Just a heads-up that this story now has a prequel of oneshots following Tessa growing up called Spark of Rebellion. The first chapter is up now and follows the beginning of the War.

"Dad. Stop."

Tommy resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his daughter, knowing it would do more harm than good.

She didn't understand the seriousness, because he hadn't told her. He should have, he reasoned, but the thought of admitting it out loud to her made his stomach churn.

He'd written in black star day in the diary just that morning. If - when - it did happen, Tessa needed to be prepared, and he needed to know she was ready. If he didn't think that was the case, he would have no qualm keeping her with Polly in the house, no matter how much fuss she would kick up over that.

He'd rather have her pissed and alive than dead if she wasn't ready.

But, of course, Tessa wasn't exactly being cooperative as she - along with the rest of the family - still believed he gave Freddie Thorne to the police, and was currently stomping a few paces ahead of him. He'd thought she'd grown out of the stomping.

"Tessa," he snapped.

Reluctantly, she came to a stop. He fell into step with her and they carried on.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To Charlie's."

"Why?"

"Just wait."

Tessa made a noise that could have been a huff. Tommy shook his head slightly at her. She never huffed.

Thankfully, she stayed quiet until they got there, then turned to face him with her eyebrows raised.

"Now what?"

Tommy reached into the holster beneath his jacket and retrieved his gun. He handed it to Tessa, who accepted with confusion.

"Arthur said you were doing well with these."

Tessa nodded. Arthur had been helping her with guns for the last few months. She'd gotten used to the kick and was able to adapt to different distances. It hadn't come naturally to her the way fighting had, but she'd managed to pick it up eventually. With a lot of hard work and swearing on Arthur's part.

"I want you to hit that crate on the other side of the water."

Tessa spun to the river and found the small crate.

"Can I move or you want it from here?" she asked, seeing it was off to the right.

"You can move. No getting closer though."

Nodding, she moved accordingly so she was lined up properly. Then she raised the gun, pulled back the hammer, and fired. The wooden crate exploded, splinters shooting off in all directions. She looked back to her dad, who had a small smile on his face. She handed him he gun back.

"Arthur wasn't lying when he said you're good. You wouldn't have even tried this time last year."

Despite being upset with him, Tommy saw Tessa fighting her own proud smile. But mixed with his own pride, there was relief too. That skill could save her life. Though it would do nothing to impede the course of a bullet fired at her. She'd have to make sure to get the first shot in.

"Next, then," he said, trying to not too think too hard on that notion. "I want you to go down to the boxing ring and get Cameron to set you up with someone. Someone who'll make you work but won't hurt you."

"They'd be lucky."

"Oi," Tommy said, lightly tapping the side of her head. "Don't get cocky. I need you to deliver if the situation calls for it. I can't afford to worry about you."

Tessa folded her arms, regarding him with suspicion. Her eyes were so sharp. Defiant but intelligent. Polly was right, she was too much like him, and he decided in that moment that that wasn't a good thing.

"And what 'situation' are we talking about, Dad? Eh?"

"A hypothetical one."

"Thought you'd say that. Try again."

"Careful, Tessa."

She unfolded her arms. She didn't want to fight.

"If something's going on, I deserve to know."

"And you will, when the time is right, but for now - "

"It's Billy Kimber, isn't it?"

Tommy blinked, "Eh?"

"It's Kimber. You're making your move."

"How did - " he shook his head. "Yes."

"And you're involving me."

"I didn't think you'd settle for anything less. It's time, you think?"

"You're right," she said, nodding. "And I'm gonna have to use a gun?"

That clenching in his chest returned at his daughter saying that. He swallowed and tried to make his voice as even as possible.

"Yes."

She nodded again. Paused.

"Thank you for trusting me."

"Don't ever think I don't trust you, Tess."

Tessa cleared her throat and shot him a quick smile, muttering, "Yeah. Same for you."

"Good."

She scuffed her shoe across the gravel. They weren't used to speaking like this.

"I'll go to Cameron's now."

Too awkward.

"Be careful."

But she was already walking away, with even more haste than usual. Then she stopped and said without turning,

"I know you didn't snitch on Freddie."

Then she carried on, disappearing around the corner - a group of men parting for her as she did so.

Tommy took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. Having Tess on his side always made things so much easier.

"She just doesn't stop moving!" Bedford groaned from the floor of the ring, once again.

"Because she has too much bloody energy," Cameron said, shooting Tessa a grin. "Still got you on your arse though, hasn't she."

