Cross my heart - Tommy Shelby

•21•

Eliza and Ada went out on their "discovery trips" at least once a week, trying to find places that would build Eliza's memory up piece by piece.

But it was like doing a jigsaw, without having the picture on the box - she had no idea what meaning places held for her.

They had spent a few afternoons going through Eliza's war records, something that didn't put her mind in a good place. She remembered every bit of it, the flashbacks came running back too. She was caught up reliving her nightmare, remembering each and every piece from France. Eliza was all but ready to give up.

This time though, she had an obligation to keep herself healthy and well- she didn't have her body to herself anymore, she was sharing after all.

She knew that she got frustrated with herself when she couldn't remember bits and pieces from her life.

It didn't stop Ada from dragging her around places that may have held meaning to her, at least half of the places that they had been to were lead by Eliza's gut instincts- this particular journey they had embarked on was anyway.

John had volunteered to drive both Ada and Eliza around Birmingham trying to find a place that would bring back something- anything.

The drive around the city Center was cut short when the young woman felt the urge to give directions.

"Drive out of the city." Eliza spoke bluntly.

"Liza...what?" John took his focus off of the road for a few seconds, his confusion getting the best of him.

"Just do it!" Eliza urged, "Trust me."

Her friend complied, following the instructions that had just been said.

The soot stained backdrop of Small Heath slowly but surely started to become brighter and more open as the car travelled down the back roads of the countryside.

It looked so familiar. The horses grazing in the fields, the cobbles walls that acted as fences- even the cool breeze that hit her skin felt reminiscent of something.

She had been here before.

The sight of the rural backdrop painted a picture in Eliza's mind.

It was of a handsome man who sat in the drivers seat of a car, he was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

"I hope you're not kidnapping me."

The man chuckled as he spared a glance at the woman besides him. His eyes were icy cold, but they held warmth and affection as he looked towards her, "Now why would you think something like that?"

She fake pondered, placing a finger on her lips as if she were thinking deeply, "Hm, could be the fact that you dragged me out of my room and drove me into the middle of bloody nowhere."

"I did not drag you, thank you very much- as much as you don't want to admit it, you willingly got into the car with me." His voice was deep and rich, it sent shivers down her spine, "I'm not going to kill you Liza- I wouldn't dream of hurting you."

She hummed in agreement, "A true gentlemen Tommy Shelby- my knight in shining armour."

"I've been here before." Eliza whispered to herself, her mind still dazed.

The car continued to trundle along the bumpy road, Eliza was so busy trying to keep herself in her seat that she nearly missed an all too familiar sight.

"John turn left!" She shouted.

"What?" John turned back to his friend, not understanding this new order that had been suddenly shouted at him.

"Turn fucking left!"

The car lurched as John yanked the steering wheel to his left, the tires squealed against the road and smoke emitted from the exhaust. They came to an abrupt stop.

"You idiot!" Ada shrieked at her brother, "you could've gotten us all killed!"

Eliza didn't stick around for the bickering that was sure to ensue, instead she opted to get out of the vehicle and take in her surroundings.

It was a stable- a very familiar stable.

"Where are we?" She was lost in her own befuddlement.

"My stables." The man replied striking up a cigarette.

"But I thought you had a stable in Small Heath?"

"If you mean Uncle Charlie's boat yard, then yes- but technically it's not mine." The blue eyed wonder opened his side of the car door, before jogging round and opening her side too, "Besides, I prefer it when the horses have a bit of fresh air- Small Heath don't do their lungs any good."

She smiled at that comment. She'd gathered that Tommy had a soft spot for animals, especially horses.

"Let me rephrase my original question then." The woman giggled, "Why are we 'ere?"

The young man stopped in his tracks, "To ride of course." He began to walk besides her, linking there arms together, "Yer told me that you'd ride when you were in Ireland, growing up- that yer missed it."

Her heart swelled at the fact that he had remembered that conversation. She found herself struggling to form proper sentences, so instead she just nodded in awe.

"Now come on pretty girl, the longer we talk 'ere- the less ridin' time we'll have."

The woman raised a brow and smirked, she leaned in as their noses brushed slightly. She could've sworn she heard his breath come to a sharp stop.

With a final breath she steadied herself, "Race you!" She screamed sprinting away as quickly as her skirts allowed her to.

"Oh my god." Eliza whispered in wonder, she could remember her time here. The puzzle was finally beginning to come together piece by piece.

She scurried, cradling her bump as she did so, allowing her feet to lead her where they saw fit.

Gravel soon became concrete and hay under her feet, her eyes scanned around her new setting.

It was a stable, lights hung from the ceiling casting a soft glow across the space.

Bridles and saddles were hung up onto the walls, and other riding essentials littered the area.

It was the corner of the room that caught her eye. A pile of hay sat in the space where the walls met.

Eliza closed her eyes as another memory came back to her mind- it wasn't a picture this time, more feelings and sensations that flooded her body.

The sensation of warm, sweaty skin against hers- ragged breaths, grunts and moans. The feeling of warmth, completeness and safety.

"You're trespassing on private propert- Eliza?"

The young woman turned to the owner of the voice, it was the same deep, velvety voice from her memory before.

And in all his glory there stood Tommy Shelby.

Eliza ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she smashed her lips against his.

The response was immediate, as Tommy kissed her back- it was pure bliss.

"I remember." She cried, "I remember everything."

"Of course you did- who could ever truly forget a Shelby like me, eh?"