made for display, part one. thomas shelby x reader
summary: a widely known performer seems to catch the attention of a gang leader who can’t seem to get her out of his head
warning/s: swearing, drinking, really bad writing because i don’t want to revise my old writing, smoking, harassment, and slight violence
slater’s note: this was originally a wattpad book of mine (just slightly edited) with an original character (kiera knightly as a faceclaim) but y’know, let me post it here
you love the way people stare at you even when they have no reason to. their eyes could simply be wandering the room and then land on you for no reason and just stick there.
you loved it because it gave you some form of power that no one could seem to place. the attention they fed you reflected off of you and gave you a glowing effect, attracting more eyes. it was a mentality really; no one could be you, no one could beat you, there was no like you.
however, the attention came to be a bit much when it came to certain men, especially men like harvey lucas. a man who made constant passes at you and when rejected; he made other equally indecent men make passes at you.
there was a constant growing of discomfort that would just form in the pit of your stomach each time he came into your vision. you just couldn’t avoid him no matter how hard you tried, he always found his way to you.
you made money by playing piano at the hudson; a large ballroom that was open every night, and had you play every saturday. you made good money but you also made good impressions on some of the men that would watch you, making it easy for harvey lucas to find someone to force on you.
you leaned against the copper bar rail with a glass of wine in hand as you observed the men and women that swung along to the music together.
a small smile of amusement formed on your face as you continued to watch until it was suddenly dropped when you saw the eager face of harvey from the corner of your eye; he was looking for someone.
he was looking for you.
you quickly adjusted yourself off the bar railing, setting down the glass half full of thick red wine before pushing yourself into the crowd of dancing people in hopes his eyes wouldn’t catch you.
you looked around frantically, looking for someone to hide behind or to just to talk to so you could drown out harvey who was soon to find you. it was always better with the company of another person, it always made it hard for the man to push on his abrasive words.
your eyes land on a man who, conveniently, was looking right at you. you almost smirk but he slowly diverts his eyes to somewhere else with a blank expression, almost thinking you wouldn’t notice him if he was subtle, but it was too late, he was already quick pray.
you glided across the slick polished wooden floors to the man who stood to the side with a glass of whiskey.
you smile when his eyes find their way back to you when you’re only five feet away. he seems unaffected, as if he expected you to come around eventually, like this was his plan the whole time, even as he had no idea who you were.
and you smiled to yourself knowing he was very well unaware that you had no intention in sleeping with him, but only to escape from the drooling men that chased after you.
“do you dance?”
maybe you liked him, chose him because he wasn’t drooling all over you, and of course that’s the way things go? you desire the ones who don’t desire you.
he nods slowly and always hesitantly, taking a sip of the drink in his hand, not offering you any verbal response. but you take that as an opening to drag him onto the dance floor as he wasn’t speaking; wasn’t protesting.
eyes seemed to land on the two of you, including the ones of harvey who was after you. you smiles to yourself as you can see the disappointment clouding his features from the corner of your eye.
thank god.
thomas shelby reluctantly places his hand on your hip as well as lacing his fingers with yours. he purses his lips while studying your features as your eyes dart around the room, as if your anxiety was turned to a high and he found that strange.
“these people, mr. shelby, they take great interest in you,” you mumble while studying other people and the way they look at you, no, the way they look at him.
“who are you?”
you finally look to him, finding his icy eyes that seem to stare into your soul. they make you lightly shiver, but you keep your composure, slightly smiling to hide the fear that started to creep into the back of your mind.
you were a fool to consider him as a dance partner so lightly.
his eyebrows were raised high, “how do you know who i am?”
“i don’t.”
he leaves your eyes, looking at the crowds of people who you were referring to, and he frowns at your incorrect observation.
“they’re all staring at you.”
thomas has never seen you a day of his life until now. it took him on edge on how well you seemed to know him for no reason, but it’s as if he forgets how notorious him and his brothers are.
