Calm before the storm

Ladies don't kiss and tell.

*9 years later.*

It was the week before Ada's 17th birthday and Catherine was currently at the local dress and shoe shop with her father, "Ada loves red so I think I might try to find a red pair of shoes for her" Her father watched her look at the shoes in the shop "I'm afraid the only help I'll be able to provide will be paying for them" he chuckled, Catherine smiled "Well I'm glad you can provide that help." As Catherine picked a red pair of heeled shoes she made her way to the counter with her father "Hello Oliver, Catherine." the elderly woman spoke from behind the desk "Hello Winnie, how are you keepin'" as Oliver and Winnie were talking Catherine noticed Ada looking up and down the street before the sneaked up the alley across from the shop. Catherine decided to follow Ada and find out where she had been sneaking off to recently, she turned to her father "Oh sorry dad, I forgot I suppose to meet Ada. Could you please take these shoes home for me?" she rushed out looking up at her father, "Of course I can, hurry along now you don't want to leave her waiting." Catherine hugged Oliver before making a dash for the door, not before hearing her father shout "But stay away from them Shelby boys I'm warning you." Shaking her head, she ran towards the alley.

Catherine slowed as she stepped inside the alley hoping to catch Ada by surprise, as she made her way down she could hear whispering but couldn't make out what was being said. Just as she was about to step out of the alley and catch whoever the whispering was coming from the loud voice of John fucking Shelby boomed down the alley "How much you charging Cat" he laughed as Catherine turned to stare at him "nothing you can afford Johnny boy" she smirked as his friends laughed, just then Ada moved from the shadows "And what are you doing down here?" Catherine smiled "I could ask you the same thing, or should I ask Tommy?" she smirked when she noticed Ada shifting from one leg to the other nervously. "So are you gonna tell me what fella your hiding down this alley?" Catherine side stepped Ada to peer down either side of opening. Ada straightened her shoulders and smirked "Ladies don't kiss and tell" smiling Catherine spoke "I knew it was a fella, Ill find out who it is you know" Ada began walking up the alley before shouting back "oh believe me I know, your nearly as bad as my brothers." Catherine laughed to herself as she decided to go see Aunt Polly to tell her about the present she had got for Ada's birthday.

Walking down Watery Lane Catherine smiled and greeted everyone she met, as she reached the Shelby household she made her way through the betting den greeting most of the blinders before moving into the kitchen. As she entered she noticed Polly was nowhere to be seen and her coat wasn't on its usual hanger, "she's away to pray for the devils" Catherine mumbled before noticing a box of cigarettes and matches sitting on the table. She peered around the room looking for one of the Shelby brothers when she didn't spot one she decided to grab the boxes and stuff them into her coat pocket. She slowly made her way down to the cut as it began to dark, she wanted some peace and quiet before she headed home for bed. She settled against one of Charlie's sheds beside the cut not caring about getting her coat and dress messed up. Deciding to have a smoke even though her and Ada had promised Aunt Polly that they would never smoke again after they were caught outside the pub, she took the boxes from her coat and rested a cigarette between her lips before taking the match and striking it against the box. As the orange glow provided little light Catherine wasn't startled when she heard the low husky voice of Thomas Shelby "Never had you down as a thief Cat" he smirked as she looked up at him with her beautiful grey eyes "Well then you don't know me at all Thomas" she said as she raised her hand on her chest to show she was 'offended.' Tommy let out a dark chuckle, "well may I have one of my cigarettes" he asked as he sat himself down beside her, she laughed at threw both boxes at his chest. "So what'd you get Ada for her birthday?" she questioned him as she flicked some ash of the end of her smoke. "A coat, what about you?" "Got her a pair of shoes, we may tell John or Arthur to get her a dress she can have the full outfit."  Tommy laughed at the young girl, "but I hear your 16th is coming up very soon" she smiled "It is, two days after Ada's I expect each of you Shelby boys to get me a gift." she chuckled as she began to get up, " I better head home before Oliver has a search party out looking for me." Tommy watched her as she dusted herself down, "Let me walk you home" he spoke as he stood to his full height towering over the young girl. " you are joking, Oliver would have your head for going near his little princess" she smirked as she walked away "see you later Shelby."