A Twist In Time

And The Plan Unwinds

Returning home felt strange.

I could feel the magic everywhere around me, but part of me felt lost.

I know I charmed the house to hide it's magic when muggles were here, but I felt like I'd been completely left by magic, left defenceless.

I knew it had nothing to do with the house and actually how easy it was for the Inspector to get to me.

Looking around at the overturned chairs and then down to the restless child in my arms, I knew my first action of business was to put Thomas-J down for a nap. Wanting to keep him close, I gently set him down in his playpen, pulling a fluffy blanket around him and tucking one of his teddy's from Newt next to him.

It seemed like seconds and he was gone. I suppose the apparition and spending time with Alfie tired him out.

Turning to the disrupted kitchen, I flicked my wand and smiled when everything arranged itself as the teapot started filling itself under the tap.

Taking a seat at the table, I summoned some paper, a quill and an inkpot and started making some notes on the idea that Alfie suggested. Perhaps it was better if Tommy and I acted as a united front. That would bound to piss Grace off because she no longer had the chance to snatch him away.

If I turned the tables around and made her feel like she was my friend, then she would believe that I would give her information when Tommy pissed me off.

I liked that idea.

Plus, it kept her skanky hands off my husband.

The slamming of the door had me startled and before I knew it I was curled up on the floor in the corner, trembling.

"Romy," Tommy called from the hall, he was no doubt taking off his cap and coat. "That Irish Inspector tore through Small Heath," he carried on, his voice sounding muffled which meant he was smoking. "Fucking see the state of the street."

My body was rolling through the shock and my mind wandered back to the time before when the front door slammed and those officers came in here and hurt me.

I knew it wasn't Tommy that hurt me, but there was that deep feeling of fear installed inside me now.

Something could have happened to Thomas-J. And I would have regretted anything that would have happened to him.

"Romy?" Tommy's voice was soft and I could feel him as he hovered in front of me. I had to give it to him, he didn't reach out to touch me, but I could feel the feather light touch of his fingers as they grazed over my shoulders. "Sweetheart, what's wrong."

With twitching fingers and shaking hands, I slowly unwrapped my arms and lifted my head.

I had seen pure anger in people's eyes before but what I saw in Tommy's eyes was something I couldn't describe.

Some called Thomas Shelby the devil and in that moment, I believe he was.

"Fuck," he hissed, his fingers slowly coming out and touching my cheek. Not surprising at all, I sunk into his touch. The warmth of his fingertips made me feel like I was drowning and it took me two seconds to throw my arms around his neck and cling to him like a monkey. "Who did this?"

"That inspector," I whispered, not realising how dry my throat had gone.

"And the baby?"

"He's alright, Tom," I muttered, sighing in defeat as Tommy gently pushed me away from him and went to look down at our sleeping child. "I hid him in the panic room."

"When I get my hands on that fucking—"

"No! Promise me you won't touch him," I cried, grabbing hold of his arm as he went to leave the house. "Tommy, this is what he wants," I said, cutting him off before he could argue with me. "I've got a plan, I've been thinking."