Chapter 12

Tommy slips into the bedroom he was now sharing with Rosie, pulling the curtains open slightly to let the morning light in, before moving over to the bed where Rosie was still sleeping. He smiles, brushing her hair out of her face as he rests his hands on either side of her head, leaning down to wake her by pressing his lips to hers.

"Mmm, good morning to you too!" Rosie mumbles, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she peers up at Tommy.

"Today's the day." He states, rising back to his full height.

"The day?" Rosie yawns, stretching her arms up over her head.

"We're taking over the races. Taking down Kimber." He explains, taking Rosie's hand in his, pulling her to sit upright.

"Oh. Right." She mumbles, rubbing her hands over her face.

"Well don't sound so enthused about it, Ro." Tommy teases, winking at her as he passes her the tea cup he had brought up.

"Sorry, it's just-"

"Just what?"

"Nothing. No. Don't worry." Rosie replies, shaking her head. She smiles up at Tommy, reaching up to cup his cheek in her hand. "One more kiss before you go?" Tommy smiles at her, ducking his head to press his lips to hers again.

"Family meeting. Nine o'clock. I'll see you there?" He asks, walking backwards towards the door, pointing over at Rosie.

"Of course." She says, watching Tommy turn and leave with a small smile on her face, pressing her fingers lightly to her lips as he goes.

"You alright?" Rosie asks, glancing up from the money she was counting out on the table as Tommy enters the betting shop, slamming the door shut behind him.

"I need a drink." He grunts, stepping past her to find the bottle of whiskey he kept in his office.

"So early?" She calls teasingly, letting out a laugh as he takes a swig from the bottle.

"I just walked in on John and Esme." He mutters, stashing the bottle back in the drawer and heading back out into the shop towards Rosie.

"Oh, Tom! You need to learn to knock. I've told you before!" Rosie exclaims, trying time hold on her laughter.

"Today is not a day for knocking, Rosie."

"For goodness sake." She replies with a shake of her head, gathering the coins up into her hand and dropping them into the box in front of her.

"Then I walked in on Pol praying." Tommy states, pausing beside Rosie, sliding his finger down the ledger in front of her, checking the numbers.

"Well that's better." She comments, shutting the book lightly as he gives an approving nod, humming in reply. "We used to do that all the time while you boys were away." Rosie says, watching Tommy with her eyes as he begins to pace the floor in front of her.

"She said." Rosie smiles softly as his distracted manner, rising from her chair and moving around the desk, perching on the edge.

"Tom?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you come here?" She asks, holding her hand out to him. Tommy pauses in his pacing, before giving her one of his rare, small smiles, stepping in her direction, sliding his hand into hers. Rosie tugs on his hand, bringing him to stand between her legs as she reaches up with her free hand, cupping the back of his neck to gently pull his head down to hers, sealing their lips in a deep kiss. "Will you be careful today?" She whispers as they pull apart, bringing her hand up to cup his cheek, rubbing her thumb over his cheekbone. "For me."

"Of course. Nothing's going to go wrong." He assures her, ducking his head to join their lips again.

"Your pacing makes me think otherwise." She says softly, running her fingers through his hair.

"It's a big day, Rosie. We're going to be celebrating tonight."

"I hope so."

"We will." He assures her gently, cupping her chin in his hand. "Everything's going to be ok. Trust me."

"I do trust you." She replies, equally as softly as she leans into his touch.

"Good." Tommy ducks his head again, keeping his hand around her chin, brushing his thumb against her jaw as he pulls her in for a kiss.

What are we going to do?" She asks as they pull apart, intertwining her fingers behind his neck.

"Huh?"

"Tonight. To celebrate. What are we going to do?"

"We're going to go to the Garrison, and get drunk. Dance around the pub like fools. Then I'm going to carry you home, and make love to you all night long."

"All night, huh?" Rosie repeats with a smirk, raising her eyebrows at him as he lets out a chuckle.

"Yep."

"Such a romantic."

"I am, aren't I?" He jokes, dropping his head to press a series of sweet kisses to Rosie's neck.

"So, big bad Thomas Shelby's going to be dancing around the pub like a fool, eh?" She giggles, tilting her head to give him better access to the soft skin below her ear.

"Well, I was thinking you could do all the dancing for the two of us, and I can watch from the side." He teases, smirking up at Rosie as she rolls her eyes.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Admire the view." Tommy replies with a wink.

