𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟏

Maeve woke up with the worst headache she'd ever felt. It didn't take long before everything that had happened the night previous rushed back to her.

Her and Arthur were back on good terms. Her and Isiah were on good terms— shit, her and Isiah.

She began remembering the somewhat angry love confession they had given each other. And Maeve felt like she should've felt guilty for Jonathon but she didn't even feel guilty in the slightest.

She loved Isiah and Isiah loved her. There was nothing anybody could do to change that.

She cringed and bit her lip. "Oh my god," she sighed, closing her eyes. By the look of the sun outside it was early afternoon.

Eventually, Maeve made the decision to get up and ready for the day. Despite the absolute chaos that was going on in her head, you'd never be able to tell by looking at her. She still wore expensive pearls with matching earrings and her hair was presentable.

"Nice sleep?" Tommy tormented. Maeve laughed sarcastically and sighed. "It was amazing until I woke up." She told him. "Where are the kids?"

"They're out with the horses." He said. "I'll be going down to Small Heath within the next hour with your father. Will you be joining us?"

Maeve would have usually said no but instead she replied with a simple nod, trying not to seem overly happy about the invite.

"Finn doesn't seem to be answering the phone and Polly says it's him who's supposed to be at the den." Tommy sighed, taking out a cigarette to light it. "Maeve." He began.

She slowly raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Tommy." Maeve retorted.

"What happened with Isiah?" Tommy questioned. Maeve's heart sank. "Please elaborate, uncle Tommy." She instructed, shifting her weight from one foot to another.

He looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Why is it that Isiah Jesus— your ex boyfriend of god knows how many years, was the one who retrieved your father when you were upset, eh?"

Maeve clicked her tongue onto the roof of her mouth. "Yeah about that," she pointed a finger at him, letting out an awkward laugh.

"Maeve." Thomas warned.

She let out a breath and dropped her arms to her sides. "Alright fine!" Maeve huffed, avoiding his eyes. "I may or may not have confessed my undying love for him." She mumbled, trying not to burst out laughing at the term she used.

Tommy tilted his head to the side. "Speak up."

"I may or may not have confessed my undying love for him." Maeve repeated, wincing when she watched his expression drop.

"Maeve you're engaged." Tommy said in disbelief. He couldn't even remove his cigarette from between his lips because of the shock she'd brought him. Maeve groaned. "I know!" She exclaimed. "And i might have told Isiah that I don't love Jonathan." She prepared herself for the scolding coming her way.

"Are you thick in the head?" Tommy asked. "And if Jonathan finds out about this?"

"He won't find out." Maeve said calmly. Tommy scoffed. "And what did your father say about all of this then, eh?" Tommy questioned.

"He told me that if i don't want to go ahead with the wedding, I don't have to." Maeve said truthfully. Tommy paced slightly and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"He was perfect, Maeve. He was bringing in good money—"

"Stop, stop." Maeve raised her hand, having had enough. "See that's the problem. He reaches everybody else's expectations, he is perfect to everyone but me. Yes, Jonathon is kind and caring and brings in good money but he's not the man I love. Just like how May Carleton wasn't the woman you loved but instead it was Grace." Maeve said.

Tommy snapped his head toward her at the mention of his dead wife. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out because he knew how accurate her example.

"Now shouldn't we be on our way?" Maeve taunted.

Tommy sighed and opened the door for her, letting her leave first. Maeve could hear his quiet muttering as she did so.

-

Maeve, Arthur and Tommy all had matching expressions as they walked through the empty Garrison, stepping over small shards of glass. She spotted Finn asleep in a booth with a half naked girl asleep not too far from them.

Tommy dragged a chair and the girl that had been sleeping sat up. "Go home." he told her.

She gasped, her face turning red as she began pulling her shoes on. "Come here you, put this on." Arthur said, handing her a coat. "There you go, look at that. Looks great on ya! Wrap up warm." Arthur scoffed.

Maeve grinned and walked over to a table to pick up a cup of ice and standing on a chair, pouring it over Finn's face.