"I could knock you out in one," Bedford said as he got to his feet. "I could. Too fucking skinny, could blow you over, fuck's sake!"

"Whenever you're ready then."

Bedford swung again and Tessa ducked under his arm easily, regaining her footing and sweeping him to the ground once more.

"You were saying?"

"Time out," Cameron said as Bedford scrambled up, cheeks flaming.

Tessa climbed over the ropes and hopped down next to Cameron, who handed her a towel. She took it and the two of them walked over to the edge of the room.

"So?" she said, wiping her forehead. "Thoughts."

"You're good, obviously. You've had good teachers."

"Yeah."

"But he's right. If you'd just stayed still for more than a second, one punch and you'd be out. You're smaller than him and though you're fairly strong for your size, you don't have a lot of weight behind you."

"That's not something I can help."

She'd always been that way. Polly once mentioned it being down to a 'rough start' when she was a baby but hadn't mentioned any more than that. Slightly small, slightly skinny, and always picking on people bigger than her.

"Then just don't stand still," Cameron said with a smile. It was in that smile that Tessa saw the relation to his brother, Harry, from The Garrison. "And try to build up some muscle mass in your arms if you can."

"Shouldn't let fucking girls fight," Bedford muttered as he disentangled himself from the ropes and landed less than gracefully to the floor. He picked up his shirt.

"Remember who you're talking to," Tessa said coldly.

He raised his head, seemed about to say something, then changed his mind. So he had a brain, then.

"I'm going to the new place. I'm not fighting with her no more."

"New place?" Tessa asked Cameron once Bedford had left.

"Set up a few days ago," Cameron scratched the stubble on the side of his face. "Lost quarter of my custom to them. Most'll come back once they see the quality of the ring. Put together with shoeboxes."

"Do they have a license?"

"I don't know."

"Well does my family know about it?"

Cameron shrugged, "You'll have to ask them."

"You know what, Cameron, I might just do that," Tessa said.

Tessa sent word to John and Arthur to let them know about the new organisation and went to check it out herself first. As soon as she stepped into the unfurnished building, sweat and smoke filled her nose. It made her eyes sting.

"Anyone of you heard of a window?" Tessa announced to the packed room.

No one paid her any attention; there was a fight in the ring that had captured everyone's gaze. They were two older men, Tessa saw as she pushed her way through. One was dark haired and had scars running from the corners of his lips up to his hairline, and was giving the other a significant punishing.

"Look at this!" Arthur's voice was slightly muffled under the shouts of encouragement from the crowd. "Bloody raking it in. Who's running this carny?"

Tessa shouldered her way out of the crowd over to her uncles. She fell into step with John just in time to hear,

"Ain't he heard? No one craps in a pot without the decree of Tommy almighty."

Tessa punched his arm.

He yelled and spun around, scowling when he saw it was her.

"The fuck you doing here? Thought you were waiting."

Tessa snorted, "Yeah, that definitely sounds like me, doesn't it, John?"

John rubbed his arm as Arthur sauntered up to the guy running the place.

"Mr Marston, I believe," Arthur said. "The ringmaster."

Marston looked back at him with enough confidence to let them know he had no idea who they were.

"Proud I am to say so," he replied.

"Well these here are civilised parts," Arthur said. "If a man wants to set his stall up with fellas lamping each other, he needs himself a license."

"A license?" Marston spluttered.

"For a fee," Arthur tipped the remainder of his whiskey onto Marston's shoes. "From those in charge."

A roar went up as one of the men hit the deck with a satisfying thump. Tessa turned to watch as the scarred man kicked him forcefully in the back. She turned back to Arthur.

"How about I keep my money, and you can stick your license up your arse crack!" Marston said, taking a step closer to Arthur.

Arthur took a similar one, towering over the smaller man.

"Hey, you don't want to talk to me like that," Arthur said in a low voice.

"And who the bloody hell do you think you are?"

"My name - "

"Is Arthur Shelby!" a very difference voice replied.

Tessa watched Arthur freeze, then slowly turn towards the ring. The scarred man was stood, grinning at the crowd, but as his gaze fell on the Shelbys, it fell. Then returned, softer.

"Dad?" Arthur murmured.

Tessa didn't say anything on the way back to Watery Lane, keeping her distance from John, Arthur, and… him. She waited outside the front door for Polly's shouting to calm down before entering. It was only when she hovered beside Finn in the kitchen that he seem to realise she was even part of their party.

