human right ( finn shelby !)

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE
What Piece of Work is Man

"Are you ready?" Peggy's mother, Elizabeth, asked, "you're marrying me off, mum, you're throwing me away." Peggy turned around to face Elizabeth.
"I'm not throwing you away. Besides, the young man is lovely," she put a hand on her petite daughter's shoulder. Peggy shrugged it off, "have you even met him?"
"I-" Elizabeth sighed, "that's what I thought." Peggy huffed and walked away from her mother, grabbing the wedding veil on her way out.
She did wish she hadn't stormed off, as know she couldn't put her veil in. "Need help?" a voice spoke. It was an accent she'd never heard before, it was probably a Birmingham accent. "Uh- yes please, if you don't mind," she smiled at the woman standing in front of her. "So you're the bride? Finn's a lucky boy." That was the first time Peggy heard her soon-to-be husband's name. Finn. Cute, she thought.
"Yeah, I am. How do you know Finn?" Peggy asked, admiring the veil on embedded in her hair. "I'm his sister, Ada. Are you okay?" She asked Peggy, noticed the worried look on her face.
"Not really. My mum guilt tripped me into this." She sighed, Ada raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm saying your brother won't be a good husband. I'm sure he will. Hopefully."
This was when Peggy actually realised that her whole life was about to change. The seriousness of the whole thing had never hit her. Until now. Should she run? She had a few gypsy friends, she could travel with them. Should she go back to Glasgow?
"I have to go get something. I'll see you at the wedding," Peggy looked into Ada's eyes, unsure of who she was trying to convince. And with that, she ran down the church corridors that what hopefully led to the streets of Birmingham.

•••

"Excited?" Frances pestered her best friends' brother. "Little sister's getting married! How exciting!" She clapped her hands together, waiting for her best friend of 18 years to step out in a white dress and walk down the aisle. "Dead exciting." Hamish replied in a monotone voice.
Finn stood at the altar, nervously fiddling with his hands. His attention was taken elsewhere when music began to play, and all heads had turned to the back of the church.

•••

As she took off her veil, she heard a man's voice speaking to her, "do you, Margaret Smiths, take Finn Shelby to be your husband, through love and hate, through sickness and in health?" The man named Jeramiah smiled down at Peggy, who was stood at the altar, beside Finn.
Peggy has avoided looking at Finn, she was too nervous. Although, he hadn't noticed that she was avoiding his gaze, because he was avoiding her gaze too. This decision would determine the rest of her life. She could say no, and get up and run, or she could say yes, and set peace between the families. "I do." She looked back at the man. "And do you, Finnegan Shelby, take Margaret Smiths to be your wife, through love and hate, through sickness and in health?"
Through the corner of her eye, Peggy peaked at the boy, only to realise her was looking at her as well. She quickly averted her gaze, and he did the same. "I do." he said quietly. "Well, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!" Jeramiah smiled down at the newlyweds.
The pair turned to face each other, looking each other in the eye. Peggy's eyes began to scan the face in front of her. What piece of work is man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, she thought, Shakespeare had to have wrote this about Finn Shelby. He truly was beautiful. The pair sat looking at each other for a few moments, admiring the others' beauty when they remembered they had to kiss. Finn's hand reached for her soft cheek, and he leaned in. Peggy's eyes flickered shut as their lips joined. Fucking hell, where did he learn to kiss like that? Peggy thought to herself.
As the pair drew apart, cheers erupted from the crowd. Peggy began to laugh, "that's probably my family. They're all mental." He smiled, "mine are too."
He didn't speak much, but Peggy found that intriguing. She had been surrounded by loud people her life, and she was sure it wouldn't stop now. Finn could be her escape. Her comfort.

•••

A hand was held out in front of the groom. "I know it's supposed to be the groom who asks for a dance, but I've danced with everyone here, except my husband. I've even danced with Arthur. And Karl. And your Uncle Charlie!" She smiled, "do you dance?" she asked, as he still hadn't said if he'd danced with her or not. "Not really." He looked at her.
Upon noticing her frown, he took his warm hand in hers, "but I will for you." She pulled him up, and they ran to the middle of where everyone was dancing. "The bride and groom, everybody!" Arthur cheered and everyone raised their glass, "to love!" Finn's other brother, who she assumed was Tommy, cheered. "To love!" Everyone cheered. Peggy looked up at the tall boy and saw him smiling at his brothers. Maybe she could really love him.

•••

"You really are terrible, aren't you?" Peggy chuckled as Finn stepped on her foot for the 5th time that night. "I know! I tried telling you!" He chuckled. The night had fairly gone on, a lot of people had left, - including Peggy's family and friends - the only people left were the Shelby's and close friends. "Okay, so, when I move back, you move forward. Start with your left." Peggy instructed the boy. "Put your right hand on my waist,"
"Here?" Finn asked, placing a soft hand on her hip, "a little bit up- there!" She said, softly smiling. "Ready?" He nodded, "1,2,3,1,2,3..." Peggy began counting as the two waltzed around the room, laughing their heads off.
"Right, you two, that's enough for tonight." Tommy patted Finn on the shoulder. "Where are we staying?" Finn asked Arthur, who was grabbing coats from chairs, walking over to join the group. "Polly's for tonight." He stood with Ada, Polly, Michael, Tommy & the newlyweds. "We're hoping you'll get your own house soon." Tommy said putting his coat on over his broad frame.

•••

"Have fun. Not too much fun, though." Arthur winked at Peggy and Finn. "I'd hope not. I'm in the room two over." Michael grumbled. Michael had seemed quite grumpy all throughout the wedding. He had a wife, Peggy noticed. She wanted to ask Finn what his deal was but didn't want to be rude.
"I'll wait outside while you change." Finn stopped outside of the bedroom door. "Okay," Peggy stepping into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Shit." she said, louder than she had meant. "Is everything okay?" Finn opened the door. "My mum was supposed to leave my a nightgown or something, but she probably got too drunk and forgot." Peggy sighed. "I'm sure you could borrow something on Polly's."
"Hi," Peggy mumbled, climbing into bed beside Finn. "Hi," he smiled. Things were still awkward between the two, but they were warming up to each other. Peggy turned herself over, so her face was facing Finn. "Can I ask you something?"
He was noticing her wild curls for the first time, as her hair had been pinned back tightly into a bun. The brown-ish red locks framed her face perfectly. "Sure,"
"Could you ever love me?" She looked at the attractive boy layed in front of her. "Answer honestly. No offence will be taken." She insisted.
"Yes." He answered without hesitation. Feeling conscious, he asked "and could you ever love me?"
"Definitely."