𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓

Maeve walked down the stairs, locking
eyes with Arthur. He looked over his newspaper and sniffed.

"Morning," he mumbled, placing down the newspaper. Maeve stood still, suddenly frozen. "Yeah, morning." She said before finally moving.

"What's up with you this morning?" He chuckled. Maeve shook her head, "me? No there's nothing up with me. Dunno what you're on about," she defended quickly.

"Girls and they're fucking.." Arthur trailed off. "Listen," he stood, "me an the lads are off out somewhere for a bit. You can stay 'ere with Polly until we say otherwise."

John looked up from the betting shop and glared at Arthur. The doors were open, giving him access to what was being said. "No er, Artha. I said she could come today, she needs to get out the house." John stood and placed him hands in his pockets.

"You what?" Arthur scoffed.

"I said she could come today. She's almost fifteen, she needs to see how things work around here." He continued.

"She's grounded, John." Arthur reminded him. "Yeah..yeah I know. But Arthur, you can't keep treating her like a child. Locking her up like an animal when she steps out of line."

"Which might i add is never my fault," Maeve whispered, sitting down and sneaking Arthur's pack of cigarettes into her pocket.

Arthur looked between his daughter and brother and thought for a moment. "Whatever fucking..shit you two are doing, i don't like it."

"What, me getting on with my uncle? Yeah that's shit, dad." She mocked. John grinned and shook his head. "You know what, let her come, whatever. Don't give a shit anymore." He dismissed.

-

A large group of Peaky Blinders walked with each other up the small slope that led to the Lee camp. Maeve stayed close behind Arthur and John.

"Ready boys? John, ready?" Tommy questions. "Yeah, fine." John nodded, his dark green peaky cap tilted to the left. "Av a drink," Arthur shoved the flask into his hands. Maeve frowned at the strange behaviour. The other peaky men stared at him. "What? What you all staring at me for? What?" He grew angry.

"Let's go," Tommy interrupted, leading them all back up toward the camp. "What?" John hissed at one of the Peaky boys who remained looking at him.

"Tommy, what you playing at? We're in shot gun range," John whispered. They all came to a halt once more. "John, before you go into battle, there's something you're gonna need."

"No, Tom. Not the time, they can kill us at any moment," Maeve said quickly.

Each of them pulled out a small white flower and Tommy placed it into Johns front pocket.

"What you bloody doing, Tommy?"

"What the fuck is this? A party?" Maeve hissed, throwing her arms up in the air.

Tommy grabbed John's face. "Smile, John, it's a wedding." John frowned, "who's bloody wedding?" He and Maeve asked in unison.

"Now if I'd told you, you wouldn't of come. There's a girl in the Lee family who's gone a bit wild, she needs marrying-" John scoffed, aggressively pushing Tommy away. Arthur grabbed him. "Fuck off," he fought against his brothers.

"You've got to be kidding.." Maeve whispered.

"John!" Tommy shouted. "Listen to me, a girl who needs a husband, a man who needs a wife."

"Tommy, i'm not bloody marrying some fucking mushroom picker," John said, his voice shaking. Tommy hushed him. "Listen, i've already betrothed ya, so if you back out now, there's gonna be one fucking mighty war breaking out that'll make the Somme look like a fucking tea party. But if you marry her, our family and the Lee family will be united forever."

John breathed heavily.

"And this war will be over. Now it's up to you, John. War or peace?"

Tommy ripped his arm away from Arthur and walked off toward the camp. Arthur chuckled lightly and took Johns hat off his head.

They walked together and John threw the toothpick from his mouth, onto the floor. They approached the wagon that Johnny stood outside of, a dark haired woman beside him.

"Right, you should see the size of her dowry," Arthur held his shoulder. "Her what?"

"Her dad is giving you a car," Tommy informed him. John grinned and they stopped in front of Esmerelda and Johnny. Tommy cleared his throat. "Will he do?"

Esmerelda looked him up and down before a light smile appeared on her mouth, "he'll do," she smiled.

They all clapped and walked off toward where the wedding would be held.

"You stay here and cause no trouble," Arthur whispered to Maeve. "Here she is," Tommy nodded behind John. "She better be under fifty." John whispered. Tommy patted his brothers shoulder as he walked to the make-shift alter.

He kneeled beside the Lee girl.

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

Esme nervously lifted the veil from her face and John looked at her, his eyes darting across her face.

John smiled slightly, calming when he'd realised how pretty she was. She had light freckles dotted across her face, her lips a light red colour.

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

John nodded in agreement and Esme looked down at the floor.

"There remains one more part of the ceremony, that's the mingling of the two bloods." he nodded, slicing both John and Esme's hand. They both held their hands together.

"That's disgusting," Maeve gagged.

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

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

They both hesitated slightly before leaning in to kiss each other. He was gentle as he kissed her and Esme had to admit, he was the more attractive brother.

