This is a Tommy/OC story because I couldn't and I mean I could NOT stand Grace. I really, really hate her.

For the sake of my story - it will start a couple of weeks after the First World War ended. I will also be changing the timeline of the story - so the plot that happens in the TV show will happen, but later on in the year (it will be obvious with all the changes so please bear with me).

This story starts late November/early December of 1918 - Please enjoy the story xx

Comet96 xx

I'm currently editing this piece of work - when I mean editing, I mean I'll be adapting the story and plot, and I will be checking for grammar and spelling mistakes, but I may miss some as my main focus is on shaping the story so it flows well before I continue adding more chapters. I am sorry if it takes a while, but I do hope you'll all be patient with me.

I would recommend re-reading each new edited chapter as there may be changes that would fit in with future chapter and future edits.

Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoy.

If you do have any problems or any suggestions, please let me know.

Edited 17-08-19

The wind was whipping through my hair as I ran through the streets. I knew I shouldn't have left Donnie there, but I couldn't move him on my own. He needed medical help and I couldn't give that to him at the docks. The Garrison was the place to go, Harry would help me.

Turning the corner, the pub came into view and I picked up the pace, ignoring the looks I was receiving. I had no time to worry about what they thought of me. I knew I looked a mess with blood staining my peach dress and my hair falling out of my braid. My face was streaked with tears and blood, but I didn't care. Donnie needed help.

Pushing against the pub doors I overlooked the stares the drinking men gave me as I rushed to the bar where Harry stood.

"Jesus Elsie! What happened?" Harry exclaimed, dropping the white rag he was holding as he rushed around the bar, taking my hand in his as he stood before me. I watched as his eyes took in my clothes, looking for any sign of injury. HIs hand came up to run lightly over the cut and bruise on my forehead.

"Robbie and the boys beat Donnie. I left him by the docks, Harry." I blinked quickly, bringing my hand up to my face to wipe away the tears as I looked at the older man. "I left him by the docks," I whispered the fear of Donnie dying now setting in. How could I have left him there?

He could have died by now or Robbie and his boys could have gone back for him.

"It's okay, Elsie," Harry said, bringing his hands to my face as he wiped away my tears giving me a tight smile. "We'll sort it out. Daniel, Edward, go to the docks and bring Donnie back here. Charlie, run and get a doctor," Harry ordered three of the younger lads, all of them jumping out of their seats and doing as the older man said.

"No. No doctors," I called out, stopping Charlie from leaving. We didn't need a doctor, Mah-mee would heal Donnie as soon as we got back to the farm. We also didn't need to draw attention to the family.

Now that I had managed to get help for Donnie it seemed everything set in. My hands started to shake, my breath speeding up as I thought of Donnie dead in the docks. It had been my fault after all. I had refused Robbie and insulted him. Donnie stepped in taking the knife that should have been for me.

"What's going on 'ere?" a stern voice called from the doors of the pub, taking all attention off me and to the figures standing there. I turned to look at the others, my eyes roaming over the three men as they looked at Harry and me.

"Mr Shelby," Harry said weakly, the strong voice he used moments ago ordering the boys around gone in the presence of these new men. I only knew John as he stood there, toothpick in mouth, his cap slung on his head. I had seen the other two men only in photos in the Shelby kitchen.

They all wore similar clothing, nice grey suits, tailored to perfection. All three of them were also wearing caps, the peaks glinting, and I scrunched up my nose up at the famous razor blades sewn into the peaks. Their eyes all gave away their relation, the blue so bright and unique it deserved it's own name. Shelby Blue.

"What's going on 'ere, Harry?" the same voice that spoke before asked as he stepped forward, closer to the bar. Thomas Shelby had a demanding aura around him that commanded attention.

He had captured everyone's attention in the pub and I knew everyone here feared him. It had been a few weeks since the end of the war and the Peaky Blinders had already set the fear into everyone in Small Heath.

"Ellie!" a young voice called, pushing Tommy and Arthur out of his way as he rushed to me. Finn wasted no time pushing Harry away from me as he climbed up to the bar stool grabbing my face in his hands.

"Finn!" Arthur yelled, calling out a warning to the boy as he lifted his hands, resting them on my face.

"What 'appened, Ellie?" Finn asked, ignoring the warning as his blue eyes took in my face. I knew there was blood smeared on my face, from Donnie and myself.

"Don't worry, Finn," I mumbled taking his hands in mine and away from my face. "I'm fine." My assurance didn't seem to work as it only caused him to frown.

"Who did this, El?" John asked coming up next to Finn, lifting my chin as he took in the cut on my head. He was grinding down on his toothpick, his jaw ticking as his eyes roamed my face.

"I'm fine, John," I said with a little force as I moved away from his grasp. While I adored Finn and John, I didn't need their concern right now. All I could think about was Donnie and whether he'd be brought back alive.

"Who's this, Finn?" Tommy asked as he joined John by the bar. His sharp eyes were taking in the way John seemed so comfortable next to me and I was wondering what he was thinking.

"It's Ellie, Tommy," Finn explained as if he should have known. Perhaps they'd mentioned me in the Shelby household? I wouldn't put it past John's boy to talk about me. Ada would definitely find something to say too.

"Who the fuck's Ellie?" Arthur shouted stepping next to Finn, looking between me and his brother, his eyes glaring at me.

"The girl, Arthur," Tommy spoke, rolling his eyes at Arthur. Ada hadn't been lying when she told me about Arthur's quick temper. His face was flushed and his moustache was twitching as he watched us, his breathing heavy.

