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Rowan and Tommy laid in bed for as long as they could, the sun beaming through the curtains making Rowan reminisce on the morning she had woken up with Tommy next to her. She felt a slight chill and shivered slightly, and by instinct moved closer to the warmth of Tommy. She wrapped his arms around her and pulled the sheets up higher to warm her. "There's no shovels against the wall." He muttered under his breath and Rowan's eyes scrunched and looked up at him. He didn't say a word, he didn't have to. The glint that shone in his eye was obvious that something had made him content for a moment. Tommy believed this girl had become a salvation of some sort, she settled his heart but at times made it pound against his chest. He had never enjoyed someone's company as much as he did hers. Over the hours they spent laying bare in Tommy's bed they had spoke of politics, literature and many other things.
Rowan looked to the door, she didn't want to move from under Tommy's arm. She wanted to stay in his warm embrace until time ended. Tommy awoke Rowan when they had just one hour to spare and in realisation at how little time she had to prepare she stumbled out the room almost naked and across to her own room. Tommy laughed loudly and Polly heard it from downstairs and couldn't help but smile herself.
This girl, that had seemingly fallen out of nowhere, was bringing the old Tommy back without even meaning to do so. The Tommy who smiled and laughed with no care in the world. She missed that Tommy but he wasn't like that now, the one that could seal any negotiation and wasn't afraid of anything or anyone.
"That girl... she's put a spring in your step. In such little time too." Polly said as Tommy walked down the stairs with a cigarette hanging from his mouth and small smile counteracting his usual impassive look. It was refreshing to see her nephew finally feel something since the Irish barmaid who had built their 'love' on lies and had broken his heart... or what was left of it. "About time too." John said, his fist closed around a glass of whisky while he smiled up at Tommy beneath his cap. Arthur strolling in and placing his own on the table. "Is everyone clear on the plan tonight? Polly will you be alright 'ere for three days?" She nodded and put out the cigarette in the glass ash tray. "John, keep Rowan away from trouble, alright? She's one of us now." The boys nodded and Polly looked over to the staircase as she stepped down each step individually.
The boys all turned, Tommy's eyes reaching her last. The green dress highlighted her unique figure and Polly gasped at the sight of her. "Jesus Christ." Arthur muttered, the cigarette falling from his lips and John's empty glass of whiskey tipping over from his uncontrollable hand. "So... how do I look?" She looked down at herself, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear that was tied half up. Tommy just stood frozen, his hands in his pockets and mouth slightly agape.
"By God Tommy if you don't tell her she's beautiful then I will." Arthur teases and Rowan blushed under the multiple gazes that were all piercing into her entire being. "You look..." Tommy swallowed, trying to think of the right word. "Tommy Shelby speechless, that's a fuckin' first." John chuckled at his comment and Polly just smiled. The head Shelby walked towards her and closed the door to the kitchen, leaving the two in the hallway alone.
His hands grazed her waist and lulled her to come closer, their eyes just focusing on one another. The air around them became thick and unbreathable. Rowan tried to breathe but couldn't remember how as under Tommy's gaze it seemed that she could only live by never looking at or focusing on anything else. "You're the most iridescent emerald in the entire jewellery shop." He held her necklace for a few moments, noticing its engravings on the underside. He opened it up and saw the picture of her best friend and made it his mission to be the picture in the other slot. "That's a big word, a beautiful word too. I don't know if it fits me." He chuckled before Rowan looked down in almost shame. He gently pulled her head back up by her chin.
"Tommy there's something I need to tell you, it's about the future." "No... don't tell me. Let it be. I-... our negotiation has no weight to it now. We're gonna find you the broach, and I don't need or want anythin' in return. Alright?" "No I need to tell you this, please." "Tell me in the car, everyone else can go in John's. Okay?" She nodded, and he pressed a gentle kiss to her nose. She giggled and smiled at him as wide as she could and probably as wide as she ever had before.
"Arthur, Ada, John you three are going together. Me and Rowan need to talk in the car by ourselves." Ada has been sitting at the table when Tommy opened the door. She looked stunning in her fur coat that was snug over her orange dress. Rowan grabbed the coat that Ada didn't use anymore and decided to gift to her.
"Let's go."
They travelled to London in their finery and the two cars never separating. Tommy was in front, his car being faster while the three siblings remained to argue behind them. They had just entered London, minutes away from the club. "Tommy, what I needed tell you was-... well... you and Alfie Solomons, you don't part well. He dies from cancer in 1928, but you don't end on good terms. No one has ever really known why but it was known that you hated one another but had a mutual agreement to stay away from one another." Tommy understood that Rowan was trying to warn him. There was something that made him and Alfie dislike each other... it was a warning.
Tommy stopped outside the club and parked, stepping out and walking over to Rowan's side. He helped her out in a gentlemanly fashion and smiled at the others as they argued still. Mainly poking fun. Rowan smiled at their sibling-hood and was envious as she had never experienced that. She almost did, almost.
"Tommy!" A yell sounded from the entrance of the club, drawing Tommy's attention from Rowan and there he stood. Alfie Solomons. The Jewish thorn in Tommy's side.
"We have business to discuss." Alfie announced in the street.