Calm before the storm

Grey eyes.

Tommy makes his way to the kitchen to see what he can find for breakfast, as he enters the kitchen he sees Aunt Polly looking out the window as she speaks. "Something bothering you?" tommy's deep voice startles her, spinning round she watches him look through the cupboards. "Can a woman not smoke in peace?" she raises her eyebrows waiting for an answer, " Is there anything to eat?" Polly turns to put her cigarette out "Sit down, I'll make some tea" Tommy slides into the seat at the table. "So I hear Ada has invited some of the boys to the pub for her birthday" Polly laughed "It's her 17th birthday Tommy, she's not a little girl anymore." Tommy grunted, Polly set a cup of tea in front of him. " I think she's actually inviting the boys for Catherine." tommy watched Polly as she stirred her tea. "And why would she do that Polly?" he questioned as he lit a cigarette between his lips, Polly smirked "well I'd say a young girl like Catherine wouldn't want to turn 16 without being kissed, but that's women's business" his eyes immediately snapped up to Polly "Never been kissed eh" Polly laughed, "well not that I know of and she tells me everything."

 Polly began tidying up the table as she heard heavy footsteps sounding from the betting den, "what the bloody hell is that?" Polly snapped as she watched Tommy get out of the seat and turn towards the door ready to open it, just as he reached for the door it burst open and Catherine came through it with blood on her face and dress. "What's happened?" Polly rushed as she ran towards Catherine. "Mark was fighting with John, I let them fight because it was fair but then Charlie jumped in and started kicking John when he was down so I had to step in, I couldn't let him get beat in an unfair fight Polly." Catherine rushed out as Polly run a damp cloth over her knuckles, Tommy watched as Polly cleaned the blood from Catherine's face. "Which one hit you?" he stared at Catherine as he placed his closed fists into his trouser pockets, " I didn't say anyone hit me." Catherine and Polly looked up at Tommy as he raised his voice "I asked which one hit you and you better tell me now before I cut both of them." Catherine smirked "Don't worry Tommy I already cut both of them. Now if you would excuse me I better go home and bathe before Oliver gets home." she spoke as she hugged Polly, " I'll call round tonight, see you later." she brushes past a stunned Tommy on her way out.

Polly watches Tommy for the rest of the evening as he waits for John to finally come home, "I'm gonna bloody kill him for getting Cat involved" Polly smiles "nobody ever gets that girl involved in anything, she jumps in head first when you boys are in trouble." Tommy couldn't help but smile because he knew it was true.

When John walked into the kitchen Tommy immediately pushed him up against the wall, " getting girls to fight for you now eh johnny boy? I thought you were a man" John pushed Tommy off him as he moved to the other side of the small kitchen "I didn't know she was fighting until I heard one of the boys shouting about Charlie hitting her!" Polly stood up and made her way over to john to inspect his injuries, when she decided none of them were serious she slapped him on the back of his head " You shouldn't be fighting anyway, you both could have been seriously injured." John laughed, "The only ones injured were them bastards, Cat cut them up pretty good" he snickered "No young lady should have to see or do that to anybody." Polly sternly spoke, John laughed "lady? this is Catherine we're talking about right?" "Get to bed John" he made his way across the kitchen as Tommy settled in a seat at the table. "Why does she always get involved in our shit?" he spoke as he lit his cigarette, Polly joined him at the table "because you Shelby's are her boys and she'd do anything for you's and Ada." Tommy smiled, "and we'd do anything for her. Did you notice she didn't come back like she said?" Polly laughed "She probably stayed at home or went to see Johnny Dogs, and I know Tommy." He gazed at her confused "know what?" "Thomas I know you like the girl more than your brothers do" tommy shifted nervously "She's too young for me Polly." She smiled at her nephew "I think its her eyes that have most people won over" Tommy chuckled as he pictured her grey eyes. "When I look into her eyes I always think maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano." Polly let a wide smile take over her face when she realised just how smitten her nephew was over Catherine.