"Ohhh, I see." Rosie draws out, eyes twinkling in amusement as she reaches down, pulling Tommy's head up to hers. "Well...I guess I could do that..."

"Oh yes?"

"Oh yes." She repeats, with a grin. "For a small price."

"Go on..." he prompts, dropping his arms to wrap around her waist.

"A few hours alone, with Mr Thomas Shelby himself. On a day of his choosing. At a time of his choosing. Sometime this week." She replies, looking hopefully up at him, smiling as he smiles down at her, nodding.

"I think that can be arranged."

"Good. Then I think we have a deal."

"Excellent." Rosie sings, pressing her lips to his again to seal the deal.

"Oi, Tommy! You can't come barging in on me and Esme and then have Rosie on the desk like that. How is that fair?" John shouts as he enters the shop, Rosie dropping her head to rest against Tommy's chest as she laughs.

Rosie follows Tommy around the bar in the Garrison, sparing Grace a short glance as she and Tommy pull pints for the boys.

"Go back to the house, Ro, be with Polly and Ada today. Help them with Karl." Tommy says gently, nudging his hip into Rose's in the direction of the door.

"I will." She replies, turning to lean her hip against the bar, watching Grace out of the corner of her eye, the other woman eyeing her with equal animosity as Rosie rests her hand on Tommy's arm. "I just wanted to check you have everything. Do you have the enclosure tickets? And a register of book keepers on the track?"

"In me coat." He replies, passing a drink to John.

"Ok. Good."

"Go home. I'll see you later. I'll come and find you when we're done." He says, dropping a kiss to Rosie's cheek as he gently pushes her towards the end of the bar again.

"When will you be back?"

"Ah, is this how you're going to be, eh? You waiting at home for me saying, 'what time do you call this?'" Tommy teases, placing his hands lightly on her hips.

"I worry." Rosie says softly, reaching up to run her fingers briefly through Tommy's hair

"I know. But we're going to be fine." He replies, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, leaning his hand to rest lightly on her cheek.

"Give her a kiss before she goes then, Tom." Arthur jokes, Rosie shaking her head at him in response as Tommy turns to her, ducking his head to press a deep kiss to her lips, the couple ignoring the whistles coming from the men around them.

"We need another barrel." Grace comments, brushing past the couple, Rosie eyeing her distainfully as she passes.

"Be careful today." She whispers, pressing her lips to Tommy's, not caring that the men around them could see.

"I will."

"Come home in one piece."

"I will."

"Remember-"

"Ro." Tommy states softly, taking Rosie by the tops of her arms. "I will. Everything will be fine. I promise." Rosie nods once, tilting up on to her tiptoes to kiss Tommy once more, before rounding to the other side of the bar again, squeezing Arthur's arm as she passes him to the door.

Rosie has barely made it back to Watery Lane, and upstairs you tidy up her and Tommy's room when she hears the front door slam against the wall.

"Rosie!" Tommy shouts as he storms into the house. "Ada, wake up. Rosie!"

"I'm here, I'm here! Jeez, what's going on?" She exclaims, running down the stairs towards Tommy, taking his face in her hands to stop him pacing.

"Take Ada, and the baby, to the Bull Ring, where there's lots of people." He states, gently removing her hands from his face. Rosie glances frantically between the two Shelby siblings as Tommy turns again, running his hand over his face.

"What's going on?" Polly repeats Rosie's earlier question as she appears in the doorway.

"We've been fucking betrayed. Someone let slip, Kimber's men are on their way here." Tommy replies, intertwining his hands over the back of his head as he turns away from Rosie.

"But you can handle them Tommy?" Polly asks, stepping into the room, laying a hand lightly on Ada's back as she lifts baby Karl into her arms.

"It's just us. All the Lees are on their way to Worcester. We're outnumbered. Fuck!" Tommy slams hands down on side, letting out a long breath as he considers his options.

"Who else knew today was the day you were moving on Kimber? You said you kept it a secret. Who else did you tell?" Polly asks, glancing over at Rosie as she sighs, rubbing her hand across her forehead.

"The fucking barmaid." She exclaims, throwing her hands in her hair. "The fucking barmaid, who I told you, not to fucking trust!" Polly glances between the couple, their eyes locked as Tommy's eyes plead for Rosie to forgive him.

