Roguish Women- Tommy Shelby

Hands Covered in Blood

            Kate appreciated the effort Tommy was putting into trying to mend things. She didn't hide it either, she wanted to know that she felt it was the right thing. There was some give, especially once the family became aware of the threat from the Changrettas. But that didn't fully unite them. Ada and Michael still had to act as speakers between parties. It was exhausting.

With Christmas fast approaching, Kate hoped for the best. Her hope was supplemented by the Christmas cards she received from everyone in the family.

"We ought to see if they'll come for Christmas." Kate urged one night. They were in the big room as the large fir tree was being propped up, ready to be decorated.

"You'll have to talk to Ada." It was probably the most repeated phrase in the house during that time. Everything about the family had to go through Ada or it wouldn't be heard by anyone. No one would answer calls from Arrow House even if it was Kate on the other end of the line.

"Tom." She reached over the desk to lift his chin, moving his eyes from the papers in his hand. "It's Christmas. We're not doing this another year. We can't do this another year. It's too dangerous and it's not healthy. I mean...you were so close to John and Arthur. Now you haven't even met Arthur's son. I hate to see you like this."

He sighed and kissed her palm. "I'll ask Ada. I've given her time off for the holidays so she can come and visit. She should be here before Christmas Eve."

"Well, I think that would be very nice, to have everyone together again."

He nodded. "I'll handle it."

"Thomas Shelby, OBE can handle it." She teased, her face softening.

He chuckled. "You love throwing that around, don't you?"

"Not as much as you do." She leaned over the desk to kiss him deeply.

~~~~~~~~~~

It had taken some time but May returned Blue, properly trained and sound. Meanwhile, Kate had been getting more familiar with riding again using one of Tommy's quieter horses. Blue was significantly more energetic, especially in the colder fall and winter months, but Kate found riding to be therapeutic even out in the snow.

She also found comfort dancing again. It took up most of her free time that wasn't dedicated to working or tending to Blue. More often than not, she was able to push out the rest of the world, only focusing on the movement along with the music. It had been so common when she was dancing in Boston. It would take an earthquake to shake her out of the mindset. Or the voice of her fiancé.

"Kate?"

Stopping mid-turn, she saw Tommy was in the doorway of the ballroom. There was no telling how long he had been there. He was good at sneaking in to watch without Kate being aware.

She smiled and crossed the room to turn off the record player.

"Swan Lake again?" He asked.

"Nutcracker. I thought it would be a bit more fitting." She said as it was the morning of Christmas Eve. "How was your meeting?"

Tommy decided to put all the news about unions and strikes out of his mind, leaving it all at the door when he came in. "It was fine." He drew her in for a kiss.

"Is Ada on her way?" She asked when they parted.

"She should be coming from Arthur's as we speak. She'll be here tonight."