“they’re staring at the both of you.”
you closed your eyes tightly at the voice, leaving tommy all the more confused. he formed his lips in a tight line glancing at the man who stood uncomfortably close to the two of you who continued to dance to the music.
“fuck off, eh? harvey,” you mumbled, your eyes wandering around the cream colored room.
“wouldn’t you like that, huh, y/n?”
thomas looks between the two of you, loosening his grip on you and you notices right away, your head flipping to him. you give him a desperate look that he sees a lot from woman.
you didn’t want him to leave you to another conversation with the man that continued to stand next to you in an awkward stance.
but thomas fully lets go of you, nodding to the man named “harvey”.
you bite the inside of your cheek as you watch the man smooth down the front of his nice three-piece suit while walking away, back to his scotch.
“you look nice.”
you scoff, marching back to the bar where your alcoholic drink also awaited.
maybe, you thought, maybe if i act like he’s not here, he’ll go away.
but he didn’t. he continued to talk about the hotel room he had up in the hudson and how he was ready to go up at anytime.
“harvey, you really have no idea how much i’d like to strangle you right now,” you mumbled, connecting the tip of your wine glass to your lips.
you glanced his way while you take in the thick liquid down your throat. he thinks while looking at his shoes before looking back up to you.
he comes in really close to where his lips are connected to your ear, “i’d prefer to be the one who strangles while fucking you senseless.”
you could feel your blood boiling to the point you couldn’t even think, so you smashed your wine glass over the top of his head.
Synopsis: For the first time in his life, Tommy has everything he wants, but when his wife starts doubting things, all he can hope is that he can fix everything.
Warnings: swearing, talks of birth and pregnancy (I literally cannot think of anything else, but if you do see something, please let me know :) )
Wordcount: 3341
The light that filtered in through the room was soft as it gently glid over the two entwined bodies lying in bed.
One of Tommy’s hands was underneath Y/N’s cheek as she still slept, while the other was on her ever-growing stomach. Nowadays he pretty much never took his touch away from it, just waiting for the moment when their little miracle would kick for the first time. Even when they were walking down the street, coats covering their bodies, his arm would be wrapped around Y/N’s back and firmly placed at the side of her stomach so he wouldn’t miss a thing.
They found out about the pregnancy two weeks after they’d last seen Grace. Together Tommy and Y/N had gone to Polly’s for a pre-Christmas dinner and to decorate the tree, but she barely got to take her coat off, when the older woman gasped, one hand instantly going to squeeze her left breast.
“Ow, what the fuck, Pol?!” Y/N exclaimed, jumping back and putting her hands in front of her chest as if Polly was gonna go for them again, Tommy stepping forward as if he was her bodyguard, no matter who tried to hurt her.
“You’re pregnant,” she whispered, eyes wide and glimmering with joy, while Tommy’s snapped down to Y/N’s stomach as if he could see through and into her womb. “You’re pregnant!”
“No, I’m not,” Y/N shook her head, body rooted in the spot from her words.
“Yes, you are.” Polly countered reaching for her crossed arms and pulling them down by her sides her gaze wandering over her body. “Your tits are bigger, they hurt when they’re touched, and you have that – that glow only pregnant women get.”
Tommy cupped his wife’s face making her look at him. “Is this true? Did you know?”
“Of course not!” Y/N scoffed. “I had none of the symptoms.”
Tommy’s eyebrow lifted at that.
Y/N rolled her eyes shooting Polly a look, who was grinning like a madwoman. “I thought my tits were bigger and hurting because I was about to bleed for a week. Like I do every month, remember?”
“But you haven’t.” It was like Tommy suddenly was enlightened. “You didn’t bleed last month.”
She scoffed looking him. “And how would you know?”
“For one, you haven’t asked Frances to boil the rags, and two,” Tommy now fully stepped before Y/N, leaning in so his lips skimmed the shell of her ear. “We’ve been shagging every day of the week. You never let me do that when you’re bleeding.”
