand away quickly.

Finn walked back out into the hall. "How about we go out for some drinks? Isiah is in London with the others." He said. "Charlotte's here too." He said, knowing the mention of the blonde would persuade her.

"Okay," Aurora nodded once, taking her fur coat from the bannister and giving Ada a soft smile before following Finn out the door.

He wore his flat cap proudly and his golden pocket watch hung, glistening in the moonlight. He held her hand. "Do any of them know that you were going to ask me to marry you?" She asked him.

Finn shook his head. "I wanted it to be a surprise. It's only Ada that knows." He assured.

Excitement filled her and she tilted her head up. "So, where are we going?"

He was quick to answer, "Esmerelda's Club." He said, referring to the popular club that they went to often. She nodded and they continued walking.

Her eyes scanned past the few people that walked through the street. She liked people watching. Her eyes stopped on a couple who were walking, laughing with each other, pushing along a pram that held a small baby. She smiled slightly and glanced at Finn.

Her eyes moved to the woman who was holding a cigarette, staring at who Aurora assumed to be her husband who was talking to her, his hands shoved into his pockets. The woman was holding back a smile. He had reached up to touch her face and that's when she burst into laughter.

And then, just before they got to Esmerelda's, her eyes scanned over the man holding a bouquet of red roses.

She hummed and turned, walking through the door that Finn was holding open for her. "Thank you," she muttered, stepping inside and searching the busy club for their friends.

It was Mikey and Harvey who she noticed first. But it was Alfie who noticed her. He nudged the two boys and pointed at her. Mikey lifted a hand, waving at both her and Finn happily.

Charlotte followed their gaze and turned, her eyes landing on the face she had not seen in so long. She practically jumped from her seat and wrapped her arms around the Thorne girl once she reached her. "Oh, how i've missed your face." She breathed, holding Aurora tightly.

Rory laughed and closed her eyes. "I've missed you too, Lottie." She said.

Charlotte pulled back and moved a piece of Rory's brown hair away from her face. "Where's Isiah?" She asked with a frown. Charlotte grinned. "Here." He said from behind her, making her jump.

Rory spun around with a gasp and Isiah laughed. "Hello, Thorne." He spoke, wrapping a single arm around her and squeezing her slightly. "How's my little sister doing, hm?" He asked.

She laughed. "I'm good." She nodded.

"I'm glad to hear it." He said, squeezing her shoulder and turning toward the table where Finn had already greeting the rest of their friends.

"Ay, what about us." Harvey teased.

Aurora rolled her eyes and gave both Harvey and Mikey a quick hug before turning toward Alfie to do the same. Finn pulled a chair for her and she sat down.

"Hold on a minute—" Isiah stopped them all, reaching for Aurora's hand. He lifted her hand to look at the diamond that sat on her finger. "Who the fuck— Finn.. you proposed?" Alfie asked.

Finn grinned and nodded, his cheeks turning a light pink colour.

"Oh my.." Charlotte gasped, admiring the ring.

"He's a man now, boys." Mikey tormented. "He's going to have a kid before next Christmas." He laughed.

Finn shook his head with a grin and Aurora chuckled.

"Congratulations!" Isiah exclaimed, patting his friend on the back. Mikey and Harvey raised their glasses, Alfie followed. "To Finn and fucking Rory, hm." They laughed. Charlotte smiled and nodded. "It's about time." She joked.

The group began exchanging conversation, a small catch up on what had happened those last few months of Rory and Finn being back in London. It was refreshing for them all to be back together. It was like they hadn't been away.

"Well.. I think we'll be returning to Birmingham a lot sooner than we thought." Finn said, looking at Rory. She nodded in agreement. "They're getting released. All of them." She said.

Isiah raised his brows. "Really? How've they done that?"

"Tommy."

"Tommy."

Finn and Rory replied at the same time, with the same response, causing a small moment of laughter.

"Who else?" Mikey shrugged.

"I didn't think we would see them again.. well— obviously.. we were told they'd face the noose." She explained. "So— it's a bit difficult to wrap my head around it to be honest. But, i'm glad they're coming home." She said.

Finn placed his hand over hers and cleared his throat. "Anyway.." he said, noticing the way her mind had began running a lot quicker than it needed to. "I think tonight calls for a celebration. Dont you?" He asked.

-

Aurora looked out of the window, watching as the fog seeped into view. She let out a breath and looked over at Finn who was asleep, his head against the window.

There were Christmas lights decorating the inside of houses. Aurora could see the children running around, chasing each other with snow balls as they tried to savour the last of it that scraped the cobble. "Where am I dropping you at, Miss Thorne?" Ada's driver asked.

"Just at the Garrison is fine." She said politely, nudging Finn to wake him as they approached the pub.

Being back was a slight relief. In some way, it felt like things were back to normal.

"Thank you," Aurora spoke, opening the door and waiting for Finn who was rubbing his eyes. He walked around to her side of the car and placed a hand on her back, guiding her into the pub. She looked around. It was still as busy as it used to be. "I've missed this place." She said.

"I've not.." Finn huffed, sounding like a disappointed child.

She scoffed. "Be quiet," she said, holding his arm as they walked to the bar.

As they waited to be served, Finn walked to find a table. Aurora waited patiently when, suddenly, a small child ran into her. The girl fell backward and onto the floor. "Oh—" Rory kneeled down to help the girl. "Are you okay?" She asked, unsure what to do.

The little girl just stared at her. Her bright blue eyes burned into Rory's brown ones for a few moments.

"Oh, i'm terribly sorry." The distressed mother appeared, lifting her daughter up from the floor with a shake of her head. "Miss Thorne, do forgive me. She's a terror these days." She said, fixing herself to seem more presentable in front of the familiar face.

"It's no bother." Rory assured. "What's her name?"

The woman took a deep breath. "Julia," she told Aurora.

"Hello, Julia." Aurora said politely, smiling as the young girl began grinning. "She's beautiful. She looks like yourself." Rory told the woman.

"Thank you." The woman said quickly. She hesitated slightly. "You don't half look like your mother.." she said.

"I hear that all the time." Aurora laughed slightly. "Did you know her?"

The woman nodded. "I did, yes." She said. Aurora took a deep breath, unsure if she should continue with what she wanted to say. "What was she like.. if you don't mind me asking. I don't remember much about her." Rory explained.

"Well— she was kind. She was beautiful too. Oh, she was so beautiful. But that was the problem. It got her into trouble. She fell in with the wrong people and.. well— y'know.. she was pregnant at fourteen with your brother." She explained, "I remember the day she had found out about you."

"You knew her properly, then?"

"Yes. We were close friends during school. And she had nobody to turn to so she came to me. She was scared— said she had done something and she was scared it would get her in trouble. But it wasn't about getting pregnant.. no, that wasn't the mistake. She never told me what it was but I could tell by the look in her eye that it was another man that had gotten her pregnant: not your brother's father."

Aurora nodded along.

"And so, I held her hand. And I told her that if she wanted to get rid of the baby, that I would be there to help her. But she said 'no.' I remember, she shook her head and refused. She wanted nothing more than to be a good mother. That's all she wanted. It was the men that were the issue. It was because of those bastard men that she couldn't cope." She shook her head angrily.

Aurora looked down, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Oh— oh, i've said too much. Dear lord, forgive me. I shouldn't have said a word. I apologise, love." She ranted, shaking her head and practically running off.

Rory stood there for a moment, letting the words sink in.

The man behind the bar cleared his throat. "What can I get you, love?"