Game Of Bliss

(3)

"Flo?" Tommy queries.

He'd just got off the train, and had made a beeline for his youngest sister with a smile on his face, only to have a blank face staring back at him.

She didn't look well. She didn't look well whatsoever. She was frail, and he was pretty sure he could see each and every one of her bones.

"Beng?" Tommy states, and that seems to snap her out of the neutral state, her eyes flicker with recognition as she smiles up at him, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around him.

Tommy chuckles, as she rests her head on his chest, his hand coming to cradle the back of her neck, as he kisses the crown of her head, "I've missed you, beng."

"You haven't written for a while, I thought the worst," Florence mumbles, clutching onto him like he may just be another one of her hallucinations.

"Nothing can kill Thomas Shelby," he responds.

"Are John and Arthur coming?" Polly asks nervously.

"I haven't seen them, Pol," Tommy frowns slightly, looking over his shoulder at the soldiers who were still dismounting the train.

They all notice a familiar head of black curls step off the train, Malachi looks around, clearly trying to find somebody he knew. Hoping that someone would be there to greet him. Hoping Florence's letter wasn't true. He was looking for his sister.

Malachi's eyes land on the family, and Florence feels as though she may be sick. He and Betty looked so similar. Curly black hair, green eyes, defined cheekbones and porcelain skin.

He was slightly taller than she remembered, and although she doubted food was easy to come by, his frame looked slightly more bulked.

Polly embraces him as he edges nearer to the family, holding his face in her hands to get a better look at him.

Tommy and Florence were facing him, Tommys arm hung lazily around her shoulders. He was so tired, and he was pretty sure Florence was the only thing keeping him upright at the moment.

Polly pulls away from Kai, and his eyes meet Florence's, "it's true, isn't it? What you wrote me?"

"I'm sorry," Florence responds, barely able to stop her lip from quivering.

"Will you take me to her?" Malachi asks.

She wanted to wait for her two other brothers, but she could tell he was practically begging for her to take him to where Betty lay.

"Yes, I'll take you to her," Florence nods.

Tommy watches Florence and Malachi leave the station, turning to Polly and Ada, a look of confusion on his face.

"There was an attempted burglary at Betty's house, it didn't end well," Polly states.

"Is that why Flo is walking around looking like she could be on her death bed too?" Tommy questions.

"Partly," Ada says, "she's struggling, Tom, struggling bad, she currently thinks her only friend is opium."

"Opium?" Tommy repeats, "how the fuck is she getting the money for opium?"

"She works at the pub, sometimes in the factory, neither pay too well, and if I'm being completely honest, I don't want to know how she's funding it, if she gets into trouble, that's her issue," Ada states.

"You've given up on her?" Tommy asks.

"She's give up on herself," Ada says, "you haven't been here, Tom, but you'll realise soon enough."