And that same enlightenment came over Y/N. “Holy shit. I think I might be pregnant.”
“You are,” Polly piped up, having gone to the kitchen, two glasses of champagne in her hands. Y/N was already reaching for it when Polly pulled it back and handed it to Tommy, a pout forming on her lips.
“Nothing like this for you, for some time now.” Polly scolded her with a smile, while Y/N rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in front of her chest, but she still saw Tommy’s wide smile as he lifted a glass mimicking Polly.
“To the newest Shelby of the family,” she said, softly smiling while Tommy kissed Y/N’s temple, hiding his nose in her hair just for a moment to revel in the news.
“To you, Y/N,” he whispered and clinked the glass with his aunt, downing the drink in one go.
Y/E/C eyes didn’t take their gaze off him, which made him let out a nervous chuckle.
“What?”
Y/N looked both of the Shelbys before scoffing and entering the living room to start decorating the tree. “This sucks! You knocked me up,” she pointed at Tommy who was leaning against the doorway, amusement glimmering in his eyes as he put his hands on his hips. “And now I can’t drink? Nope, that’s not how things are going to go.”
“And how are they going to go?” Tommy was smiling as he grabbed the box filled with baubles from the settee it was resting on and took it to Y/N, who fished out a golden and red ball, twirling the string around her finger.
“Like this,” she gave him her most devious grin. “Whatever I can’t do, neither can you. No smoking,” she listed off. “No drinking, no nothing.”
Had Y/N not known who and what Tommy was, by the pout on his face, you’d never be able to tell he was one of the most notoriously dangerous mobsters in all of England. “That is cruel.”
“Call it solidarity,” Y/N said, throwing him the bauble, which he easily caught. “Now chop-chop, baby daddy. The tree won’t decorate itself.”
Christmas had now become his favourite holiday, and he couldn’t wait for the next year’s celebrations with one more Shelby added to the family. Tommy seemed to be pretty much floating through life now after he found out about their addition. He was still conniving when it came to business, eyes cold as the iced colour of them, but whenever he saw Y/N he lit up like the tree they’d decorated.
Once the fourth month rolled around, Tommy couldn’t wait anymore and started to build the nursery, refusing Y/N plea to have constructors come in and help.
“You’re creating them,” Tommy had smiled, letting his palm glide over her robe covered stomach. “So, let me create something as well.”
Y/N’s lips pulled up in a smile, as she cupped his cheeks. “Okay,” she muttered and pecked his lips. “Okay. But how about you do it during the daytime, instead of at three AM?” Her eyes shot towards the large grandfather clock in the hallway. “And not leave your pregnant wife alone and cold in the bed?”
“You’re trying to guilt-trip me,” Tommy smirked, wrapping his arms around Y/N’s waist and pulling her into him. Her own arms weaved around his neck.
“Very much so. And I would also very much so like to get some rest.”
“Okay,” he sighed, and hung his head, pressing their foreheads together. “Alright, let’s get you some rest.”
“And you,” Y/N added raising her brow at him as they exited the nursery and closed the door behind them. “If you think I’ll be the only one waking up at night to take care of the little one once they’re born, you’re dead wrong. It takes two to tango, and it’ll take two to raise them.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And because it was true, that his wife was creating a baby in her body and needed to get more sleep than usual, he worked on the crib during the evenings, leaving work earlier during the day, so at night he could sleep next to his wife and watch over her.
It was during one of those evenings when Polly had arrived at Arrow House to give Y/N some company and the two could have a late luncheon, when Tommy overheard the two talking. He’d been walking down the stairs to go find some wood glue and screws, finally being at the point he could start putting the crib together when the two female voices invaded his ears.
“I want them to have Tommy’s eyes.” Y/N smiled at Polly, as his aunt placed a teacup in front of her. “’S all I’ve been seeing in my dreams – a little chubby face with Tommy’s eyes.”