"So who are you?" he asked, settling himself down at the table.

Tessa stood with her arms folded and said nothing.

"This is Tess, Dad. Tommy's kid," Arthur supplied as he placed a sandwich in front of his father.

Tessa shot him a glare, then shifted her eyes back to Arthur Sr. His face split into another insincere smile.

"Well, haven't you grown up well."

"It's difficult to do it badly."

"Tessa," Arthur warned.

"Come and sit down next to your grandad, eh?"

"She doesn't want to," Polly snapped at her brother. "That much is obvious."

"Pollyanna," Arthur Sr said with exaggerated patience. "I'm hardly - "

"You're not waltzing in here after all this time and expect - "

"I was invited by - "

"You haven't seen her or Finn so you have no right - "

Tessa heard John sigh and decided to make a move. She pulled out the chair beside Arthur Sr and dropped into it. She held her hands up.

"Are you satisfied?"

"Very. My first grandchild. Now I can see your face."

"I'm not your only grandchild. Did you know that?" Tessa asked. "John's got kids."

"Have you now, John-boy? That's grand. I'll have to meet them."

Tessa knew he had no such intention, and was aware the others in the room knew it too. Unfazed, he turned his attention to his sandwich.

"Bless you, Father, for these bounties we are about to receive - "

"Jesus Christ," Polly murmured, turning her head away. She was the queen of being elegantly annoyed. Tessa sent her a grin.

"Please woman, not in vain," Arthur Sr said with a coy smile.

"Finish your sandwich and sling your hook," Polly snapped.

Tessa eyed the bread knife he was holding as Arthur Sr turned in his chair to face Polly.

"Pollyanna, I am an honoured guest of the head of this household so why don't you maybe tend to your mangle or your scuttle?"

"Oi!" Tessa snapped before Polly could.

Arthur Sr barely deigned to look at her, while Arthur kicked her shin under the table. She didn't react out of principle but gave him a sharp not-so-subtle kick back.

"Anyways, the head of the family ain't here," Tessa said, watching Arthur as she said it. "Dad will be on his way."

Arthur looked to his father, annoyance morphing into shame. He chewed the inside of his mouth and quietly cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Tommy sometimes… helps me. With the business, Dad."

The hesitance in his voice made Tessa feel a little guilty. She hadn't meant to drop him in it like that, really. She regretted opening her mouth before thinking.

The back door closed, wafting the curtains.

"Well, speak of the devil," Arthur Sr said, getting to his feet.

Tessa did too, taking a step closer to John and Finn. She had a feeling this wasn't going to be pretty.

Tommy stopped in the doorway, taking in the scene in one sweep.

"How are you, son?"

Tommy's eyes landed on his father and he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

"Get out."

Arthur Sr cocked his head, holding his arms out, "Come on, son. I'm a changed man."

When her dad spoke, Tessa could hear the strain in his voice. A sadness and resentment that she didn't often hear.

"This family needed you ten years ago. And you walked out on us."

Arthur Sr let his arms drop.

"Not now," Tommy continued. "Get out of this house."

"Tommy," Arthur tried. "He's different - "

"You shut up," Tommy cut him off, still focused on their father.

There was an uncomfortable pause, in which Tessa found herself struggling to know who to look at - Tommy's anger, Arthur's hopefulness, or Arthur Sr's… blankness. Surely he couldn't be disappointed. Surely he'd known he wouldn't be welcomed back.

"It's alright, son," Arthur Sr finally said to his eldest as he stood. He took his coat from the back of the chair and laid it across his arm. "Arthur Shelby, never stays where he's not welcome."

Then, after a brief glance at Polly, looked to Tommy. He took a deep breath and said with a bitter smile,

"Quite something you've become."

Tommy didn't reply but his eyes followed his father's movements as he sent a round of smiles to his other children, ruffled Finn's hair, then went to touch Tessa's shoulder. She shrugged him off the second his hand made contact.

He pulled back but lingered for just a moment, looking down at her. There was something too intense in his stare, something that even with her best glower, Tessa couldn't match. Then he smiled a smug smile, tipped his hat, and proceeded down the hall to the door.

Only when the door shut behind him could Tessa relax.

"He's our dad," Arthur said quietly.

Tommy let out a long sigh.

"He's a selfish bastard."

Arthur smiled wryly, but kept facing the table.

"You calling someone a selfish bastard? Bit rich, Tommy. Thanks to you, we're already down a bloody sister."

