enchanted
chapter 02, run in's with the inspector and picture burning.

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

Rory was woken up by Ada who had climbed through the bedroom window startling the girl. "Auntie Ada?" the girl asked looking confused at the figure that was walking towards the bed.

"Rory? What are you doing here?" Ada asked.

"Dad let me sleep at Pol's and because you weren't here she told me to sleep on your room," Rory replied moving over so Ada could fit on the bed.

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

Rory woke up before Ada and climbed out of the bed carefully not to wake the woman beside her. The door creaked making her cringe and look back to see her aunt hadn't even moved.

"You're up early," Finn commented as she walked into the kitchen.

"I know," the girl yawned, rubbing her eyes, trudging further into the kitchen to get some breakfast.

Polly stood by the counter with a cup of what Rory figured was tea watching the two of them, "You can either go to school or come to Church with me, your choice. But if you choose Church then when we get back Louise will be tutoring you."

"I got expelled remember but I like Louise, so I'll come to Church with you," Rory told the woman, pouring some cereal into a bowl.

"Right, once you've eaten go and get dressed Finn will take you and bring you back then you can go with your dad and uncles to the fair," Polly nodded, watching Rory practically inhale her cereal. The woman held her hand out for the bowl which Rory passed her with a smile and grabbed her coat so her and Finn could run round to her house.

"Which one?" the brunette asked Finn holding up two dresses.

"I don't care just hurry up," he groaned.

"Well pick blue or yellow then."

"Green," he replied, flopping on Rory's bed.

"Are you deaf? When did I say green? I said blue or yellow not green, although if you mixed the two together then you'd get green," she rambled.

"Oh my, just pick one and get dressed so we can bloody go," he sighed glaring at the girl. Rory stood looking between the yellow and blue dress ignoring Finn's complaints. Louise knocked on the door causing Finn to jump up and open it.

"For my sake please help her pick a dress so I can go," he begged the nanny who held an amused smile on her smile. Louise walked further into the bedroom and took Finn's spot since the boy had escaped to downstairs.

"Yellow," Louise smiled.

"What?" Rory jumped, not noticing the woman had even entered the bedroom.

"Wear the yellow one. Yellow is your colour," the nanny repeated. "Suits your nickname."

"Sunshine?" she asked watching Louise nod.

"Hurry up and get dressed and I'll do your hair for you," she told her, standing up to make her way over to the vanity to get the brush and ribbons for Rory's hair. Before she could even blink Rory was ready and sitting in the chair infront of her.

"How do you want your hair?" Louise asked.

"In a plait please," the girl smiled through the mirror. Finn entered the room letting out a sigh when he saw that Rory still wasn't ready.

"Shut up Finn I don't wear the same clothes everyday it takes me longer to get ready," she sighed back sticking her tongue out at him.

"I do not wear the same clothes everyday," he grumbled while fixing his cap in the mirror watching as Louise finished Rory's hair. Louise finished tying the ribbon in Rory's hair just as Finn shoved her off the chair making her yelp.

"Finn!" she shouted as the boy ran off downstairs with her following in tow. "Get back here!"

"Why are you shouting and chasing him?" John asked placing his hands on his daughter's shoulders keeping her in place.

"Because he pushed me off my chair!" she told him attempting to get out of her dad's vice grip that he had holding her in place.

"Finn," Arthur sighed as the boy stood behind him in fear of the girl. "Stop bullying her she's your only friend."

"Rory, why don't you go back to Aunt Pol's and we'll watch you go," John proposed to put an end to Rory and Finn's argument. The girl reluctantly agreed and walked over to the coat rack to yank her coat down.

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

The girl trailed behind Polly kicking the stones on the road as she walked further down the street. "Rory, hurry up," Polly instructed as she opened the door and held it up for the girl to walk through first, flashing the woman a smile while she walked through the door.

Rory passed Polly the candles when the door creaked open once again, the girl's eyebrows furrowing and moving closer to the woman.

The heavy footsteps got louder and closer and the blonde girl resisted the urge to sneak a look of whoever it was like Polly had done. "A gentleman would take off his hat and put out his pipe," Polly spoke as she began lighting the candles, they heard banging which Rory turned to look at because it was rude. "I see you Specials only dare come here, when you know the boys are away at the fair."