He sat straight, gasping. "Wake up kid."
She said, tapping the side of his face, "Rise and shine."

"What are you doing here?" he groaned. "Wasting our fucking time on you." Tommy hissed. Finn held his head, standing when Arthur passed him a glass of water.

"Sit down, Finn." Tommy stopped him, "Sit down."

He sighed, returning to his seat. "What do i have to do to make you fucking listen to me?" Tommy leaned closer to him. "You took a bullet. You've been running around the streets with a fucking gun in your hand."

"Somebody has to." Finn shrugged.

"That used to be my job." Maeve said casually, examining her nails.

"Finn, we've got people for that kind of work. Soldiers. Captains and corporals." Arthur said, sitting down. "Well, then what am i?" The boy asked.

"What am i, Jesus christ" Tommy said frustratedly.

"Yeah. What am i, Tom?" he asked again. "I'm the brother you never got around to." he looked at Tommy with genuine upset in his eyes.

"You're a general, Finn, you understand? You're a fucking Shelby so you're a general. When did you last see a general anywhere near the blood and puke, eh?"

"Tommy's fucking right, a general is what you are so on your feet soldier." Arthur said. "Come on, on your feet." Arthur repeated, grabbing Finn by the shirt but only to be smacked away by Maeve.

"I thought you just said i was a general?" Finn frowned.

"I did just say you were so get on your fucking feet." Arthur grabbed him by his shirt again but Tommy pushed him away. "Arthur. Finn, Finn, look at this." Tommy said, holding the bullet in front of his face.

"This is the bullet that Aberama Gold cut from you. First and last," he chucked it at him, pointing. "First and last." He sighed. "Don't lose it, go and cleaned up. Get some clothes on, a nice suit. I've got some trouble that'll keep you out of trouble." Arthur held his shoulder.

"Oh, and, er, Tom.." Finn said, stopping in his tracks. "Yeah?" Tommy threw his head back angrily.

"While you're here, erm, i've met this girl and i'd like to get married-" Maeve snorted loud with laughter but quickly smacked a hand over her mouth to control it.

"Fuck off, go get dressed." Arthur shoved him away. "Go on move."

"Finn this girl you're trying to impress, tell me about her," Tommy stopped him. "She likes the life." Finn said. "Likes the life, eh?" Tommy said. "Well find one that hates it, look at him, that's what he did and now he's chairman of the board." He referred to Arthur.

"Maeve likes the life and her and Isiah can't seem to stay away from each other," Finn tormented her.

"That's where there's a difference, Finny. I was born into the life and he became apart of the life." Maeve corrected him. Arthur grunted, dismissing the boy once more.

"Well you like the life Tommy," Arthur said before running a hand through his own hair. "I don't like the life, i don't like the fucking life." Tommy shook his head. "I don't like that Micheal is coming back today."

Tommy stood to his feet.

"The train arrives from Liverpool at three, Polly will be there. You take a weapon. Maeve feel free to go with them." he pointed at him. "Tommy, why on earth would i need a weapon when picking up my own fucking cousin?" She scoffed.

"Tell Moss to clear the station of Coppers, you hear me?" he looked back at Arthur, ignoring her. "Yes sir." Arthur hummed

Finn's footsteps echoed again and he appeared. "Arthur i'm going to put that bullet on a necklace and wear it as a reminder." Finn said, pulling on his jacket. "Shut up Finn," Maeve and Arthur whispered in unison.

-

Maeve leaned against the car, glancing at Arthur who was stood inside the telephone box and Polly who was looking around. It wasn't long until Micheal appeared with who Maeve remembered to be Gina.

"Micheal!" She greeted, walking forward and throwing her cigarette to the floor and standing on it. "How good it is to see you again." Maeve said, not speaking truthfully. "And Gina." Maeve smiled at the blonde.

"Hello, Maeve." Micheal nodded at her. Maeve's eyes diverted down to the shiny stone that sat on Gina's finger. She quirked up and eyebrow and hummed. "Nice ring," Maeve whispered.