"If you want to see him, Arthur, you go with him," Tommy burst out, stooping slightly to look his brother square in the eye.

Arthur stood, dragging his chair back across the wooden floor, but faltered under Tommy's look. He kept his head down, clenching his jaw as he pushed not-so-lightly past Tessa and out the door.

John was next, shaking his head and swearing softly.

Tessa felt Finn go to move, then hesitate.

"Finn," Polly said, and he turned to run after his brothers.

She muttered a curse and chased after him.

The front door shut for the last time, leaving Tessa and Tommy alone in the kitchen.

Tommy seemed to deflate, dropping into Arthur's chair. He shuffled it closer to the table and rested his elbows on the surface, running his hands through his hair.

"I'm sorry," Tessa said, not knowing what else to say.

Tommy didn't say anything to that.

So Tessa sat in the seat she had previously occupied, and sat in silence.

Two hours of silence later, in which Tessa read and Tommy was lost in his head, Tommy stood without warning. Tessa looked up at him as he handed her her coat from the back of her chair. She took it and followed him to the Garrison, all in silence.

It was dark now, and so Tessa got a start when she felt Nana's nose touch her hand. She felt herself smile and stopped to crouch and ruffle the dog's ears. He looked up at her with his soft brown eyes, full of loyalty only a dog could hold.

"Who's this?" Tommy asked, the first time he'd spoken since his father had left.

"Oh," Tessa said, straightening up and feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "This is… Nana."

"You have a dog?"

"He's a stray. He just follows me sometimes."

"You like him."

"Yeah, I do," she said defensively.

Tommy nodded and held out his hand towards Nana's nose. The dog gave him a hesitant lick, then nudged his fingers with his nose.

"He likes you," Tessa said, amused. "He likes everyone."

Tommy ruffled his ears and carried on down the path. Tessa and Nana kept up with him, Nana glueing himself to Tessa's side. The dog filtered off as they reached The Garrison, trotting off back down one of the nearby alleys.

"You could bring him in," Tommy said as he held the door open for her.

They headed straight for the bar, where four empty seats were suddenly vacant.

Tessa shrugged, taking off her hat, "I don't think he likes the noise."

Tommy got them both a whiskey each, and was quiet again. Tessa watched him from the corner of her eye. He had that look that had arrived when he came back home. The look that had been hardened by the war, which had been chiselled from blood and mud and horrors Tessa could only imagine. She never stopped worrying about that look.

"Do you remember him?" he asked, staring down into his glass.

"A tiny bit. I remember him when Grandma was ill."

Maybe that wasn't the best thing to say.

"Arthur seems to be in love. You should have seen his face at the ring. Were they close?"

"Arthur was close to the idea of being close to our father," Tommy muttered. "Can't think why. The man's never even met Finn."

"It must be difficult for him. Finn, I mean," Tessa quickly clarified as Tommy raised his eyebrows. "I could keep an extra eye out for him, make sure he's okay."

"That would be a good idea. Thanks, Tess."

"Any time."

Tessa shifted as she felt someone sit beside her, conversation forgotten. She fixed her eyes on the man, as he settled his hat on the bar beside her and ran a hand through his ginger hair. He exhaled and turned to her.

"There are other seats, mate. Why don't you find one of them," she said, a biting edge to her voice.

The man smiled at her.

"I don't think that'll be necessary, Miss Shelby."

The Irish accent alone was enough to set Tessa immediately on edge. Tommy's hand appeared on her back as he pulled her a little closer so he could see the man.

"I presume you're here to see me?"

"My name's Byrne. I had word from your man in Camden Town that you wanted to parley."

"Then parley it is," Tommy said evenly. "If you'll excuse me for just a moment."

Byrne bowed his head respectfully. Tessa recognised the fake-cordial tone as the one her dad adopted in business and kept her mouth shut as Tommy took her by the elbow over to the door. However, he paused before opening it.

He turned and led her to the snug, closing the door ajar.

"I don't want you walking home in the dark when there's Irish here. Stay in here till I've finished and if we move into here, wait out in the bar. Don't go out that door without me, alright?"

"Right. If I can't help…"

"Not with this one."

He squeezed her shoulder and slipped back out into the bar. He closed the door and Tessa sat down at the long bench. It was strange seeing the room empty. If her dad wasn't there, Arthur or John or one of their cousins would be.

Tessa curled up her legs and rested her chin on the table.

She needn't have made herself too comfortable however, as not long after he had left, Tommy opened the snug door with Byrne close behind him. Tessa got up, restraining a sigh, and went out into the bar. Harry gave her a sympathetic smile and handed her another drink.