His heart had to have physically grown in his chest at that moment because he was sure the love that’d filled it for the past two years now, two wonderful, frustrating, respect-filled years since they’d met, had doubled if not tripled in size.
“Actually, maybe not,” Y/N mumbled, looking at Polly, eyes wide. “Sometimes his eyes scare me.”
That made Tommy frown. If there was one thing in life he didn’t want, it was for Y/N to ever be afraid of him. And she’d never, even at the moment he’d been completely unhinged, had shown any signs of fear.
“How so?” Polly asked.
“Like,” his wife huffed, looking down at the tea leaves swirling in the hot water. “Like I sometimes feel like he can see through my soul or read my mind. It’s terrifying.”
Polly chuckled shaking her head. “What - you afraid he’ll find out about your secrets?”
“Of course, I am!” Y/N exclaimed, and Tommy’s heart clenched in his chest. He hadn’t been aware there were any secrets between the two. He didn’t pry into her business with the publishing house nor did he ask her to read any of her writing while still in the beginning phases, knowing how intimate such an action could be, but after everything they’d gone through, Tommy assumed both were open books to one another.
“God, if he actually can read minds, which I wouldn’t be too surprised about, given you and your scary baby prediction skills,” Y/N nudged her chin towards Polly. “I’d be so dead. That couch in his office, the one he got imported from Italy? I spilt wine all over the cushions on the first day it came. Red wine. Tried to get it out, but nothing would help, so I just flipped them over. I saw how much it cost.” She snorted leaning closer to Polly. “He’d wring my neck for it if he knew. And let’s not talk about that one silk shirt he’s been looking for the past month, which I accidentally burned a hole through with the iron. He still thinks Frances is doing some ‘maid magic’ to it when actually I threw it in the fireplace and lit it up.”
“Why’d'ya burn it?”
Y/N scoffed at Polly’s question. “That was evidence! Besides,” she chewed on the inside of her cheek. “When all that happened, we weren’t… well, we weren’t the way we are now.”
If Tommy’s heart had been pinched by the thought of his wife not trusting him, then now it warmed feeling that love fill it up again, knowing the kind of secrets she was keeping. They weren’t life-changing or love-altering ones, like the ones Grace had kept, ones that had broken him completely and utterly. They were small ones, things Y/N wanted to keep from him because she’d known he’d be upset or frustrated, while she tried to resolve the issues, tiny secrets so his life was easier, filled with less stress.
He looked at his aunt, her lips pulled in a small smile, while she squinted at Y/N. “Okay, but what’s the biggest thing?” Polly asked.
Y/N averted her gaze. “What do you mean?”
“The biggest secret you’re keeping from him? It can’t be a burned shirt or a ruined couch. Something else is pressing on you.”
His wife let out a large sigh, dropping her head down while her shoulders slumped as well. Now Tommy was truly afraid. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but now he simply couldn’t turn back.
“When the baby is born…” Y/N pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I want him to be there for me. For us.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “I know it’s women’s business, and men aren’t supposed to get involved, but I’m scared shitless, Polly, and I need him there. We created this; he should be there.”
“Then ask him,” his aunt said like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Y/N scoffed and downed the last of her tea. “How? He’ll probably say no.”
Polly levelled a gaze at her. “That man is incapable of saying no to you.”
“Oh, trust me, he has. This one time -,”
“I’d never say no to that,” Tommy interrupted whatever Y/N was going to say, finally emerging into the kitchen, startling his wife, but not his aunt who’d known he was just right around the corner, and now Tommy had a sneaking suspicion, she’d coaxed that out of her because, on her own, she wouldn’t have brought it up to him.
“How long have you been there?” Y/N whispered, large Y/E/C eyes staring at him.
Tommy shrugged stepping before her and parting her legs so he could slot between them. “Long enough. And it hurts me you’d ever dare think I wouldn’t be there for you. Even if you’d need me to hold your hand while walking from the bed to the bathroom – all you have to do is tell me, and I’ll be there. You said it.” He put his palm over her own, where it still rested on her belly. “We created this. This is ours. It would be an honour to be there for you both because I want to be there. I just didn’t want you to be uncomfortable by that thought or feel pressured by it, so I didn’t say anything.”