"I'll deal with Grace. If either of you two set eyes on her again, you might kill her." She decides, watching as Rosie steps away from Tommy as he approaches her, snatching a baby blanket up from the back of the sofa, moving to tuck it around Karl.

"Rosie." Tommy tries, reaching for Rosie who shakes her head at him.

"Not now." She sighs, pulling her hand away from his. "Later, Tommy." Tommy nods once before turning on his heel, heading back out the way he had come. "Right, come on then." Rosie says, moving to get hers and Ada's coats from behind the door, taking charge. "Let's get going."

"I'm going to deal with our little problem." Polly mutters, heading out of the door, leaving Rosie and Ada to get to the Bull Ring.

"Ada...the Bull Ring's this way...Ada!" Rosie calls, frowning as Ada turns left at the end of the lane instead of right. "For fuck sake, Ada. No!" She exclaims, realising the direction Ada was heading.

"This way Rosie! Come on." Her friend calls over her shoulder, determinedly pushing the pram down the pavement.

"Jesus Christ." Rosie mutters, running down the lane towards Ada. "You're fucking crazy, Ada Thorne! You're such an idiot."

"Shut up, and hurry up. Or I'll go in by myself." She shouts back, Rosie swearing under her breath as they approach the group of men gathered around the Garrison.

"Move!" Ada shouts, pushing the pram through the crowd of men.

"What are you doing?" Freddie exclaims as Ada comes into view, all the men around them freezing.

"I believe you boys call this no man's land."

"Ada!"

"What the fuck?" John mutters under his breath as he watches Rosie scurry after Ada, freezing at her side at the sight of Freddie and Danny Whizzbang.

"Fucking hell." Rosie mutters under her breath, glancing around her, taking in the scene.

"Shut up and listen!" Ada shouts, moving into the middle of the group.

"Have you lost your mind?" Freddie shouts, glancing back and forth between Rosie, Ada and Kimber behind them.

"I said, shut up." Ada shouts again. "Now most of you were in France. So you all know what happens next. I've got brothers and a husband here but you've all got somebody waiting for you. Now I'm wearing black in preparation. I want you to look at me. Look at us. I want you all to look at us. Who'll be wearing black for you? Think about them. Think about them right now, and fight if you want to but that baby ain't moving anywhere. And neither are we." Rosie tucks her arm in Ada's, shooting Tommy a nervous glance, shocked to find his eyes steely and cold.

"She's right you know. Why should all you men die? It should just be them who caused it." Kimber calls, raising his gun and shooting Tommy in the shoulder. Time slows around Rosie as she lets out a panicked scream, Ada taking over and pulling her to the ground behind the pram. Rosie begins to sob, her arms loosely wrapped around Ada's body as her best friend holds her to the ground, covering her ears to block out the shouts of the men around them.

"Enough!" Tommy shouts, breaking free of the shock that had overtaken his body, raising his hand and shooting Kimber in the head. Rosie continues to cling to Ada as Tommy shouts to Kimber's men, unable to hear him through her ringing ears, her eyes clenched shut to block out the scene unfolding.

"He's ok, he's ok, Ro, he's ok." Ada keeps repeating, her arms wrapped around Rosie as she sobs for Tommy.

"Ada, come here." Freddie says as he approaches the two women, bending to gather a shaking Ada into his arms, John taking Ada's place and holding Rosie to his chest as she sobs, Arthur helping Tommy into the pub.

"Come on, Ro. Come on. Tommy's ok. He's in the Garrison. Let's go. Come on." John says softly, pulling Rosie to her feet as she sniffles swiping her hand across her eyes.

"He's ok?" She mumbles as he leads her towards the Garrison.

"He's ok." He reassures Rosie, tucking her under his arm, where she stayed, curled up in his warm embrace until Jeremiah had finally fished the bullet out of Tommy's shoulder, and the ringing in her ears had finally ceased.

"Rosie. Come here. I'm ok. It's ok." Tommy calls gently, holding his good arm out to Rosie who rushes to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

Rosie freezes as she steps out of the front door of the Garrison to get some air, cigarette frozen in mid air, half way towards her lips. She raises her eyebrows as she steps into the lane, eyeing Grace who was approaching the pub.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, moving to lean against the wall, finally bringing the cigarette up to her lips.

