𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟏

Bang.

Blood splattered everywhere and Maeve breathed heavily. She slowly opened her eyes and winced at the weight that lay on top of her. She forcefully shoved the man's lifeless body away and moved backward.

"Oh my god.." She placed a hand on her chest, looking up at the lights. But she soon realised that she needed to get out of there. It would only be mere moments before the police found the body's and there was no way she was going to go down for a double homicide
when she had only killed one man.

Her legs were weak as she ran through the same hallway she had came through. Her heart pounded against her chest and she could hear all the chaos outside.

Maeve ignored the blood on her hands and continued running. As she was running, Arthur and Johnny Doggs ran out from another hallway and she grabbed onto either side of Arthur's arms.

"We need to go— we need to go now! They know, they all know. They killed Barney— tried to kill me too." She spat out quickly. Arthur's eyes darted across her face and he shook his head, pulling her along.

They pushed the door open to Tommy's dressing room and he spun to face them, a gun pointed.

"It's just us!" Arthur held his hands up, entering the room. Maeve threw herself down into a chair and held her head in her hands. "Aberama's dead, he's gone!" Arthur told him. "They got him and they came for me too," he glanced at Jessie Eden. "What the fuck is she doing here?"

"Arthur, they got to Barney. They knew everything. They knew fucking everything." Tommy paced.

"Who? Who knew Tom?" Arthur breathed.

"Johnny, get this woman out of here." He ordered. "I want to know—" Jessie argued despite Johnny ushering her out of the room. "Get her out!" Tommy shouted.

Maeve shook her head quickly.

"It doesn't make sense." Tommy muttered. She knew who had told. She knew exactly who had told. And she knew how they knew. But she wasn't going to utter a single word. Because that would mean Finn would get in trouble. And there was no way she would do that to him.

"It doesn't make fucking sense.." He whispered. "Who— who? The Chinese? The Italians? Branch, Intelligence, McCavern? Moseley— Moseley knew nothing! He knew nothing!" Tommy roared, making Maeve jump.

She covered her ears and stared at Tommy with fright.

"He knew nothing!" He repeated, kicking a mirror and smashing it.

"Jesus fucking christ, you're fucking frightening me, Tom." Arthur admitted, moving closer to his daughter. Tommy was shivering. "It doesn't make sense," he whispered.

"Who? You must know, Tom. You must know." Arthur urged. "You're fucking scaring me. What're you doing?"

"Stop." Maeve shook her head. "Stop." She was pale and her hands were still bloody. She couldn't grass up her own uncle, no way.

-

Maeve slowly opened the door to her house and just stood there after closing it. The lights were dimly lit but it was almost silent, the only sound coming from the gramophone that was playing music in the drawing room.

She walked to the drawing room door and pushed it open, setting her eyes on Isiah who sat with a drink in his hand and Finn opposite him with John.

"You're back?" Isiah asked with a smile that soon faded when he saw the state of her. "Sweetheart, what happened?" He got up from where he'd been sat and went to her side.

John leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees whilst watching.

"They tried to kill me," she whispered, "they knew absolutely everything, Siah. Everything. And they tried to kill me. They killed Barney and Aberama. Tried to kill my dad." She explained with a shaky voice.

Finn peered over the back of the couch with concern.

"But you're alright?" Isiah asked, searching the parts of her body he could see for any sort of injury. Maeve nodded and balled her hands into fists.

She locked eyes with Finn and he automatically felt a pit of guilt weighing down on him.

"I need— to get this shit off me." She hissed, shrugging his hands away and turning toward the stairs. "Do you need any help?" He asked. She shook her head no and continued walking away.

-

Maeve submerged her whole self into the bath, closing her eyes and letting the water consume her body. Her mind was blank. For the first time in years, her mind was blank.

She pushed herself up and took a breath, wiping her eyes and looking up at the lights. She hugged her arms loosely across her stomach. There was a baby growing inside of her. An actual baby.

A beautiful bundle of love that would be the perfect mix of herself and Isiah. To be a mother was a privilege not a burden. And that's why she was going to keep this baby. No matter what Isiah said. She was going to have the baby and give it the life she never got to have.

"Maeve?" A voice spoke from outside the door. "You've been in there for ages," they added.

Maeve hadn't even realised the water had began going cold. "Right.. i'll be out in a moment." She said, lifting up and wrapping a towel around herself. The door creaked open slightly and Isiah peeked his head around. "Can I come in?"

She hummed and held the towel close to her. "John and Finn have left." he said with his hands in his pockets. Maeve nodded once. "I've something to tell you," she said.

Isiah tilted his head. "Go on."

Maeve took a shaky breath. "I'm with child.. i'm going to have a baby."

Isiah's eyes went wide for a short moment and he opened his mouth as if he were about to talk. "Please say something," she looked away, feeling tense.

He let out a soft chuckle and looked down. "Maeve that's amazing," he whispered, taking her face in his hands. She looked up at him and he couldn't help but smile. "Maybe this will be the light we've all been needing in a time of darkness." He said.

She nodded slowly. "Polly says it's a boy."

The joy in his eyes only grew further. "A boy." Isiah repeated. He leaned his forehead on hers and let out a breath. "Maybe God doesn't hate us after all, eh?" He whispered.

