𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟎

The rain poured harshly outside as Maeve followed Tommy into the office building. "I have news to tell the family when this is all done, Tommy." She said to him.

"What kind of news?" He asked. "Good news." She said plainly, closing the door behind him and taking her coat off.

"Arthur asked whose side i was on." A voice spoke from the corner, making Maeve jump. "Jesus Polly," she let out a breath. Tommy took a seat. "There will be a war and one of you will die. But which one I cannot tell." Polly spoke.

Tommy hummed. Maeve's heart began beating rapidly and shivers climbed up her spine. There was a pain in the side of her head and she twitched.

"He's gonna do it anyway?"

"Yeah."

"You should know that if Aberama takes his side I will kill him." Tommy assured her. Polly looked to him. She looked unwell. "And what about me?"

Maeve didn't entirely know what was going on. So she stood quietly.

"I'll do what I have to do, Pol." He said. "Tommy.." Maeve whispered in disappointment.

"Kill and kill," Polly whispered, her voice cold. "It's the only way to make people listen." Tommy replied. Polly put down her glass and stood up, envelope in hand. "Soon you'll have a stage to stand on. Millions of people will listen to you and you will run the country like you run this family." Polly hissed.

"It appears to be what people want."

"But not me. Not anymore," Polly muttered, sliding the envelope to him. "My resignation." She said. Polly turned and stopped in front of Maeve before leaning. She brushed her hand against Maeve's face and sighed. "Congratulations," She whispered. Polly leaned in close, placing a kiss on Maeve's cheek. "It's a boy." She whispered.

Maeve's eyes widened and she watched her aunt walk away. Was she.. no surely not? But Polly knew. She always knew. Maeve dug her nails into her palm and turned to look at Tommy who was examining the gun in his hand.

A shaky breath left her mouth. This was serious. What he had planned was like nothing they'd ever done before. It wasn't a joke.

-

Ada walked through her home with a cup of tea in hand. There was a knock on the door. "Karl go see who it is!" She called out as she was too far from the door.

The teenage boy rolled his eyes and went to get the door. When opening it, he was met with Maeve who looked stressed about something. "Hello Karl," she greeted plainly. "Is your mother home?"

Karl nodded and stepped aside. "Thank you," Maeve whispered, walking through to the kitchen where she assumed Ada would be. "Oh, Maeve! What a lovely surprise!" Ada quickly put down the tea and went to hug her niece.

Although she hadn't been at the family meeting, Arthur had informed Ada that Maeve was indeed alive.

"What is troubling you?" Ada frowned, taking a seat. Maeve took a deep breath.

"Ada—" She passed. Ada automatically knew something was bothering Maeve. "Ada, I'm pregnant." She muttered. Ada's eyes grew wide and she walked forward, taking Maeve's hands in hers. "That's amazing! Are you not happy?"

"I am.. it's just I'm not sure if i'm ready." Maeve said with glossy eyes. "I'm not sure if I want to bring a child into a life like ours." She said.

Ada tutted and touched Maeve's face. "Does Isiah know— it is Isiah's isn't it?" Ada asked. Maeve confirmed with a nod. "It's his but he doesn't know i'm pregnant. I'd been to see Polly earlier today and she told me.. she said it's a boy."

Ada smiled softly.

"Ada i'm scared." Her voice cracked and she began crying.

"Oh, Maeve." Ada said sympathetically whilst embracing her. "I felt the exact same way. It's all so much so quickly but I can assure you that you'll be fine. You'll be an amazing mother. I've always been able to see it in you. Especially when Finn was younger. Even with Finn now."

Maeve held onto her aunt.

"Listen, whatever happens. Whatever you choose to do. I'll hold your hand through it all," Ada assured her. "I promise." She added.

Maeve nodded. "Thank you. Thank you so much." Maeve whispered.

Truthfully, she was unsure if she wanted to keep it. Maeve felt like it wasn't the right thing to do to bring a child into the life she loved. She believed it would be cruel. But all Maeve had ever wanted to be was a mother. Ever since she was a little girl she dreamt of being a mother.

-

Pushing the door open, Maeve was met with the worried face of Isiah who had clearly waited up for her. "You're alright?" He sighed, going to check.

Maeve nodded and forced a smile, allowing him to cup her face. He placed a quick kiss on her forehead. "John called.. said he'd spoke to Ada and he wants to come see you." He told her.

