Loving Gwen Baker (Thomas Shelby/Peaky Blinders)

Chapter Thirteen

They arrived at the Craft Fair, and Tommy parked the car in the cordoned off field that other cars were using.

The Peaky Blinder offered the Baker girl his arm, and she smiled as she placed her small hand in the crook of his elbow. They walked like a couple through the throngs of people - brightly coloured fabrics hung all around them, and each and every stall had many different homemade arts and crafts to buy.

The place was crowded, and Gwen was glad to have Tommy as company. His confidant and comforting presence beside her kept her feeling grounded, even though she wanted to run and hide somewhere where there were little to no people.

"What would you like to look at first?" He murmured, his lips close to her ear so that she would be able to hear him over the loud volume of the crowd.

"Aren't we here just for paints?" She questioned.

He tilted his head to the side, as a hint of a smile crept onto his plump lips, "We're not here just for paints." Tommy said, "I can sort business out later. Spend as long as you like out here."

"Really?" She asked, biting her lips as her excited eyes scoured over the brightly coloured and marvellous stalls.

"Truly." He lit up a cigarette, but Gwen could feel his gaze on the side of her face. "So, where do you want to go first?"

There were so many different options to choose from! There were stalls that sold beads, some sold coloured feathers for card making, there was a fabric stall that sold strips of lace, there was a woman making flowers out of coloured paper, there was a man selling candy floss, a little book stall, a paint supply stall, and many other stalls full of little trinkets.

There was music filling the air around them, and Gwen smiled as she and Tommy walked past dancing children - the girls had had coloured threads braided into their hair with small beads.

"Have you ever tried candy floss, Tommy?"

"Can't say that I have."

She smiled up at him, flashing her white teeth as she jogged towards the bright pink stall and handing the man a couple of coins. She returned to Tommy's side, a stick held in her hand that was coated in fluffy pink sugar.

Tommy gave it a strange look, "Finn eats this at almost every carnival."

"And you haven't?" She teased, tearing a piece off of the stick and popping it into her mouth. "Now that I've tested it for poison, Tommy, you can try it." His hands were tucked in his pockets, so Gwen tore a piece from the stick and offered it to him.

He opened his mouth and allowed her to feed him.

She ate another piece while Tommy chewed, "What do you think?"

"I think I've just eaten a mouthful of sugar." He replied with a light laugh.

"You have." Gwen giggled, "Did you like it?"

"Do you?"

"I do." She replied, the smile that was on her face was the same one she had been wearing since that morning when Tommy had told her he was taking her to a Craft Fair.

"Then, I do too."

They passed by a stall where there was an elderly woman making handmade flowers, and brushing them lightly with some perfume.

Gwen picked up one that resembled a white rose. "These are beautiful." She said to the woman, "How long have you been making them?"

"About twelve years, love." Came the response. The old woman looked up and gave her a smile, "I'm sure your husband will buy one for you?"