Cross my heart - Tommy Shelby

•4•

Warnings: swearing

If Eliza had to choose one thing that she missed about her 10 years of growing up in Ireland, it would have to be the sky.

Even during the most torrential of downpours, she was able to see the sky and the clouds.

She could see these shades and different colours that made this patchwork of art above her head.

Birmingham was nothing like that, it was polluted. The sky was practically non-existent and on a good day all you could see were streaks of black and grey, and it saddened her to no end.

Eliza has gotten used to the smoky skies though, and like the busy nights at the Garrison- it offered her a sense of comfort and familiarity.

It was her home.

It took Eliza a day or two to adjust back into the routine of being in Small Heath, back into the life she had before France.

It mainly consisted of manning the bar when Harry needed a break and going back into your role as a teacher at the local school.

It was there that you met some on John's children, it was safe to say they were just as cheeky as their father. But also just as bright and full of potential.

They had obviously taken a liking to Eliza, and it had become part of the routine to walk them home when the school day was over and to help with any homework that had been set and then usually have dinner with them when John came back from 'business'

Eliza hadn't seen Tommy since the morning she stormed out, and nor did she particularly want to either.

His eyes reminded her of the past, and she wanted nothing more than to leave the past behind her.

Fate obviously didn't want that to happen though, as a few moments later the Garrison's doors flew open and in walked the Shelby family.

Eliza's eyes subconsciously wandered over to the blue eyed man.

Despite the past they shared, she could not deny- he was a handsome gentleman.

She allowed her eyes to linger for a few moments.

She enjoyed her time admiring him, well- until he began to walk over to where she was stood behind the counter.

"Miss Fenton." He nodded towards the direction of the alcohol cabinet, "I'll take two Irish whiskeys and a bottle of red."

Eliza nodded, fetching each bottle with careful hands and placing them next to the hatch one after another.

"Anything else Mr Shelby?"

He looked thoughtful for a minute, "I'd like to apologise for how I spoke to you the other morning."

Shock ran through her veins like an icy shot. Thomas Shelby...apologising?

"Oh." She was in a state of shock, "Well... I appreciate that."

"I do appreciate it, what you do for my family." He continued, briefly looking into Eliza's green eyes, "I know you've been helping out with John's kids- an' you've been taking care of our John too. So thank you."

"I don't know what to say Mr Shelby."

"Tommy." He breathed, "Call me Tommy."

Eliza smiled slightly, as she tucked some of the light brown curls behind her ears, "Okay, Tommy."

A stray strand was left behind.

Both Eliza and Tommy stood still, as he reached out and pushed the strand away from her soft cheeks. His finger tips lingered slightly on her face and Eliza swore her heart leapt out of her chest and her face turned to a red flush.

The moment was ruined when the young Fenton felt her body be jolted forward, Eliza felt a lukewarm liquid spread from her over her top half.

When she looked down she noticed that her normally white blouse had been stained brown.

The liquid smelt yeasty, it was beer. She had beer poured on her.

"Oops." The sickly sweet voice of the Irishwoman spoke up from above her, "I didn't see you there."

Eliza was beyond pissed, she stood there- beer dripping down her front. Every ounce of her being was telling her to scream in frustration.

But she held it in, instead choosing to storm off.

Seemingly unaware of the tall blue eyed man trailing behind her.

~

"Fucking bitch," Eliza grumbled to herself, finally letting her emotions get the best of her.

When she reached her bedroom, she began to unbutton her now stained blouse.

She prised the wet fabric off of her skin and threw it to the floor.

Her figure reflected back at her in the mirror that was sat in the corner of the room, the sight made her shake with disgust.

War had vandalised her body, scars littered her skin where the occasional bullet wound ripped through the flesh.

Eliza felt ugly.

She cradled her body as she let the tears drop slide down her cheeks, she did nothing to stop them. War had taken her innocence and her beauty too.

The door creaked open, she turned expecting it to be Grace but instead found Tommy's lanky frame leaning on the entrance of the door.

"I've had words with Grace."

Eliza laughed shortly as she shook her head. The action caused more tears to fall from her eyes. She kept glimpsing at herself in the mirror.

She'd lost all care for her decency, she wasn't the one who made Tommy come in anyway.

The tearful girl pressed a hand to her head as her breath shook. She allowed herself to close her eyes in an attempt to compose herself.

Her knees buckled, her bad knee didn't help her balance either as she swayed and felt her feet crumble beneath her.

She waited for the floor to come into contact with her body, but it never did. Instead, she felt a pair of strong arms cradle her body, supporting her.

Tommy's arms circled her waist, one hand caressing the skin on her bony hips, the other pressed the girl's head into his chest.

They sat in relative silence, the hardened man occasionally pressing a sweet kiss to Eliza's tear-stained face.

The girl in question knew it shouldn't have happened. Considering the past history between them both- the history that only she remembered properly and the trauma that followed.

And yet she allowed it, as Tommy's hand caressed her cheek once more, she looked up through thick lashes, into the eyes that caused her so much grief.

And he kissed her.

The kiss was actually sweeter than Eliza had expected, it uncovered a side of the gangster that she didn't know existed.

Yet against her better judgment, she pulled away.

"This can't happen."

Tommy had almost been expecting the answer, "Why- give me one good, valid reason."

"Because!" She retaliated, "We can't."

Tommy raised his brow and pressed another kiss on her head.

"I'll respect your decision, but think about it yeah? Because I'm starting to fall for you Eliza Fenton and I don't have a damn clue why."

And with that he exited the room, leaving Eliza even more confused than she was when she had entered.

What was she supposed to do now?