“Are you – are you sure?” There was a new uncertain note in Y/N’s voice, something he’d never heard before from her. She was always so confident, his ever-certain rock. “Because once you see how it happens, you won’t unsee it. It might… it might make you not want me anymore.”
“Look at me girl,” Polly grabbed Y/N’s free hand in hers and squeezed it nudging her chin at Tommy. “If that lad ever does or says something that makes you feel that way, you come to me. He might be my nephew, but I’m not above cutting things off.”
And although all of them let out small laughs, Tommy shifted in place, knowing she wasn’t throwing around empty threats.
“You’re the one bringing this life both of you created into the world.” Polly’s tone was stern. “You. Not him. So, what you say goes.” Her gaze shot to Tommy. “Got it?”
“Yes, Ma'am.”
After that, the luncheon passed relatively smoothly, but even with everything now out in the open, Tommy could feel that Y/N was still holding something back, even as he helped her undress that night and slipped into her nightgown, he actually wished he could read her mind.
“I can see those cogs in your head turning so fast they’ll snap,” Tommy said, placing his watch on the bedside table before sliding between the sheets, laying on his side, and propping his head on his hand, the other returning to its usual spot on Y/N’s stomach where she placed her own palms over his. “What’s going on up there?”
“Do you really want to be there?” She looked at him, small fear in her eyes. “Because it won’t be pretty.”
Tommy snorted, leaning in to press his lips against hers and placing his forehead to rest against hers. “I’ve been to war, and you know what my business involves. None of it was or is pretty, I’d say.”
“Yes, but this is different.” She sighed, glancing up at the white ceiling as if it was the most interesting painting in the world. “You’d have to see something the size of – a – a – football being pushed out of my vagina. I heard sometimes women shit themselves and things… tear…” Y/N grimaced at that before finally glancing over at Tommy. “Would you really be able to find me beautiful, find my body beautiful after seeing something like that?”
“No, what I’d be seeing is my wife, bring our baby to life.” Tommy let out a heavy breath. “Is that what this is about? You scared about me watching you give birth?”
“I’m scared that after this, you won’t find me attractive anymore.” She whispered into the skin of his neck. “I don’t want to become one of those poor women whose husbands got their heir or whatever, and then start searching for other, younger, prettier women whose bodies haven’t been ruined.”
“First of all.” Tommy’s hand slid down Y/N’s side, before settling on her hip and giving it a squeeze. “Your body has not been ruined. You should never think that, nor do I, and if I ever hear those words come out of your mouth again, I will tell what you said to Polly, and you’ll have to deal with that. Second of all, you’re creating a new being inside you, of course, it’ll change.”
But even that reassurance didn’t make Y/N smile or even lessen the frown on her face. “I’ve gained weight though.”
Tommy shook his head. “And?”
“And what if I can’t lose the weight?”
His brows furrowed, and Y/N on instinct pressed her thumb between them, trying to smooth the skin out. “Why would you need to lose the weight?”
“So, that afterwards I’m more pleasant to look at.” She grumbled as if annoyed, but he could see tears brimming along the bottom lash line. It pained Tommy to see her cry unless it was of laughter or when drowning in waves of pleasure. “So, you’re proud to stand next to me and call me your wife.”
“I’m never going to search for anyone else because I don’t need anyone else.” Tommy kissed both her lids before giving her a deep kiss on the lips. “I love you, and I’m in love with you. When we got married, although it wasn’t under the perfect circumstances, I meant what I said – for better or worse till death do us part. You’re mine, just as much as I’m yours. I swear that to you. And I am proud you’re my wife; I’m proud to be your husband, and every day everything I do is so that you’d be proud to stand next to me, okay?”