Her heart began beating slightly faster. "He did?"

Isiah nodded. "I told him it's probably best if he comes in the morning because of the time," he turned away to go back up the stairs. Maeve said nothing and just followed him up.

She wanted to tell him. She really did. But her mind seemed to be full of different thoughts that she just couldn't find the words to.

And with what Tommy had planned, she had to do the job she was assigned. She couldn't let him down.

And that was the problem with Maeve Shelby. Ever since she was a teenager, she put her family before herself. Not matter the circumstances, they'd always come first. Bleeding to death? She wouldn't care as long as they were safe. Doing a job that could get you arrested? She'd do it so that they wouldn't get in trouble.

Maeve lay in bed staring at the ceiling whilst Isiah was fast asleep beside her with his arms wrapped around her body.

She couldn't sleep. Couldn't even close her eyes. Maeve never thought she'd ever actually get the chance to be a mother. Not with how much she had to do.

-

John was waiting in the drawing room by the time it hit early afternoon. He was assured that Maeve would be down soon and she was. "Hello, John." She sighed, clearly irked by something.

"Ello," he greeted whilst leaning against the wall. "I spoke to Ada and she told me that you payed her a visit," he began. Maeve began sorting things on her desk. "Did she?"

"Yeah and I wanted to remind you of that offer I made you. If you're wanting to run off, leave all this behind. I'll bloody come with you."

"I don't thin Isiah would do that." She shook her head.

"So go without him. This is about what you need, what you want." John explained. "And if you want that baby." He nodded, "You need to think about what is best."

Maeve couldn't imagine raising a child without Isiah. But she knew she'd never be able to live with the guilt if her child ended up like her. Ever since John had offered to run away with her, she thought about it a lot. But Maeve had left her family behind one too many times. Well.. basically only once but family is family. And there was no way she'd leave Finn in the lions den. And she certainly wasn't going to leave Isiah when she had only just gotten him back.

"I'm going to keep the baby," she finally spoke. "I'm going to keep it and me and Isiah will raise it properly. Whether that's here or somewhere else — i'm not leaving this family. Not again. But if a time comes where I choose to get away, you'll be the one I go with."

John nodded. "You know what's right for you, Maeve. Just think about what you're doing," he said, referring to the upcoming killing of Oswald Mosley.

"I know," she said with unsureness.

"We love you, Maeve. I love you. Don't ever forget it," John said. "And you'll be the best mum ever, yeah? I know you will."

"Thank you.." she muttered, her eyes fixated on the window.

Just as he turned to leave, Maeve stopped him. "Did you kill him?" She asked, catching him off guard. John locked eyes with her. "Max Montgomery. He was found dead in a London Club. It's on the front page of the newspaper." She explained.

John just looked at her.

"Don't lie to me John, come on. You're the only one who cares about me enough to go and kill him." She tilted her head.

John nodded slowly. "I killed him. And I enjoyed seeing the life drain from his eyes whilst I did it." His tone made her blood run cold. "And i'd do it again." He said with not an ounce of regret in his voice.

"Really?" She asked.

John nodded. "You could've died because of him returning, Maeve. Well.. you did die. And that was my last straw. Nobody else seemed to care enough to do anything about him. So I took matters into my own hands." He shrugged again.

Maeve felt the corners of her lips begin turning upward. "I knew there was a reason that you were my favourite uncle." She said to him.

John sent her a wink. "Be careful, yeah?" He said before finally leaving.

-

Maeve sat alone at the kitchen table in Arthur's home. He was off doing a job for Tommy and Lillian was cleaning up. Maeve had a strange feeling in her chest. Something was wrong. Something was going to happen.

"You alright, love?" Her mother asked whilst drying her hands on a cloth. Maeve kept her gaze on the table. "Maeve?" Lillian repeated, growing slightly concerned.

"If anything happens tonight, mum," she began, "I want you to look after Finn and tell Isiah everything will be okay." Maeve spoke. Lillian put down the cloth. "Maeve, love, you're scaring me." She said truthfully.

She got up and took one look at her mother. "I love you.." she picked up her coat, "Tommy says i'm to go and get Finn before we start work for the night."

Lillian wasn't aware of the plans for that night as Arthur was made to keep his mouth closed. They couldn't risk having somebody find out their plans and ruin the whole thing. As Maeve entered Finn's office, she took a seat.