"Hello mum." Micheal finally said. Polly walked forward slowly. "This is Gina— Gina Gray." He introduced. "The captain married us on board. She's my wife, mum, at least look at her."

"Tommy said to ask you to tell me the truth." Polly said coldly, removing her sunglasses.

"We've been travelling for fifteen days, Mrs Gray. Maybe we can talk about this another time?" Gina suggested. Micheal nodded. "Yes let's go home and we can talk." He agreed.

Polly stepped forward. "You have no home until you tell me the truth."

Maeve let out a laugh and smacked her hand over her mouth, not being able to believe what Polly was saying to her golden child son. A weird shiver climbed up her spine as she looked at Micheal.

"Micheal!" Arthur's voice rang out. Maeve had a large grin on her lips as she watched Arthur walk over. "Hello, love! Welcome to Birmingham, eh?" Arthur smirked.

"Micheal." Polly warned.

"Okay." Micheal said angrily. "The ship docked at Belfast— i was then taken off the ship by five men." He began.

"At gun point." Gina chimed in.

"I'm speaking to my son." Polly hissed, not even looking at her. "Fuck you." Micheal spat. Maeve whistled. "Fuck you too, Arthur." He added.

Maeve raised her eyebrows and now stared at Micheal seriously, walking closer. "What did you just say?" She asked. Micheal glanced at her.

"This is my fucking wife and I bring her home to this— come on Gina." Micheal ignored Maeve. But she raised a hand to stop them. "What did you say, Micheal? Because if I heard correctly you told my dad to fuck off."

Micheal let out a frustrated breath and shook his head, scoffing. "I did. And you're not a kid no more Maeve so what are you going to do? Try and break my fingers."

She let out a quiet, pathetic laugh and inched close to his ear. "No, i'll send a bullet between your eyes instead."

"Look at this." Micheal shook his head. "Look at this— this is it Gina. This is my fucking people. You wanna know the truth Arthur? You wanna know the truth mum? I did not betray my fucking family!" He shouted. "Now, mum, i want to go home."

"I've booked you a suite at the Midland Hotel." Polly said.

"Was that Tommy's orders then was it? See the Midland Hotel is Tommys little kingdom where all the porters keep an eye, where all the telephone exchange girls listen in on my calls."

"Yeah well why don't you think of it as a quarantine." Arthur suggested. "We treat you like a fucking dog, hm? A smelly one, a stinkin one. Until we know you're clean."

"Fuck you Arthur."

Micheal began walking away with Gina. "Wipe that dog shit off your shoes whilst you're at it, Micheal. It'll attract rats— we don't like rats around here." Maeve called after them, a sly grin on her lips.

-

Maeve walked in to the Garrison, remaining in the back room whilst she waited for everybody else to join them.

"Maeve?" Isiah asked when he walked in. She shot around quickly, her heart dripping. "Isiah?" She asked. "What are you doing here?" He said.

"I could ask you the same thing." There was an awkward feeling in the air.

"Well Tommy told me to come here— he's got work for me to do after your meeting." Isiah told her. Maeve hummed and avoided his eyes. She heard the door of the front of the pub close and she went to turn away.

"Maeve wait." He quickly grabbed her arm. "Do you remember what you told me?"

Maeve wanted to lie and tell him she didn't know what he was talking about but she know how wrong that would be. So she simply nodded. "I remember."

"Can we talk about it?" He asked.

"I have to join this meeting, Isiah. I do apologise." Maeve said, waking from him and joining the rest of the family in the front of the pub. Isiah sighed and remained where he was.

"Are you armed?" Polly asked Tommy and Arthur. "Yeah." Tommy nodded as well as Arthur. "Would you please consider putting your weapons behind the bar incase feelings begin to run high."

"Behind the bar, Pol, eh? Behind my own bar, yeah?" Arthur shook his head, emptying the bullets of his gun onto the table and slamming it down. "I prefer it there."

Polly look at Tommy. "Thomas."

