Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Some kind of princess
Getting married was a big deal, it is to anyone. It was that final step of life where you fully handed yourself over to the one person you loved and trusted. A joining of two families, two worlds, two lives.
The prospect of marriage was daunting enough let alone knowing that you had to go through it without either of your parents. It was tough enough to do it without one.
But that was something Francis and Tommy had in common.
The lack of their creators.
Although different, being the fact that Tom's dad wasn't here because he was simply an asshole and Francis's parents weren't here because they were both dead, they shared the slight similarities.
But Francis was sure she'd never have nobody to walk her down the aisle.
There were many options.
Perhaps she'd pick her father's brother, a uniformed man whom bigged up the fact he'd been knighted by the king. Or maybe her mother's cousin, a bulky boy who served in the Irish air forces.
Unfortunately they weren't ever really contenders. She had two people that she'd wanted to walk her down the aisle, but only one would be available.
Arthur and Michael. In her short time of knowing them both they'd done more for her than her real family ever had. But alas Tommy wanted Arthur as his best man.
So Michael, being the gentleman he is, immediately offered to be the person to take her down that chapel and to her beloved.
In order to keep it small like Tommy wanted, Francis would only have Elizabeth behind her at the alter.
To keep the wedding relatively small Tommy and Fran only invited thirty people from each side of their families to join them for the ceremony. So that meant the reception could be filled with at least two hundred people, friends and family and some business partners who had come to show congratulations.
But, alas, with business at the wedding it brought risks. It led to the ultimate decision of no children attending the reception. They could be in the chapel as they married but then they had to go to the guest house on Arrow fields and stay there for the night, they'd be watched over by the maids and nannies Francis had hired.
Francis wasn't ecstatic about having her children away from her, she'd spend enough time of the last two years apart from them as it was. But one night wouldn't hurt, she'd have them back tomorrow morning.
But as of right now, approximately, threeminutes after she was supposed to be walking down the aisle, Francis was pacing the stone littered walkway.
Her hands shook and her legs wobbled.
She couldn't do this.
"I can't do this." She said bluntly.
Michael was quick to persuade her otherwise. God he couldn't have his cousin be left at the alter, Tommy would be furious.
"Listen to me," Michael said as he grabbed her face softly, forcing her to look into his eyes. "You can do this. You're gonna be a Shelby, alright? You've got this." He encouraged.
With a shuddering breath she nodded, unsure of whether she really could or not. What if Thomas said no and just left her there? Or what if someone objected?! What if they had the worst marriage possible and then-
"Francis!" Michael's voice snapped her out of her haze. "Come 'ere. Cmon. Let's do this, you've got this."
He held his arm out for her to take. Apprehension clear on her face as she reached forward and linked with him. This was really happening.
A final sharp breath was free in as the men at the doors opened them slowly, revealing the pathway to her future.
Step by step they made their way into the church, vomit churning in her throat as her kitten heels clinked against the stone flooring.
She couldn't look at Thomas, instead her eyes found their way to wander around the church.
On her side sat half of her mother's family and half of her fathers. Uncles, aunts, cousins... Harper. That was an unexpected face but indeed one she welcomed.
Then on Tommys side was his aunt Pol, uncle Charlie, all of his brothers and their girlfriends, the children, their nieces and nephews and a couple of Tommies friends.
Little Illyana was clambering up and down Isiah as she attempted to get a look at her mother, baby Michael was being rocked gently in Polly's arms.
Everyone looked so proud, so happy for her.
That was the confidence she'd needed to look forward to Tommy.
In an instant all of her worries washed away like the flowing of a stream.
Stood before her, waiting, was the man she'd loved since the moment they'd met. The man who'd killed for her, the man who'd steal for her and the man who'd die for her. He looked so handsome in his suit, his hair was slicked back allowing his face to be free for all to see, nobodies caps were on in respect for the lord.
Before she'd realised she was placed in front of Tommy. Michael quickly kissed her cheek and then took his own place back with the Shelby side.
Elizabeth fixed her sisters veil from behind, Francis thanked her silently with a gracious smile.
This was it. All she'd ever wanted.
"You look so beautiful," Tommy whispered as he pulled the veil backward, revealing her face to him.
She smiled softly.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of two families." Jeremiah Jesus called loudly. Ensuring everyone in the chapel heard him.
Forever would they be together. Never apart.
-
Dear Francis,
I am writing to tell you I love you and I miss you. Things aren't the same now that you're gone. I hope wherever you are taken to is a beautiful place and I hope you are in no pain. Michael speaks of you every night before bed, he kisses the little photograph, that sits in my locket, of you every day. Time is a funny thing really. It goes so slow in the moment but once it passes you'd do anything for it to go even slower. You won't be forgotten.