"What 'appened?" John questioned ignoring Arthur as he tried to interrupt. John's stance changed as he shifted slightly, waiting for my reply. Over the last couple of months, I had been used to John and his overbearing ways. Once he accepted me into the family like his boys, he'd taken it upon himself to treat me the same way he treated Ada.

"I doesn't matter, John."

"The hell it doesn't!" he snapped, slamming his hand on the bar. Tommy tilted his head to face John, a curious look across his face. Was he wondering why John was acting like this? If I stumbled across a beaten girl and saw how concerned my brother was acting around ehr, I'd be thinking the same. "If this has anything to do with Robbie Miller." John spat his toothpick out, his hands going up and running over the side of his head. "I should have cut 'im weeks ago."

"Robbie Miller? You talking about Robert Miller's boy?" Tommy asked drawing my attention to him. Up close I couldn't deny that Thomas Shelby was beautiful for a man and knew Ada wasn't exaggerating when she said all the girls fell for him. Piercing blue eyes, sharp cheekbones that could cut and full, strong lips, I envied. He had everything going for him.

"Aye, the little fucker's been following 'er around," John said his hand rubbing over his chin as his agitation grew.

"Why?"

The silence in the pub was horrible as Tommy kept his eyes on me. It was as if they were all waiting for something big to happen.

"He wants 'er, Tommy," Finn said, his innocence making the situation worse. If someone like Finn could see that and he was only nine, how obvious were Robbie's affections?

"What did he do to you?" He didn't ask, more like demanded to know. His fingers brushed over my chin, his hand forcing my head to lift slowly so he could take in the cut on my head. Matched with my bloody dress and messy hair, I bet I was a sight.

"We were attacked," I muttered, feeling my eyes blur at the thought of Donnie, but I bit my bottom lip to stop the tears from falling. I hated crying in front of strangers. It made me look weak and I never wanted that to be the first impression.

"Why?" John asked, the gruffness of his voice scaring me slightly. I knew what he planned on doing once he got his hands on Robbie.

The doors slamming open took my attention from John and I slipped away from the bar as Daniel and Edward carried Donnie in. He was a bloody mess, the white shirt now stained red.. The two young lads looked around the pub quickly before lowering Donnie to the floor.

"El," Donnie whispered out when his eyes locked with mine and I could see the concern in them. There he was bleeding out and in pain but all he could do was worry for me.

"Donnie," I muttered dropping next to him on the floor, my hands pressing against his stomach. It wasn't as bad as I thought now that I had a clear look at the wound. He would live but he'd be in a lot of pain.

"Aww," he grunted, and I rolled my eyes. He was also so fucking dramatic.

"Harry, can I have some whiskey?" I called as I ripped Donnie's shirt, getting to the wound. It wasn't ideal to cover his wound in whiskey, but it would numb and clean the wound until he got back to the farm.

Finn's small hand held the bottle of whiskey in front of my face and I quickly grabbed it from his hand. Pulling the cork from the bottle I shared a look with Donnie, pouring the brown liquid over the wound.

"Fuck!" Donnie grunted withering on the floor, trying to move away from me as he clenched his teeth at the burning pain.

"Stop whining like a bitch," I hissed pressing down on the wound with his ripped shirt before grabbing Finn's hands. "Press down on the wound, Finn." I shot to my feet once I was sure he was pressing hard enough and made my way to the bar, looking for a candle.

My fingers trembled as I fumbled with the pack of matches next to the candle. The tiny sticks slipping from my shaking fingers as I bit my lip as tears of frustration threatened to slip down my cheeks. Long fingers pushed my hands away, pulling a match out, striking it and then lighting the candle. Sharing a look with the middle Shelby brother I carefully took the candle from the bar and made my way back to Finn and Donnie.

"John, grab me something metal," I shouted, setting the candle on the floor as I inspected Finn's work. "Good job, Finn, keep the pressure on the wound." I ruffled his hair as I cleared my thoughts and ignored the warning in Donnie's eyes.

"Ellie!" Donnie warned seeing the candle and looking to the metal spoon John handed over.

"Shut up Donnie," I growled, putting the spoon over the flame of the candle, waiting for the metal to heat up. Looking to Daniel and Edward I waved them over and nodded down to Donnie. "Hold him down for me." When they both had a firm grip on Donnie, I pushed Finn's hands away, moved the torn shirt and quickly placed the hot spoon over his wound.

Donnie screamed out, the sizzling sound of metal touching his skin, cauterizing the wound. It wasn't a very pleasant thing, but it would keep the wound cleaned and closed until we got back to the farm. Hating that I was bringing more pain to him, I grabbed the whiskey bottle, passing it over hoping he'd get too drunk and pass out from the pain and alcohol.

"No more," Donnie begged, his voice weak as he tipped his head back, gulping at the whiskey. I pulled the spoon away at his words and fell back onto my heels as I stared at him.

"Mah-mee's gonna gut you." I thought of our grandmother and shook in fear at her reaction to his injury. The grimace on his face let me know he heard. "Rest Donnie, I'll send for Maddox and Hugo," I added letting him know I wouldn't just leave him here to make his way back to the farm alone. Though, he would deserve it for getting in the way of the knife.

"What the fuck's going on?" Arthur Shelby demanded as I took John's hand as he helped me to my feet.

Thank you for reading xx Comet96 xx