Maeve practically melted into his touch. There was nothing more that she needed than to be in the comfort of his arms. Isiah was always going to be who she found comfort in most. Although John and her dad were close competitors, Isiah gave her a different kind of comfort.

One thing Maeve did regret massively was everything that had happened that made Maeve and Arthur have the relationship that they did. It was somewhat strained. But over the past few years, Arthur had been trying more. He'd been trying to be more of a dad.

"We'll do great," Isiah muttered, running his thumbs across her shoulders, "and i'm not going fucking anywhere, alright?"

-

That next morning, Maeve received some of the worst news she could have ever heard. Her aunt Polly was dead. Arthur was the one to call and inform her. And although she could hardly understand him as he was crying, she knew. And she now knew what Polly had meant by there was a war coming.

Polly had predicted her own death. But she also predicted what would come with it. Somebody was going to seek justice. And Maeve knew exactly who that somebody would be. Micheal.

So there Maeve sat, in the arms of her dear father who was trying his best to stay strong in front of his daughter.

"This is all so fucked up, dad!" She cried, holding onto him. "She never did anything wrong— all because.. fucking Tommy couldn't get enough—" she tried to catch her breath.

Although Maeve was angry at Tommy, she knew that they'd been through too much by each other's side for her to ever truly hate him. Even if she claimed it to be true.

"I know, my girl." Arthur sniffed, cradling her head. "It seems that our family will never find peace." He added.

Maeve snaked an arm across her lower stomach and closed her eyes. The last thing Polly had said to her was a congratulations for the baby. And now she was gone. She'd never get to meet the child. He'd never get to know the smile or even the wrath of Polly Gray.

"Tommy's here," Lillian said quietly from the living room door. Maeve looked up and locked eyes with her uncle when he walked in.

"Bastard—" She croaked, getting up and hitting him in the chest with her fists. Tommy just let her do it. He didn't fight back. He was tired of fighting back. "This wouldn't have happened if you'd have just stopped!" She cried. Eventually she gave up and just hugged him, letting him hug her back. "I'm sorry uncle Tom. I'm really sorry," she whispered.

Tommy shook his head. "It's alright Maeve." He replied.

Arthur got up from the couch and moved out into the kitchen with Lillian.

"It should've been me. This time, it really should've been me. They keep trying and trying to kill me— so why do they keep failing?" Maeve asked.

"Because you're just like Pol, Maeve. You're always one step ahead. You just don't know it. And this time, Polly chose not to be a step ahead." Tommy explained.

"But why?"

"Because Polly knows." Tommy said bluntly. "She knows." He repeated.

-

Each member of the Shelby family stood before the wagon that held Polly's body. Micheal stood a few metres closer and stared as it went up in flames.

Maeve held on to Isiah's arm and leaned onto his shoulder.

"Mum," Micheal began. "It was the ambitions and strategies of one man that caused this, i swear in the name of almighty god, no matter what it takes, how many lies i have to tell. I will take revenge on Tommy Shelby." he looked behind him, locking eyes with Tommy.

Maeve kept a careful watch on Micheal but all he did was walk back to join Gina's side.

And that was it. Polly was gone forever. Maeve had no doubt that Polly's spirit would linger even after death — she was Polly fucking Gray.

"In the Bleak Midwinter, Pol." Maeve whispered, Arthur and John repeated her words.

-

Everybody had gathered in Tommy and Lizzie's home for the wake. Polly would have never wanted them to grieve her, not at all. Almost everybody had a drink in their hand and light music played on the gramophone.

Maeve did not have a drink in her hand.

Ada cleared her throat. "Before we continue," she started, "I believe there is some news that our dear Maeve might wish to share." She nodded toward the girl, knowing Maeve would feel to guilty to break the news after the recent even but with a slight push she'd do it.

Maeve's eyes widened and she sat up straight. Isiah looked down at her and John who'd been sat on the edge of the couch squeezed her shoulder.

"A few nights ago.." she said, "Polly payed me and Tommy a visit in the office. And during that visit— she told me something." Maeve looked down at her hands. "She told me I was to have a baby— a boy to be exact." She said

Finn's mouth parted and he grinned. John clapped his hands together loudly which soon made the majority join in. "That's amazing, Maeve!" Arthur shouted, the biggest smile on his face.

Maeve got up from the couch and Lillian rushed to her, grabbing her face for a brief moment before hugging her. "That's such good news, love!" Lillian told her.

Maeve felt bad that she was announcing such a thing after her aunt's funeral but something felt right about doing it— like Polly would've wanted her to.

Arthur was next to express his happiness for the girl and Maeve felt herself go slightly red in the face.

Tommy on the other hand, stood back and watched. He had a proud grin on his lips and genuinely felt happy for his niece. He hoped that the baby would be the peace that Maeve needed. "Congratulations," he finally said when she brushed past him to get to Finn.

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

Finn seemed to be the happiest for Maeve. He truly couldn't wait. He was certain he'd be the favourite great-uncle whether they liked it or not. John and Tommy could try but Finn would make sure it was him.

And for just a night, the Shelby family were together again — minus their dear aunt and her son Micheal. But for one night they finally felt like a family again. The death of Polly brought them together without hostility and hatred unlike many times in the past.

But was Maeve going to leave it all behind? Or was she going to stay loyal to her family?

Only time would tell.

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

double update because i love you all and im working on the last

pls leave some opinions on this chapter here: