Liliana Mae Rosa Shelby // A Thomas Shelby Fanfiction // UNDER EDITING

5- GAINS AND LOSSES

Grabbing Lily by the hips, Tommy swung his daughter up onto his shoulders as they made their way to Charlie's yard. Arthur carried Micahel on his shoulders and John had Anna on his. The three boys walked in unison as they got to their uncle's yard, Lily scrambling down from her father's shoulders. As soon as her little feet touched the floor, she was running straight to Curly who engulfed her in a big hug. 

"Curly!" Lily squealed, Curly lifting her in the air and holding her. 

"Mouse!" He giggled, "are you here to see Annabelle?"

"Yes!" She giggled, Curly walking through to the stables, Anna and Michael following closely with grins ear to ear. Tommy found it surreal that his daughter loved horses as much as he did, (sometimes arguably more), and the sight warmed his heart at how gentle and kind she was towards them.

That was his daughter though. She was the kindest, most caring and giving soul this world had to offer. She lived a very sheltered life around her parents and Tommy's family, but she loved seeing the horses every day and it gave her a taste of the freedom her father had when things got too much for him.

Hopefully Lily would find that out for herself, but for the meantime, she had nothing to worry about. The world was a cruel place, but Lily would always be protected by those around her. 

"Hello girl," Tommy cooed to the horse, stroking her face gently as he said hello. Picking his daughter up he put her on the horse's back and led her out into the open. Though Lily was five she knew what she was doing and he trusted his horse enough to know Lily was safe enough. "Go safe, mouse," Tommy told his daughter who nodded excitedly before the horses carrying the three children went off around the fields. 

Giggles could be heard for miles as the boys sat back and watched carefully, smoking and drinking the whiskey Curly had gotten for them. "How's she been, Curly?" 

"Good, Tom, yeah," Curly spoke playfully, his innocence something the boys wanted to protect. Curly wasn't like other men, but he was a kind and caring man who did well by the family and the boys vowed to always protect him. Lily loved him, always asking for him to come round and tell her another story about the horses. Tommy had lost count of the days where Curly would look after his daughter in the stables and would return her home asleep in his arms after a day of fun. "She misses Liliana, she's her favourite."

"Well that's our Lily for ya," Arthur chimed, necking his whiskey. Turning to his brother, Arthur asked, "how are things with you and the Mrs now, brother?"

"Better," Tommy shrugged, "we fucked and made up."

"Young love, eh?" Arthur clapped Tommy's back playfully.

"Oh fuck off," Tommy scoffed, "she wants another." 

"Already?"

"Mhm," Tommy agreed, "said she doesn't want that much of an age gap between the two." 

"And how do you feel?" 

"I don't know, I'd like another but I just want to keep Lily close for now," Tommy admitted, his cigarette hanging from his lips as he watched his daughter and Anna playing. 

"What have you got to lose, Tom?" John asked. "My Martha's pregnant, said she wants another straight after this little'un."