He obliged and placed his gun behind the bar. They all looked at Maeve and she rolled her eyes, taking her gun and pushing it along the bar. Polly raised her eyebrows and tilted her head forward.

"What?" Maeve asked.

"And the others, Maeve." Polly said. "What others—" Maeve said quickly. "Maeve." Polly warned. Maeve groaned and reached into her pocket, taking out a pocket knife and placing beside her gun before reaching behind her head and pulling a blade from her hair.

Arthur let out a chuckle and patted her shoulder.

"I had a dream, Polly." Maeve finally said once it fell quiet. "About a black cat." She continued. They all looked at her, Tommy squinting as he remembered what happened the last time Maeve had dreamt a black cat. "A black cat dream means there is a traitor close by. It was you who taught me that."

"A black cat can mean lots of things. Can mean your hurting yourself, betraying yourself. Are you seeing things again, Maeve?" Polly asked.

"Yes I am." Maeve admitted. "And i'm not Thomas so my black cat dream doesn't mean i'm hurting myself or betraying myself." She said, reaching for a cigarette. "But yes I am— very clearly. Coming from every direction." She trailed off.

Polly walked to the door and allowed Gina and Micheal to enter.

"Tommy." Micheal began. "I'd like to introduce you to my wife. I'd also like to say something."

"Sit down, Micheal." Tommy nodded. "I betrayed you." Micheal cut in quickly. Polly gasped, "Micheal!" She scolded. "But only in my heart." Micheal continued.

"Bullshit." Maeve muttered. Arthur looked at her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"There was a time in America where there was a lot of money in that bank. And I wondered if I could leave and move to California. Someone said I should invest in pictures— Hollywood. But Gina stopped me. Gina said—"

"I told you to sit down, Micheal." Tommy snapped. Arthur and Maeve began sniggering.

"I also saw how much money we were making, Micheal. But never once did i spend a penny that wasn't mine. Never once did I consider using that money for something it wasn't meant for." Maeve taunted. "Because when I have a job to do, i fucking do it properly."

"Thank you Maeve— Now, Micheal, tell me what happened on that ship in Belfast harbour." Tommy instructed.

"On the journey back from New York, we got married. But we needed to find a witness, a purser, he was from Belfast. We got friendly." Micheal began.

"What happened when the ship docked?"

"This purser had friends who ran a whiskey distillery in County Tyrone. They wanted a way of getting there stuff into America so i said 'okay invite them aboard' when they came in, i realised they didn't make whiskey. They were scottish, from Glasgow, couldn't understand a fucking word they were saying." He paused when Maeve sighed loudly, throwing her head back.

"They started swearing, so i asked Gina to leave. That was when they started talking about you, Tom. They said that Tommy Shelby was a spent force, that politics had got to him, that he was spent in the head." Micheal continued.

Polly watched Maeve carefully.

"That now was a good time to move in and did i want to be a part of it. I knew about the money we lost in America, they said that you were going to blame me, that you had a bullet with my name on it." Micheal explained.

"What did you say, Micheal?" Tommy asked.

"I didn't have time to say anything. Coppers came on board. Well i thought they were coppers, they were-"

"They were IRA." Tommy finished his sentence. "Exactly." Micheal agreed.

Silence.

"And the first men from Glasgow?" Tommy asked. "The IRA commander said the men from Glasgow, were called Billy Boys." Micheal said.

"Fucking Billy boys." Arthur whispered in disbelief.

"I don't know who the fuck Billy boys are." Micheal spoke. "They run every man in every coal mine, every shipyard east of Glasgow, ties with Belfast, UVF, Protestant Razor gang." Arthur said. "They also dabble in Politics. You know, muscle for fascist rallies."

Maeve sighed, putting out her cigarette. "But you did no deal, Micheal. You didn't even know who they were." Polly said.

"Oh give over, Polly. Stop trying to cling on to the idea that Micheal can do no wrong." Maeve interrupted.

