What would you do, if the one that got away suddenly came back?
A story in which Thomas Shelby's first ever love returns to Small Heath only to make life even more complicated than it already is.
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WARNING: VERY EMOTIONAL! KEEP THOSE TISSUES CLOSE!
For two days both Kenneth and Scarlett had been watching over their mother. They would work together and switch watch every two or three hours. But sometimes Kenneth would take a double so his sister would be able to sleep knowing he wouldn't be able to anyway. In the morning she would scowl at him, scared that she missed her chance to say goodbye to her mother when the moment would be there. But then Kenneth would always say the same thing.
"You know I would wake you if it had been necessary, little Red".
Then, Scarlett would simply shrug before whispering a small 'thank you'.
But now, the time was here. Polly, Kenneth and Scarlett were sitting around the small dining table when the door of the apartment burst open. Arthur, John and Thomas piled in followed by Ada who had brought little Karl to Esme who had offered to watch him when it would be necessary. Now was one of those times.
"The doctor is inside now", Polly said. "Elizabeth had gone into a fit again. He says it won't be much longer now".
"We decided to allow those who wish to say their goodbyes tonight. Simply because she could go any day now", Kenneth admitted while pulling his sister close against his shoulder. Over the past two days the two of them had left the questions and regrets they had for later. Their mother needed them now more than ever. They needed to work together and they needed the other to get through this hard time. And so they allowed everything else to rest and decided that they would deal with it in the future, whenever that would be.
Each of the Shelby kids looked hurt in their own way. Arthur was the most emotional of the bunch and was fighting tears visibly. Tommy didn't show much of anything so his stone face wasn't a surprise and John looked absolutely shocked. Ada was already crying her eyes out, her cheeks, nose and eyes going red and puffy.
After the doctor came out and softly exchanged a couple of words with both Kenneth and Scarlett, leaving after bidding the other people in the room a simple goodnight. Ada and Polly went in first as the others waited outside the door. Unconsciously Scarlett inched closer to Tommy until she was standing next to him. Without really thinking about it he allowed his fingers touch the back of her hand to see how she would react. She didn't disappoint. Soon, Scarlett moved her hand to his and laced their fingers together. Tommy offered her a small squeeze, just to let her know he was there with her. Feeling confident and not caring about the people standing around them, Scarlett leaned her whole body against Tommy's side who didn't even think about pushing her away. Instead, he welcomed her warmth as well as offering himself to be her shoulder to cry on. No words were spoken as no words were needed. Tommy knew what she needed and offered her exactly that as Scarlett accepted it gratefully.
As Polly and Ada walked out, both crying heavily but still Ada was full on sobbing while Polly tried to keep herself together, Polly told them Elizabeth wanted to see Arthur and John next. Both boys took a deep breath before going in.
