The Blood War, Peaky Blinders

𝟎𝟒𝟐 never grow up

The blood war
chapter forty two, never grow up
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-1926
Birmingham, England
As Khloé climbs into bed, she goes to turn off the light but is caught off guard when she sees the little four year old standing at her bedroom door. "Cal, you should be in bed" Khloé said but Calvin didn't move. "I can't sleep..." He said finally, "When's daddy coming home?" The question caught her off guard because she didn't know the answer to that. "I don't know, Cal... but I don't think it'll be any time soon..." Khloé said, trying to answer as truthfully as she could because yes, it's easy to lie to children. But when their asking for their father, Khloé couldn't lie about that.

"I miss him... I'm scared to sleep..." Calvin said and that hit Khloé right in the heart. "Do you wanna come over here and sleep with me?" Khloé asked. Calvin nods his little head and makes his way over to the bed and Khloé hoisters him up. He snuggles in by her side and Khloé wraps an arm around him. "When can I see him?" Calvin asked, looking at up at Khloé. "He's only letting certain people see him right now like me, nanny and uncle Tommy" Khloè said. "he's going to be ok, isn't he?" Calvin asked, getting teary eyed.

"Cal..." Khloè said, squeezing Calvin tight, "daddy'll be okay, i promise. And the second the hospital allows him other visitors, i promise, you'll go straight to see him." Khloè knew Michael didn't want the kids to see him all bandaged up with tubes sticking out of him and barely being able to keep his eyes open. "Just... promise me you'll try and go to sleep." Khloè whispered. Calvin lay his head down on Khloè's tummy and curled himself into her. Khloè leans down and kisses his forehead and storks his brown hair that looked like Michael's.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The next day, Khloé went by the hospital and saw Michael alone in his room. No Polly, no no one. But what amazed her the fact that Michael wasn't in bed, he was sitting at the table he had in his room. "You're out of bed" Khloé said as she stood at the door at shock. "not the first time, Khloé... You missed the others" Michael said, reading the papers in front of him. Khloé sighed as knew she deserved that. "Calvin was worried about you last night..." Khloé said, walking further into the room. "What'd he say? Not that he can say much but what'd he say?" Michael asked. "That he was scared to sleep... he misses you... he slept on your side of the bed last night" Khloé said. Michael sighed and set the papers down, "That scared, huh?" Michael asked and she nodded. "I get it... I'm an asshole" Michael said.

"You're not an asshole, you're protecting him-" Khloé said. "I'm not talking about that" Michael said, "I meant I'm an asshole to agreeing to Australia." Khloé's eyes widened. "I really hurt you, Khlo... I seen it on your face. I don't know whether it was the meds or what the fuck it was but I didn't want to agree with my mother. I'm not going anywhere, I promise" Michael said, reaching a hand out for Khloé to hold. "You promise?" Khloé asked. "I swear" Michael said. Khloé feels her eyes tear up and she sits down beside Michael, squeezing his hand. "I nearly died, Khlo..." Michael said, "I should've, died. John did and he never got to tell Esme he loved her again." "Mick-" Khloé said, being caught off guard by the topic. "No. I need you to know how much you mean to me... how much I love you" Michael said, "I love you, Khloé..." "I love you too" Khloé smiles, kissing his cheek.

A nurse walks into the room and the pair's heads turn. "Mr Gray?" The nurse asked. "Alright, send him in" Michael said, assuming it's Tommy. "It's your mother" the nurse corrects him. "Oh fuck..." Michael said, looking at Khloé. "Okay... so I'm gonna go" Khloé said, going to stand up but as the woman walks in she realises it wasn't Polly. It was Mrs Johnson. "Oh fuck" Khloé said in a confused tone, sitting back down. Michael freezes and reaches for Khloé's hand again. "I read about it in the paper..." Mrs Johnson said, "I have a right." In Khloé's mind, she was almost relieved it wasn't Polly because they haven't exactly been speaking to each other.