𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋. | 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒃𝒚.

-【 prologue 】

NOVEMBER, 1918
Small Heath, Birmingham.

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AS MARGARET LYNCH drew back her thin lace curtains she could see Ada Shelby running excitedly across the street towards her house. A few seconds later she heard Ada's light knocking against the front door. "Ada, what are you doing here, it's eight in the morning?" Maggie asked tiredly as she opened the front door.

"They're coming back!!" Ada squealed while throwing her arms around Maggie. "Really? This better not be a joke Ada, because if it is—" Maggie began, but was cut off by Ada's hand covering her mouth. Indicating for her to shut up.

"It's true, we got the telegram this morning!" Ada yelled so loudly and enthusiastically it probably woke up the rest of Watery Lane. "Do you not check your letters?" Ada added with confusion.

"Nope, I've been to scared too." Maggie replied with a slight sadness in her tone. "So..... you've just been.. stashing them up?" Ada asked curiously. "Obviously not," Maggie rolled her eyes. "Pols been reading them too me." The blonde continued with a shrug while Ada hummed in acknowledgment.

A half an hour later Maggie, Ada and Aunt Polly were walking down to the station. Maggie noticed the crowds of women and children. Along with boys that had been too young to fight, all going in the direction of the station. When they were on the platform, the crowds had tripled in numbers.

All of Small Heath seemed to be there. Waiting to see the heroic soldiers that bravely fought for their country, to see the missing parts to everyone's families. The lost souls who had finally came home after four long years in the trenches.

The train arrived and people applauded as men started pouring out of the carriages, Maggie noticed how empty and lifeless their expressions were.

"Look, there's Arthur, John and Tommy!" Ada shouted from beside her with a wide smile on her face as she pointed over towards the three men who were walking together. Two of the three talking to each other. The three Shelby brothers.

Maggie ran like the wind, dashing through the swarms of people, weaving in and out of them towards the three Shelby brothers. Ada following close behind her. She came to a halt in front of them when she reached them, panting slightly.

"Fuckin' hell, is that you Maggie?" John asked while bringing her into bone crushing hug, "Still beautiful as fucking ever." John grinned down at her when she pulled away, earning a glare from Thomas. Who was quite obviously jealous.

"He's not lying, Mags." Arthur agreed with John while smirking. "Come here you old softie," Maggie grinned over at Arthur who picked her up and spun her. Finally only Tommy was left, the other two had gone over to greet Ada who was talking very fast to her two brothers.

"I've missed ya, Tom." Maggie half smiled him, "I missed you too." Tommy looked at her for split second before pulling her in a long hug.

Maggie felt tears prickling in her eyes and she realised just how much she had missed him.

He pulled back from the hug when he realised she had tears spilling from her eyes and down her cheeks, yet she smiled at him through those tears. Tommy cupped her face and wiped away her tears with his pads of his thumbs.

"Would they just kiss already?" Ada groaned while throwing her head back in annoyance, "Ada Shelby!" Polly scolded the 21 year old girl, while John was trying desperately not to laugh at his sister antics.

"All right love birds, let's get a move on." Arthur yelled over at them, John whistled at the two lovers. "And stay away from my daughter while you're at it." Maggie's father mumbled to himself before walking up to the four Shelby's who were waiting for the other two to hurry.

"Polly, Ada, Arthur, John," James Lynch nodded to the family before rolling his eyes and yelling at the two lovers.

"Thomas Michael Shelby if you don't get your hands off my daughter I'll cut them off!" The Irish man yelled, that got them moving. Tommy kissed Maggie's temple before he wrapped an arm around her waist and walked with her towards the Irish man and the rest of the Shelby's.

Maggie quickly slipped out of Tommys arms like butter and into her father's, "How have you been my girl?" Her father asked whilst looking down at her, "Missing you," She beamed back up at him, her father placed a kiss on her head before he held out his arm for her to take and they both began walking while chatting animatedly to each other.

Tommy looked at the rest of his family slightly confused but they all just shrugged and began walking as well.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ -

When everyone went to the Garrison to celebrate, it was chaotic but joyful. There was dancing and booze. All the Shelby's — except John, who was dancing with Maggie — were now chatting enthusiastically with one another. Everyone was talking to everyone, except Tommy.

He was sitting in quietly, watching the interactions between everyone. Observing. Always observing.

John was spinning Maggie round and round, over and over again. Both were laughing like mad men. "I think I'm going to sick!" Maggie said as John spun her for the sixth time, while throwing her head back in laughter, "Just don't get it on me!" John laughed back at her, eventually they stopped dancing but continued laughing.

The Garrison was full with people, and John had the miraculous idea to get Maggie up on the bar to sing. Soon enough that was exactly what she was doing, John had helped her up onto the bar and she was now singing.

"In Dublins fair city, where the girls are so pretty," The blonde sang as a few people whistled at the last bit. "I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone. As she wheeled her wheelbarrow, through streets broad and narrow," She continued on, people were dancing along to her words, some were even singing along with her.

She made an indication with her hands for the rest of the pub to sing with her. "Crying cockles and mussels, alive alive oh!" The whole pub sang.

Tommy was looking up at the blonde girl who was singing and dancing across the bar, looking like an angel from heaven. A few people were clapping her on, Polly being one of them, James being another. Both were smiling brightly. Soon they were both dancing together, arms linked as they danced to Maggie's voice.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ -

Authors note:
Helloo luvlies, im so excited for my new book uptown girl !!!!! First chaper of it is coming soonnnn !!