He was collecting his things whilst Billy was scribbling on a chalkboard. She sat scribbling down on a piece of paper. "Listen, I have to go. I have to go," he told his friend.

"Go where?"

"They're shooting the fascist tonight," Finn blurted out, rushing to get his coat.

"They're gonna do what?" Billy asked with a frown.

Maeve slowly looked up at her uncle and stopped writing. Her gaze slowly moved to Billy and she examined the look on his face and his body language.

Finn hushed Billy.

"Mosley's in town." Billy said. "Really?" Finn asked. "Look, go in to town and get some drink and some girl. Listen to the radio," he instructed after putting down some money.

Maeve stood and waited for Finn to walk out, staying close behind him. But before she closed the door, she locked eyes with Billy and shook her head at him.

-

"Maeve," Tommy greeted with a cigarette in his mouth. She nodded and took a deep breath. "Arthur, take Barney and Maeve to where they need to be," Tommy nodded.

Maeve gave Barney a once over and offered him a gentle smile. He was just like her except more... intense.

Tommy grabbed her arm quickly and she turned to him. He discretely pushed a gun forward for her to take and she just let out a breath. "Right come on," Arthur urged her, a hand on her back.

He took them through the thin hallway and Maeve could hear the music playing. Something still didn't feel right. There was a slight pain in her head that wouldn't go away and constant goosebumps along her skin.

Once inside the small room, Arthur lifted something to reveal a window where Barney would shoot Oswald Mosley. "Here are, look." Arthur pulled out a vile of cocaine and poured some onto Barney's hand, allowing him to snort it.

Maeve squeezed her eyes closed and tilted her head back.

"I'll join ya," Arthur nodded, doing some himself. "You know what you're doing, don't ya?" He asked, patting Barney's chest.

"Tommy checks his pocket watch, I count ten and blow that blokes head off." Barney pointed. "Yeah." Arthur grinned, holding his shoulder. "That's for after." He shoved more cocaine into his pocket.

"Thank you— thank you."

Arthur winked to Maeve and briefly touched her arm. "We'll be back for you, alright?" He assured her. She nodded and hugged her arms around herself, something seriously not feeling right. "Oh, and soldier— once you do it, you run like fuck. And you don't stop." He pointed to the two of them.

She had never felt like this before. She'd had warnings in the past but they'd never been this strong. And it was too late to turn back now.

Barney sat with his knees up and back against the wall while they waited. "Once you fire that gun, Barney," she began, "do not look back." She whispered. "Run like you've never ran before."

"A-and what about you?" He asked with a slight stutter.

"Do not wait for me. You get out of here as quick as you can. I can handle the rest if needed." She said.

And finally the speech had started. Or at least Oswald was finally on stage. Maeve kneeled beside Barney and they both watched carefully through the window, Barney balancing his gun through it.

"Welcome, men and woman of Birmingham." He began. "Thank you for coming here on this cold, dark night, in spite of the obstruction and provocation of our enemies. Our enemies deal in bricks and stones and bottles. We deal in reasoned principles, argument and fact. Among those enemies, we can number Mr Winston Churchill.." he said. "Who last night, condemned me in the house as a threat to democracy."

"Them who've gone are the lucky ones. Them who've gone are the lucky ones" Barney whispered. Maeve looked at him with uncertainty and began looking down at her hands.

"But then Mr Churchill has never been a friend of the common people, faced with the alternative of saying goodbye to gold standard, and therefore to his own employment, he characteristically selected the latter. But of course, not all attending tonight will be convinced of out cause. Some will have come here tonight to find out for themselves what we stand for. So here are our guiding principles. Every citizen shall serve the state, Not the banks, not factions. Not the jews." he shouted.

The people began chanting again/

"The barriers of class will be abolished and a greater Britain will be born!"
Tommy checked his pocket watch and Barney began counting. Maeve moved back against the wall, not wanting to get in the way.

Tens of thoughts rushed through her head. Isiah, the baby, Finn. Something wasn't right.

And suddenly the door flung open, a man shooting Barney before he could turn around. Maeve screamed and struggled to her feet, reaching for her own gun. She pointed but the man knocked it out of her hands, grabbing her by the neck and pushing her up against the wall.

She struggled to breath and hit his chest. Maeve kicked her feet and tried her hardest. A mix of anger and panic stirred up inside of her as she continued to fight.

He finally dropped her to the floor and she reached for the gun once more as he pointed his own into the back of her head.

Bang.

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