Peaky Blinders One Shots

Polly X Reader: A New Addition

"They said there was too many of us and that some had to leave. So they told me to go." She doesn't cry but her voice breaks. Overcome with emotion yourself, you wrap an arm around Elizabeth. There's no way in hell you're leaving this girl out again. You'll raise her yourself if she's willing to allow it.

Elizabeth rests her head on your shoulder, relaxing against you. You lean your cheek against the top of her head, not even caring about how dirty her hair is. All you can think about is how to ask her if she wants to stay with you, and of course, how to tell Polly.

The second part comes a lot sooner than you expect, as before you can even plan the conversation with your partner, the front door opens.

"Love," you hear Polly call, startling Elizabeth, "are you back?"

"Don't worry," you whisper against the girls hair, "that's my friend, Polly." She doesn't have the chance to say anything, because Polly walks into the kitchen, a relaxed expression on her face when she spots you that quickly morphs into surprise when she notices the child. You unwrap your arm from Elizabeth's shoulders and stand, approaching the woman you love with a nervous smile.

"Hey Pol," you greet her.

"Hi, love," her wide eyes briefly flit to meet your gaze before returning to the little girl, who shrinks against her chair at the attention.

"Polly, I'd like you to meet Elizabeth," you gesture to the girl, turning to look at her, "Elizabeth, this is Polly." The Shelby matriarch looks at you again, confusion in her eyes, before smiling at the girl.

"Hello, Elizabeth," she says softly, trying not to scare the child or let on how much her presence has surprised her.

"Hi," the girl's voice has become as quiet as it had been when you first approached her, though she looked less unsure when you smiled at her. You turn back to Polly then, knowing that she wants answers.

"Can we talk out there?" You gesture to the hallway. She nods, leading the way. You turn back to Elizabeth before you follow her out.

"I'll just be a minute," you tell her. She nods, watching you leave.

Once in the hallway, you leave a crack in the door so you can keep an eye on her, scared she might hurt herself if she trips or tries to open a cupboard and something drops out. Polly notes the gap and makes an effort to keep her voice low.

"Who is she?" Polly whispers, maternal instincts making her glance through the crack in the door as much as you do. So far, Elizabeth is just sitting there.

"A girl I found out in the street, Pol. She was thrown out."

"She has nowhere to go?"

You shake your head glumly. "I think she's been out there a while."

Polly nods in agreement. "She looks like she hasn't had a bath in a few weeks at least. What are we going to do about it?" The look on your face tells her all she needs to know, and she raises her eyebrows in alarm. "Are you serious?"

"What else can we do, Pol?" You try to stay quiet but the emotions running through you make that difficult. Polly shushes you, checking to see if Elizabeth heard. It doesn't seem like she did.

"I'm only asking because a child is a big responsibility, especially one that's already been abandoned." She explains. There's a sadness in her eyes as she looks at the girl, and you're aware of the reason why. With dark hair and dark eyes, Elizabeth looks a lot like the way Anna has beem described to you. She also has the street smarts of a Shelby kid. This whole situation is bringing up many painful memories for Polly. You feel like an arse for putting her through all this.

You rest a hand on her shoulder, drawing her tearful eyes to your desperate ones.

"She needs a home, Pol. We could raise her here, together." She stares deep into your eyes, watching to see if you're sure about this. Sensing no hesitation, she finally nods, giving you a watery smile.

"We should do it," She decides, smile broadening when you nod. Polly pulls you into a hug, squeezing her arms around your middle. You two hold each other for a few moments longer, before you pull back, but only to plant a soft kiss on her lips. She reciprocates with passion, her hands on your back pulling you as close as possible. Your own slide up to cup her cheeks gently, holding her to you.

The joy you feel at starting a family with your love is immense, and makes you want to take your actions further, but the child inside the kitchen still needs someone to look after her, so you pull away, panting and slightly reluctant. The gleam in Polly's eye shows you she's much more sure of this now.

The front door opens, and the loud voices of Polly's oldest and third oldest nephew boom through the house, only silenced by the much quieter voice of the second oldest. Polly and you pull apart completely.

"I'll get them to keep it down and tell them what's happening," she tells you with a look of determination on her face.

"What do you think they'll say?" You wonder. Polly looks unperturbed.

"I don't care," she says, "they'll just have to accept that they have a new cousin." You can't hide the grin that covers your face at her protectiveness of the child. She's already taken to mothering the young girl before she's ever really spoken to her.

Before she goes to her nephews, she peaks in at Elizabeth again, who still hasn't moved from her seat. "Take her upstairs and give her one of Ada's old dresses to put on. Try to give her a bath if she'll let you as well, and get some of the old toys from Finn's room and keep her upstairs until the shop shuts," she instructs, "I doubt she'll be able to handle all the noise down here." With that, she goes into the shop part of the house to her family.

You watch her leave with a grin still plastered across your face and excitement bubbling inside your chest. A family with Polly is something you've always wanted and you may be getting it now. As you hear the voices lower, you turn back to the kitchen door and enter, taking in a nervous breath as you do. Elizabeth turns to look at you and your smile softens as you hold your hand out to the young girl.

"Would you like to come upstairs with me? We have toys and you can wear a clean dress." This time, there's very little hesitation at your question. Elizabeth takes your hand and follows you along, smiling as she walks.

Maybe this will work out after all.