-

Esme and John sat beside each other happily, Johns hand on the side of her legs, her legs over his. She leaned into him slightly, smiling widely as everyone danced around.

Maeve stood with her arms folded, completely bored out of her mind. John noticed and whistled, catching her attention. She slowly walked to him and Esme.

"Esme, this is my niece Maeve. She's alright i suppose but eh, she family." He teased, a wide grin on his face. "Hello," Esme smiled softly.

Maeve nodded, "yeah, you've married the one whose just about classified as sane. Got lucky," Maeve retorted.

"Come on John boy!" Arthur interrupted and John lifted his arm, waving his arm around to say no.  "Come on!" Arthur repeated and John sighed, standing and lifting her down to the floor.

Tommy watched from a distance, smiling brightly at the sight of the two as they danced around with each other like they'd known one another for years.

John spun her around, keeping a tight hold on her hands. Her laughs echoed in the air and Polly clapped along to the music.

Fireworks went off and both Tommy and Polly watched Ada as she danced around like a mad woman. "Pol, look at Ada," the ginger girl observed.

"Tell Ada to slow down" Polly said to Tommy. "Like she'll listen to me" he scoffed. "I tried to stop her but she's been drinking" she told him.

"Ada come on have a rest sit down" Tommy approached.

"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!"

"Ada don't," Maeve warned, placing a hand on her aunt's arm. "This is John's day, don't ruin it."

John and Esme stopped dancing and John placed his arm loosely
around her waist as they watched the scene unfold.

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

"Ada that's enough." Arthur warned. "Now he won't even let me have a fucking dance! Not even at a fucking wedding." John fumed, trying not to say anything that'd make the matters worse.

"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.

"Right get her into the car," Tommy said, putting out his cigarette.

-

Ada's breath's were quick as her chest heaved up and down. Esme pushed Ada's hair from her face gently.

"Keep going, that's right," Polly urged, "push," A scream left Ada's mouth and Esme winced, placing her hands on Ada's lower stomach.

"Think it might be the wrong way round," She spoke, "I tended three sisters."

Maeve held a hand to her mouth, gagging and rushing out of the room.

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,"

"Maeve, you're really no help- just go to the Garrison. Your dad is there," Polly huffed, thankfully dismissing the girl.

-

John finished off his drink, slamming the glass onto the table.

"I should go," he slurred, "i should go. It's me wedding night,"

"No, no, you sit down," Arthur grabbed his shoulder, stopping him from falling forward. "You don't wanna be among women when there's a baby coming."

"So you think her husband with take the same advice and stay away?" The blonde barmaid asked as she placed a pint of beer down.

"None of your fuckin business you nosy cow," Maeve rolled her eyes. Arthur had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from laughing.

"Nah, no Freddie will be there," John said groggily, "nothing will keep 'im away, Tommy said it's okay for him to be there. Isn't that right Tommy?" He shouted.

Tommy appeared behind the barmaid.

"That's right, i'm all heart tonight?" he admitted. John and Arthur began laughing once the barmaid had left and Tommy frowned. "Tommy Shelby, all heart? You've got to be joking. I didn't think you had a heart," Maeve insulted.

"Ya know what John boy, I think it's that lovely barmaid, that pretty barmaid that walked out that's made our brother go all soft!"

"Drinks to that," John grinned.

-

There was pounding on the door and Esme looked at Polly who nodded, telling her to go see who it was.

As she opened the door, a brown haired man stood and pushed past her, rushing into the room where Ada was. He paused.

"It's a boy, Freddie." Ada said softly. He placed his hands over his mouth, sitting in front of Ada. "It's a beautiful baby boy," he whispered, accepting the small child off Ada.

Freddie stared in shock as he held the baby in his arms. Esme watched from the door and jumped when another bang sounded through the house.

"Open up, Police."

Ada sat forward, "Freddie," she said quickly. Esme went to the door once more. "You can't come in here there's a baby just been born!" She shouted as they forcefully shoved her aside.

She watched as they dragged Freddie out into the hall, pushing him up against the wall.

"Stop you're hurting him!" Ada shouted. "You can't take me away from my baby! Ada!" Freddie shouted loudly as he was dragged from the house.

-

John and Arthur sat singing together, their heads turning when Polly swung the Garrison door open. Tommy looked over.

"It's a boy." Tommys smile faded as Polly ran over to him. Maeve was the first out to try stop her Aunt. "Aunt Pol, what're you doing?"

"Polly, Pol!" John said, him and Arthur following after her and grabbing her arms. "But the police came and took his father away, don't you dare looked at me like that! You liar!"

Shock was displayed all over Tommy's face. Polly spat again before storming out.

"Uncle Tom, what've you done?" Maeve whispered, glaring at him. He looked at her cluelessly. "Nothing, i've done nothing."

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