"I was too busy looking forward to giving you the good news," he said. Gina pushed herself off the wall. "The reason Gina and I got married on the ship was because Gina is pregnant."

Maeve's eyes widened and her mouth parted.

"You're going to be a grandmother"

Polly looked at him coldly, then at Tommy.

"Okay, Micheal, i believe you, welcome home." Tommy said. "Congratulations, just remember your unborn child has witnessed what you said."

"Thomas." Polly scolded.

"And it will be born accordingly." he continued. Micheal pushed the table forward, standing. "You fuck." Maeve swiped her gun from the table and was quick to cock it, aiming directly at Micheal's head.

"Where the fuck are you going?"
Maeve asked.

"Are you fucking mad?" Arthur asked Micheal. "You are free to fucking leave, Micheal."

"You fucking bastard!" he hissed at Tommy. "Wipe that smug look of your face Gina or I swear to the devil himself." Maeve threatened.

"But you're not free, Micheal, are you?" Tommy asked. "You lost this company a lot of money. I told you to sell, but you held on and now i want you to pay me back what you owe me. There is work you can do there are risks you can take. We were close before, now i want you closer still."

Micheal bit his lip. "Micheal, honey." Gina said, holding his shoulder. "Look at your cousin, he's in trouble, hm, he needs you. Come on, let's go." she said.

Maeve began clapping slowly and loudly. "Love that speech, Gina! Truly inspiring!" She shouted sarcastically.

-

"Where's Jonathan tonight, Maeve?" Finn asked with a slight tone of torment in his voice. Maeve held a finger up to quieten him before finishing up her business call.

"He's back in New York. Why do you ask?" Maeve huffed, writing a few things down before giving him her full attention.

"Oh, I don't know." He smirked. "How's Isiah?"

Maeve slowly readjusted the way she was sat and leaned forward. "Finn what are you trying to do?" She asked. Finn smirked. "Nothing." He stifled a laugh.

"Finn I swear-"

"Finn leave her alone mate." John said as he walked through the den. Maeve had a satisfied smile on her face and leaned back into her chair. "What you even trying to wind her up about anyway?"

"Maeve and Isiah—"

"No." Maeve hit her palm onto the table and pointed at him quickly. "Not another word or i'll tell Kian about that time you kissed his sister." Maeve threatened.

Finn scoffed. "You don't even speak to Kian anymore."

"No but I still know where he lives. If you don't believe me you can feel free to join me on the walk down to his house." Maeve added.

John watched in amusement, his eyes darting between the two.

"Alright fine!" Finn gave up, shaking his head and walking to the office.

"What the fuck was that about?" John chuckled, taking a book and looking at the profit from the week before. Maeve sighed. "Nothing."

"Oh come on, Maeve? You usually tell me everything." John complained.

"Yeah but this isn't something i'm necessarily proud of." Maeve said, looking back at the paper as she began feeling ashamed of herself.

"Oh it can't be that bad. D'ya remember the time I got into a fight with Arthur and completely missed a punch?" John asked.

"That's so much different, John." She said. But then she had a moment of realisation. "But I do remember the time you were forced to marry Esme but was still hung up on Lizzie." Maeve said.

John frowned and tried to figure out what she meant before realisation slowly hit him.

"You still fancy Isiah?" He whisper-shouted.

Maeve looked around slightly confused. "Why are you whispering?" She asked. John cleared his throat and shrugged. "You still fancy Isiah?" He repeated.

Maeve pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know— yeah? I definitely don't fancy my fiancé that's for sure." Maeve admitted.

John whistled quietly and shook his head. "And what are ya gonna do about that then? Gotten yourself into a bit of a sticky situation there haven't ya?" He teased.

"John! You're supposed to help me with this. I could hardly face Isiah earlier today."

"Probably because you know that Isiah feels the same and you're afraid to hurt Jonathan's feelings." John said casually. Maeve snorted with laughter. "Since when have I cared about hurting anybody's feelings?" She asked.

John raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. "Stop kidding yourself Maeve, you're making a fool out of yourself."

-

not proof read.