"I wanted to say goodbye." Grace calls as she moves towards Rosie who scoffs and shakes her head.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Rosie states, crossing her free arm across her chest.

"I never meant for-"

"No, Grace. Don't lie to my fucking face." Rosie spits, cutting the other woman off. "Don't you see? Can't you see what you've done?"

"Rose, I wanted to come and apologise." Grace tries again, stepping forwards again.

"Don't bother." Rosie snaps, taking a long drag of the cigarette to calm herself. "And don't try and give me the fucking sob story you gave Pol earlier. About loving Tommy. It won't work." Grace nods slowly, reaching into her bag as Rosie stiffens, her hand resting over her own bag in case Grace was to pull her gun on Rosie as she had with Polly earlier. Rosie raises her eyebrows again as Grace pulls out a note, holding it out to Rosie who takes it loosely between her fingers, eyeing it disdainfully.

"I'll be in London in one week. This is my address-"

"We don't need your fucking address." Rosie cuts her off, shoving the note into her pocket.

"It's for Tommy. Not you." Grace replies, taking a step back as Rosie pushes off the wall.

"I gathered." Rosie states sarcastically, dropping her cigarette butt to the floor. She runs a hand through her hair as Grace turns away from her, moving to head back up the lane. "Grace." Rosie calls out, stepping in her direction as Grace freezes, turning slowly to face Rosie again. Rosie takes a few steps forward so that her face is inches away from Grace's before continuing; "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away."

"You don't scare me." Grace replies defiantly, holding Rosie's glare.

"I don't care." Rosie states with a scoff. "If you so much as step foot in Birmingham again, well...let's just say, we won't be so...accommodating." She doesn't wait for Grace's reply as she turns on her heel, stalking back to the Garrison and letting the door slam shut behind her.

Rosie pauses in the doorway in an attempt to still her racing heart as she scans the room for Tommy, letting out a small smile as she spots him talking to Polly by the car.

"You're not celebrating." She says softly as she approaches his, running a hand down the back of his head, leaving her arm looped around his neck as she presses a lingering kiss to his cheek.

"Neither are you." Tommy replies, winding an arm around her waist to pull her body to his.

"Doesn't feel right to." She whispers, giving Polly a small smile as Tommy hums, pulling her away from the crowd of people around the bar, and towards the now empty side room, where he settles into a chair, pulling her gently into his lap.

"Today was a good day. All of Kimber's men were busy here, so the Lee boys took all their pitches at the Worcester races. It couldn't have gone better if we'd planned it. Shelby Brothers Limited are now the third largest legal race track operation in the country. And I have you." Tommy says, resting his head on her shoulder, as Rosie cups the back of his head with her hand again.

"She came by." She mutters softly, letting her fingers brush lightly over the fine hairs on the back of his head.

"Who?" Tommy asks, not raising his head from where it was tucked in between her shoulder and her neck.

"The barmaid."

"Grace?"

"Don't, say, her fucking name."

"Rosie." Tommy says softly, raising his head to look up at Rosie who was glaring at the wall, jaw clenched tightly.

"You told her."

"Rosie."

"You told her, but you didn't tell me." Rosie emphasises, turning her head away from Tommy.

"Because I wanted to keep you safe. The less you know, the less likely you are to get hurt. I can't have you getting hurt, Ro. I fucking- I can't. Ok?" Tommy exclaims, cupping her cheek to turn her head back towards his, faltering at the sight of tears welling in her eyes.

"She had the audacity to ask me to tell you where she's going." She snaps, pulling the note from her pocket and holding it out to Tommy who takes it in his fingers, glancing at it once before letting it drop to the table.

"I'll burn the letter." He reassures her, cupping both cheeks now.

"That's not what I was trying-"

"I'm not going anywhere with her, Rosie. I'm staying here, in Small Heath, with you. Because I love you. You, Rosie Lane. Not her." Tommy states, bringing her head down to his and pressing their lips together.

"I know. And I love you too." Rosie says softly, resting her forehead on his. "But next time you don't tell me something like this-"

"I know." He replies, lifting his head to press his lips to her forehead. "There won't be a next time. Ok? You'll know. You'll know before the boys, before Pol. You'll know."

AN: And there we go! The end of season one! Thank you all for your reviews; I think after this chapter I'm going to carry on with some filler type chapters to get us on to season two and see where Tommy and Rosie go from there!