"You mean your nephew and Aurora's father?" the man questioned, his Irish accent prominent which made Rory begin to piece together he was the Inspector that the family meeting was about (the one where Finn got caught smoking and Rory and Freya slept through). Arthur's voice travelled further than he thought although neither Finn or Rory actually understood what he was talking about and she overheard John was telling Louise earlier about the Inspector, "With their guns and their razors? Is it them you're lighting candles for?"

Polly was more focused on keeping Rory away from him and lighting the candles. "No. I'm lighting candles for the boys from the Garrison who lost their lives in France. There's a list there. Look," Polly's glare and icy tone sent shivers go down Rory's spine as she shuddered, only having been on the receiving end of them both twice and both times she swore she wouldn't do it again, only the second time did she actually stay true to her word. "I heard you didn't make it to France, Inspector Campbell," Polly said as she blew out the match.

"You've heard of me," the Inspector got closer to Polly and Rory stepped back. "I've heard of you."

"Is it the Holy Grail you're looking for?" she called put after him making the man spin round.

"As a matter of fact, it is the Holy Grail I'm looking for," he then strolled back towards Polly. "Something precious, something stolen." The man went on before pushed Polly back by her neck making Rory gasp and widen her eyes. "Perhaps you know what I'm talking about."

Polly leaned forward and kissed the Inspector and he jumped back. "Sorry, I misunderstood your intention when you pushed me against the wall," she apologised with a smile. Rory bit her cheek to surpass her laugh when the Inspector wiped his lips with his handkerchief. The two watched the man walk to the other door of the church letting the police into the church, "Turn this place upside down. Arthur Shelby said you people would help us."

"If we don't know what you've lost, how can we help you find it?" Pol asked. The Inspector walked back over to her and said, "But I have found out subsequently that I was speaking to the wrong man. Next time I want to talk to the boss." and walked away. "Lickey Tea Rooms, Friday, ten o'clock and when I say "The Boss," I mean Thomas." and with that he walked out leaving the police to search the church and Pol to grab Rory's hand leading her back to her house.

"How did that Inspector know my name?" Rory asked Pol who was walking quite fast for Rory to catch up.

"Because you're a Shelby, everyone knows who we are," Pol replied as they got to her doorstep. "Everyone knows who you are, your John's daughter, you cause havoc wherever you go, school included."

"I've been excluded twice and both times they deserved it," Rory protested.

"Violence is never the answer, Rory," Polly shook her head.

"Violence is the answer when people are insulting me and my family," she mumbled, folding her arms.

"You sound like Tommy," the woman sighed, opening the door while also remembering that Lilian was the same no one could insult the Shelby's without have a black eye or broken nose by the time they'd finished their sentence.

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

The boys got back from the fair and Arthur, Tommy, John, Finn, Scudboat and Lovelock all walked into the kitchen. Rory was sitting at the table on Arthur's lap while he held a pint glass of beer in one hand, Rory listened in on the adult's conversation which John wasn't very pleased about since he tried his best to keep Rory and the rest of his kids out of harms way and knowing things that could be valuable.

"The coppers told everyone Arthur'd agreed to it when he was arrested. They said the Peaky Blinders had cleared out to the fair to let them do it," Pol informed the boys and Arthur put his glass down while John passed a glass to Tommy. "I never said nothing to that copper about smashing up bloody houses," Arthur grumbled.

"Alright. Which pubs did they do?" Tommy asked.

"All the ones that pay you to protect them but they didn't touch the Garrison," Rory told her uncle and John looked over at his daughter with a look of disbelief.

Pol shook her head at the girl and told the boys, "Make sure people thing we were in on it. He's smart, this copper. So, go on. Drink your beers, get out. You'd better show people you are still the cocks of the walk." Rory jumped off Arthur's lap so he could get up and went to hug her dad who kissed the top of her head telling her he'd be back soon.

"Hand out some cash to the landlords of the pubs. Pay some veterans to fix the places up," Tommy ordered his brother and the Peaky Blinders that were helping them.