“Okay,” Y/N sighed. Tommy knew she wasn’t still fully convinced, but he’d get there in time. He’d make sure she not only heard him but believed him. “Good. Good. Because I don’t share, and I’d probably end up behind bars if I saw you even sneak a glance at someone else.”
Tommy snorted, cupping her cheek. “I know you don’t. Almost cut off my finger that one time when I tried to take a bite out of your chocolate cake.”
“In my defence, it was really good chocolate cake.”
“Yes, it was,” Tommy chuckled, snuggling closer to his wife, and placing a kiss on her collarbone, right on that scar which’d started everything, but when she didn’t lean into the touch and sighed instead, he pulled back, brow furrowed. “But that’s not all, is it?”
For a moment, she didn’t respond, just worried her bottom lip between her teeth, which made Tommy sigh, as he tenderly pulled it out with the pad of his thumb. “What if I’m a bad mom?” Her voice was low, and had she not been laying so close to him, Tommy wouldn’t have probably heard it. “I mean I can barely take care of myself and keep myself from being hurt, how am I supposed to make sure a child is alright?”
“Thank you for admitting that,” Tommy said, and Y/N shoved at his shoulder, scoffing.
“I’m serious Tommy.” Both her hands were now protectively placed on her stomach. “How am I meant to do this? I don’t know what the hell is going on in there,” she pointed at her stomach. “How am I supposed to figure out what to do when they’re out here?”
“You know you won’t be doing this alone, right?” Tommy kissed her collarbone again. “I won’t let you do it alone. And Polly will be there, and Ada, John, Arthur, Esme – everyone and anyone you want to be involved will. We’re in this together, and we’ll be alright.” He whispered, pulling Y/N in for a kiss. “We’ll be just fine. All of us.”
Y/N’s chest fell, as she sighed into the kiss, and then broke apart, laying her head on Tommy’s chest, listening to the sure and steady beats of his heart as the rhythm lulled her to sleep.
They drifted off like that, legs intertwined, chests pressed against one another with Y/N’s head on Tommy’s shoulder, his arms a protective hold around her, the morning light now rising to shine through the window.
Yeah, Tommy could be soft and could be wrathful to those who decided to harm his family, but most of all he was finally, after years of misery, pain and numbness, fulfilled.
A/N: I’m happy to finally introduce you to my special guest in this part! Puppy Murphy
A nonprofit organization was organizing the photoshoot in order to make calendars, mugs, notebooks and planners to raise money to support their expenses. And of course, promote the adoption.
Yael loved interacting with the dogs from the shelter, all of them were adorable and despite being abandoned, they keep moving around giving all the love they had inside. They had the kindest souls and only took one whistle or moving fingers for them to get excited.
“No Jojo! Look up here.” Cillian tried to get the golden retriever’s attention, but instead he was focused on the camera in front of him, his wet nose touching the lens, sniffing.
Yael’s laugh filled the room as the dog tried to lick her face.
Some of the photographers that attended the workshop invited Yael to a pub nearby for a drink, of course she refused the invitation, but as she was about to get a cab, Dean, one of the guys in the group asked her out, he had brown hair, 6'1" tall, green eyes with a three-day beard and was wearing a dark t-shirt under an unbuttoned shirt and tight jeans, he looked like an American sexy farmer, strong muscles against the fabric, he was handsome but he wasn’t Cillian.
The other reason, was because she was honestly hoping to have something serious with Cillian. Yael didn’t like it to be fooling around, especially when it came to people’s feelings. She wouldn’t have Cillian by her side and then turn around and have someone else, she just wasn’t like that. She didn’t feel like having a backup guy just in case was right.
She hadn’t been asked out in a very long time, and now out of nowhere this guy did, she thanked him but made it clear she had to get home. He looked like a nice guy, but he seemed more like her friend Lee-Anne’s type, maybe she would make them match, set them up for a date. She would show her later the picture the group took to see if she was interested.