Two drinks and an hour later, Tessa was getting restless.

"You just sit there, lass," Harry said. "They'll be done soon."

But she was tired, hungry, and done.

"I'm going home. Anyone bothers me and I'll deal with it. I don't need someone to protect me going down my own fucking street."

"He means well."

Tessa knew that, of course, but she knew she was right too.

She fixed her hat over hair and walked out into the night. She walked with her hands out of her pockets, semi-clenched at her sides and kept her eyes alert to her surroundings. It was then that she saw a man she hadn't expected to see again.

Arthur Sr was walking towards her, but had his head down. He hadn't seen her.

She knew she should have left it, let him walk past and let it go. But then she remembered the haunted look in her dad's eye, and the betrayal on his face when he saw him sat at the kitchen table.

Before she knew what she was doing, Tessa was striding up to her grandfather, blocking his path. He looked up in mild annoyance until he saw who it was, then smiled.

"Tessa! How lovely to see you this evening."

"Stay away from my family," she spat. "You've caused enough trouble and you've barely been here a day."

"I am your family. And they were mine long before they were yours, sweetheart," Arthur Sr grinned. "Remember your place."

"My place?" Tessa repeated incredulously. She scoffed, "At least my place is here, with the people who need me. Can't say the same for you. Like Dad said, we needed you ten years ago, and you weren't there. Don't come back now."

Arthur Sr kept smiling throughout, irking Tessa to no end. He reached out a hand and tapped her chin.

"Maybe you should ask Arthur what he thinks about that. Or little Finn. He's quite taken with his old man."

Then Tessa's hands were on his lapels, throwing him into the wall without a second thought. She shoved her face close to his, bearing her teeth.

"You do not fucking talk to Finn. I won't let you corrupt him, you piece of shit. Next time you go near him, I'll rip out your fucking throat, hear me? I'll smash your skull on these cobbles and throw you in the Cut. I'll - "

"Pull out my tongue through my teeth?" Arthur Sr mocked, that fucking grin still on his lips. "You've certainly got your father's temper."

He leaned in.

"But that's where the similarities stop, darling."

Tessa frowned but kept her grip tight.

Arthur Sr grabbed a lock of her hair.

"Where did this come from, eh? Who in this family has curly hair? Who in this family has this brown hair?" he moved his hands down to her cheeks. "And your eyes? Where's the blue, eh? You're a runt of a Shelby… if you even are one."

"The fuck…" Tessa breathed, but that was all she got out before she felt herself being flipped, Arthur Sr slamming her against the wall of the alleyway.

His breath was thick on her face as he leaned in further.

"As soon as I saw you, I wondered how no one else had seen it. Not one bit of your dad in you. Not one bit of Shelby."

"My mum had curly hair. I got my eyes from her," Tessa snarled. "This is fucking - "

"Did she?"

Tessa stopped.

"Never got to meet you, did you?"

"You know I didn't."

"Just dumped you on our doorstep."

"Made a change from you being passed out on it," Tessa retorted, but she heard the weakness in her voice.

"Never seen a picture?" at her silence, he laughed. "Your mother was a blonde, baby girl. Straight as a dye, and blonde. And… now you mention it… tall. You must even be shorter than my Ada."

"She's not your Ada," Tessa said quietly.

An ache had begun to form in her stomach. She felt sick and hot and dizzy. This didn't make sense. It couldn't.

Arthur Sr brushed a curl out of Tessa's face.

"She's not yours either," he whispered.

Tessa's legs felt simultaneously like lead and rubber. A knot had formed in her throat, tightening with each word.

"You didn't think I'd have just accepted that bitch's story? I found her family, found her friends. Found her… lovers."

"'Lover-s'?"

"I didn't say anything then. I thought he'd have gotten rid of you eventually. Then everyone started to become fond of you, and I knew they wouldn't believe me anyway."

"So you let Dad believe…? No, I mean - I - this is bullshit!" Tessa yelled, panic clawing at her throat. "You're fucking making this up!"

"Shall we tell your dad that then? Shall we have a family meeting and discuss it properly?"

"No."

Tessa shook her head vigorously, the panic tripling. She grabbed Arthur Sr's forearms and his grip on her intensified.

"You need to fuck off. Right now."

"Scared I'm right?" the traced the side of her cheek with his finger. "What do you have if not this family? The reason you're still alive is because people think you're a Shelby. Otherwise, with an attitude like yours, someone would put a bullet in your head."

