𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏

John walked through the cobble prison, putting his arms out and allowing the copper to search him. "What we got here then?" he asked, taking Johns cap.

The doors opened and a copper came out, holding Arthur by the arm. "Get your fuckin hands off me," he spat. John grinned. "Here he is, king of London town. You been enjoying yourself?"

"Oh yeah, it's fucking great. Surrounded by Sabini's men. Rats everywhere. Fucking cockneys."

"Well at least you're gonna get what you always wanted." John shrugged. "And what's that?" Arthur asked. "You tried to hang yourself twice, now the Kings gonna do it for you." Arthur scoffed and began pacing, "i've been a fucking idiot." Arthur mumbled. "Yeah," John agree. "I haven't appreciated anything John."

"Are you fucking repenting or something?" John asked, a disgusted look on his face. "Drawing. I used to be good a drawing."

"Arthur..please- for gods sake. I don't need this." John groaned. "I should've listened more in class," Arthur continued. "What fucking class, you were never there."

"I used to draw horses, stallions."

"Arthur. Not stallions not now."

"Great big ones. I should of done more with my life John, with things, even Ada said it wasn't my fault."

"Arthur will you listen?"

"They're gonna hang me John."

"They're not gonna hang you." John shook his head. "Says who?" Arthur looked up. "Says Tommy." Arthur stepped in front of John and let out a breath, holding up his wrists, "and how's Houdini gonna get me out of this? Don't tell me he's got a plan. You don't know what that plan is do ya John? Cause we're just- we can't be trusted. If he's so fucking clever why am i in here?"

"Will you shut up? Fucking shut up." John shouted, "he's already told me what i've got to do."

"Yeah course he has," Arthur huffed, "and how's Maeve?"

"Bad. She got fucking arrested with Michael for the fire in the Marquis, Arthur she's only just gotten out." John said. Arthur's face dropped, "you fuckin what?"

"Arthur her face- it's awful." John winced, thinking about it.

Arthur leaned forward, "tell me Tommy's doin something about it, eh? Tell me he's doing something. Nobody lays a finger on my daughter and gets away with it!" Arthur gritted through his teeth.

"Yes, he's got a plan or something, i think..she'll be alright, as long as she's home, she's alright."

-

Maeve sat with her chin on the table, rolling a pencil back and forth. "You okay, love?" Polly asked, walking into the house with Micheal behind her.

He stopped and stared at her bruised face for a moment. His face wasn't that bad.

"Stop staring," Maeve said, not looking away from the pencil, "and yeah, i'm fine." She replied. Polly dug inside her bag and pulled out a small bottle, "medicine."

"For what?"

Polly took a deep breath, unable to find the right words. Maeve picked it up and read the label. The same medicine Arthur had, the same one that Tommy poured down the drain.

"So now you think i'm like dad?" Maeve scoffed, "could've just said."

"Maeve, you know i'm just looking out for you." Polly said, placing her bag down. Maeve didn't look at her, "you're giving me medicine to keep me calm, calm and slow. Treating me like a fucking dog." She shook her head, leaning back in the chair.

"You and your father are never happy," Polly shook her head, leaving the room.

Micheal stood with his hands in his pockets and looked at her. "She's not in a good mood today- dunno what's up with her," he said, taking out a cigarette, "you want?" Micheal asked, pointing the box toward her.

Maeve didn't hesitate before taking one and placing it in between her lips, leaning forward for him to light it.

"I know i've got something up with me, but i don't need her doing things like that to remind me." Maeve shook her head, blowing smoke into the air.

"If you stop rising to them, they'll eventually give up." Micheal shrugged.

Maeve found it amusing how he'd only recently joined the family and had already cracked the code. It was honestly fascinating.

-

Isiah sat behind Maeve on the couch in the living room, opposite the fire. "It's almost Christmas," Maeve remembered, placing her hands over Isiah's arms as they were draped around her front whilst she sat in between his legs.

"Yep." He agreed tiredly, leaning his head on hers after placing a kiss on her shoulder. "Do you think my mums out there somewhere?" She randomly changed the subject.

Isiah frowned. "Maybe.."

"I don't get how she could do what she did- leaving me on a doorstep in the middle of winter. Can't believe she'd do that to a family. Imagine if Polly didn't answer the door, i would've froze!"

Isiah smiled at her ranting and held her tightly, closing his eyes. "But you didn't freeze, so that's always a positive."

"I hate her," Maeve muttered. Isiah remained with his eyes closed, "you've never met her?" He questioned, resulting in the Shelby girl shrugging. "Still hate her."

She paused. "Having a child is a beautiful thing, it's a gift. And she gave me up so easily, how could anybody do that. I could never." She said, leaning into him.

All he could do was hum in agreement, almost unable to keep his eyes open. Maeve understood this and kept quiet, staring into the fire and finding comfort in his arms.

Tommy walked into the room, stopping suddenly at the sight of the pair who had eventually both fallen asleep. "What's gotten you so interested?" John asked, putting out his cigarette and joining Tommy's side, having the same reaction.

"This is the first time in weeks she's slept peacefully.." John whispered, unable to read the expression on Thomas' face. "She's a kid, John. She's just a kid.." He shook his head slowly, taking out a cigarette and lighting it.

John looked down and looked at the floor. "Just a kid and she's been through hell and back- how did we let this happen to her, John? It was our job to protect her because we knew Arthur couldn't, especially not after the war."

"I tried, Tom. I really did, promise. I've tried my hardest but nothing works, Maeve is the devils fucking nightmare."

Tommy shook his head. "No, Maeve's the Devils Daughter. Nothing more and nothing less." He huffed, "and i suppose we can use that to our advantage."

"Tommy she's fucking fifteen," John hissed.

"And yet she's dealt more in the past two years than we have our whole life." He said before spinning on his heels and walking off.

John wasn't too sure what Tommy exactly meant by what he'd said. But he knew that it wasn't good, whatever Tommy was thinking was not good.

And John knew that he'd be the first to jump to Maeve's defence when the time came. He'd be the first to try pull her from the danger.

Even if it meant putting himself in danger too.

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

not proof read

i apologise for the short chapter that has been wrote so terribly. i was on and off with writing this so it's quite messy.

I also realise i've not wrote a chapter that includes Christmas yet so i'll probably interpret it into the last chapter (i think)

Also, there'll be a little surprise for the Epsom Derby chapter. It won't be Polly who kills Inspector Campbell.