"Rory go to yours and get your siblings and tell Louise she can go and give her this then come back here," Polly told her as she took a drag from her cigarette while passing her some money from her purse. Rory skipped off to her house where she found Lizzie Stark of all people sitting in her living room. The girl froze and stared at the black haired woman.

"You're not Louise," she narrowed her eyes in confusion.

"No, Rory I'm Lizzie," the woman chuckled.

"Why are you here?" Rory asked, walking closer into the living room.

"Your dad hasn't told you?" she asked and Rory furrowed her eyebrows.

"Told me what?"

"I'll let you dad tell you," Lizzie shook her head. "Are you taking the rest of your siblings to Polly's?"

"Yeah," she nodded. Rory shifted on the balls of her feet waiting in an awkward silence for her siblings to get ready.

•❃°•°❀°•°❃•

Finn and Rory were sat by the cut when Isiah ever so graciously graced them with his presence by pushing Rory over then laughing when she chased him.

"Tommy and John want you both back now," he told them after calling a truce with Rory but also being doubled over with laughter. While he was doubled over he didn't notice the girl sneak up behind him and push him over.

"What do they want us back for?" Finn asked, helping him up while glaring at Rory.

"Something about a fire," Isiah told them, slinging his arm around Rory's shoulders as they began walking back. As she tried to push his hand away he tightened his grip. Their dynamic confused everyone, including themselves, one minute they were "friends" and then the other they hated each other and fought. Ada and Polly both tell Rory that he likes her but Rory says he's just weird and she doesn't like him.

The blonde girl had finally got out of Isiah's grip and was now cuddled into her dads side as they threw pictures of the king into the fire in front of them, "I don't get it why are we burning the pictures?"

"I'll tell you when you're older," John replied, ruffling her hair which was in a plait but was now a mess.

"But why does Finn and Freya get to know and I don't, he's only two years older than me and acts my age," Rory complained.

"I promise you when you're Finn and Freya's age we'll involve you more okay but as of now I want you and your siblings as far away from this business because it's dangerous okay sunshine?" John told her as he crouched down to her level.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes in response and John chuckled at her.

"Can Rory stay at Pol's again tonight?" Finn asked John.

"If she wants then yeah I don't have a problem," he nodded.

"Finn, take her home now then I don't want either of you staying out too late, okay?" John told him before turning back to Rory to kiss her on the forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow, I love you."

Finn grabbed her hand as she went to hug her dad, "Night, I love you too." she waved.

Finn, Freya and Rory have been inseparable since the day she turned up on Pol's doorstep.

December 11th 1910
The twins had been awoken by everyone coming back upstairs after naming the girl, they climbed out of bed and wandered into John's bedroom where they found him shushing something in their old moses basket.

"Baby?" Finn asked as he got closer, startling John which made the baby cry.

"Yeah, she's a baby, Finny," he nodded as he got her out and sat on the bed with her in his arms as the twins climbed up to see the baby. They looked at Rory with such adoration that John knew right there and then that the three of them would be the best of friends.

And nothing has changed, 9 years later if anything they're closer than ever.

When they got back to the house, Finn passed Rory the clothes that were in his drawers that belonged to her before leaving the room so she could get changed. "You can come back in now, I'm dressed," Rory shouted and Finn walked back in the bedroom with Ada's pillow and covers so he could sleep on the floor. "You know I can sleep on the floor right?" she asked.

"I know but it's okay, I'll sleep on the floor. Go to sleep," he told her as he laid his head on the pillow.

"Finn?" Rory whispered fate a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah?"

"I can't sleep," she told him, laying on her side to face him, watching his figure through the dimly lit bedroom as he turned to face her and reached his hand up for her to hold.

"Go to sleep," he whispered while she gripped onto his hand.

Polly stood in the doorway of Finn's bedroom, "Goodnight, I love you both."

"Night, love you," they replied in unison both smiling at the woman.

The door opened again and Rory turned to look at Freya and with her free hand moved the covers so she could fit into the bed.

Finn had let sleep take over leaving Rory to stare through the window while she held onto his hand and Freya to stare at the ceiling until they eventually fell asleep.