Unable to take any more, Tessa disentangled herself from his grandfather, stumbling out onto the path. She tried to take a breath in, but it stuck somewhere between her throat and lungs. It just added to the knot there, threatening to snap.

She hadn't felt panic like this since the war.

She heard Arthur Sr come up behind her, stopping a safe distance away.

"I'm going. As you asked so nicely, you won't see me again. I hope I've given you quite enough to think about."

She glanced over her shoulder as he tipped his hat, and carried on his way.

As soon as he was out of sight, Tessa doubled over, resting her hands on her knees and tried to rake in a breath. It was bullshit. He didn't know anything at all, he never did. He was never around enough and he didn't deserve to be able to affect her like that.

But… something squirmed in the back of her mind.

She didn't look like Tommy. Or anyone in the family. She was little, they were tall. Their hair was straight and black, where hers was curled and chestnut. She was similar to them in personality, but was that something she had learnt or had been born with?

Could it have been that some part of Tommy knew when she was a baby? Was that why he didn't bond with her?

Tessa felt the bottom fall from her stomach.

Arthur Sr was right. She was nothing without the Shelby family. She was nothing without Arthur's rough affection, without her dad's tough but ever-present love, without the camaraderie with John. Without the comfort and bookish conversations with Ada, or the stern but motherly Polly, who treated her like a daughter. Finn was one of the few people Tessa could be completely herself around. Who she allowed to show her more caring side to.

Tessa looked up the empty street. She felt exposed, like someone had ripped open her clothes and skin, straight down the middle.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she headed back home, and vowed to never speak of the conversation with her grandfather ever again.

Tommy was furious. He'd kept his calm until Byrne had left but as soon as he was gone, he let it show as he wheeled on Harry.

"Where is she?"

"She went home. I tried to stop her but you know what she's like," Harry said apologetically.

"Fuck," Tommy swore and tore out of the pub.

He scanned the streets as he walked, hoping Tessa had taken this route home. He didn't see anyone around, nor did he hear her voice anywhere nearby.

You had better be at home, Tessa Shelby, he thought as he shouldered the door open and stormed into the kitchen.

He took one look around, saw she wasn't there, then shouted for her up the stairs.

Polly came from the sitting room and slapped his arm almost instantaneously.

"Finn's sleeping," she hissed. "Arthur just came by with him."

"Where's Arthur had Finn this late?"

Polly folded her arms and gave him a look.

"You know where."

Great. With his father. How Arthur couldn't see how poisonous the man was baffled Tommy. He'd thought his brother was smarter than that but then again, he had a habit of his judgement being clouded when family was involved.

"Has Tessa come home?"

Polly let her arms fall to her sides.

"No. Why," she demanded.

Tommy was already hurrying to the door, Polly close behind.

"I told her to stay put and she - "

The door opened before he reached it, and he let out a heavy breath of relief as he saw Tessa stood on the step. Relief quickly turned to anger as he pulled her inside by the arm and turned her to face him.

"What the fuck was that, Tessa?"

She kept her eyes averted.

"Oi, look at me!"

She did, and Tommy felt something shift in his chest. Something was wrong. Forgetting to be angry, he loosened his hold on her arms. She was pale, and her eyes were puffy, as if she was holding back tears.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head, "Nothing. I'm tired."

She pulled away, heading for the stairs. She had schooled her voice well but Tommy could still detect the slightest tremor.

"No, Tessa," he pulled back. "Tell me what's wrong."

He cupped the side of her face, trying to work out what was different.

"Something's happened," he said, fear pricking in his stomach.

She didn't look injured, but that didn't mean much.

She leaned into his hand slightly.

"Tess, tell me."

She closed her eyes briefly and when they opened, Tommy saw how exhausted she looked.

"I swear I'm just tired. And the thing with your dad and thinking about Grandma. It's just been a strange day."

She gave him a reassuring and utterly unconvincing smile.

"Promise me."

"I promise. And I'm sorry for leaving."

Tommy grudgingly accepted her apology, and her promise.

"As long as you're alright. Don't do it again."

He let his hand fall from her face and gave her a nudge to the stairs.

"Go to bed."

She nodded and traipsed up to her room. Tommy watched her every move, his concern not diminishing one bit.

It'd be pretty cool if you could check out the prequel and drop a few suggestions for stuff you want to see. DMs on here and Twitter are open, as well as the review section.

Love you.