Two weeks, twenty thousand minutes, and over one million seconds since Tommy and Charlotte's last interaction, a bittersweet one at that.
Now Charlotte found herself once again accompanying the small heath streets, since Tommy had left her apartment a few weeks ago she insisted that she wouldn't return to Small Heath for a while, in hopes that all of this would blow over and she'd fall back into the life she was comfortably living months ago,one without Tommy. However of course, we don't live in an ideal world and somehow the city had pulled on it's strings and worked it's withdrawing magic,resulting in her return.
The underlying problem here was that she wasn't mad,disappointed, eager to escape but instead was pleased more then anything, pleased that it had worked it's magic and fate led her back. This time was unique to others, she didn't allow her better nature to make itself known, resulting in her rush to leave and her distance from Tommy. No, this time she did what she wanted to, stay. stay for as-long as she desired to, she was listening to the powerful tune of her heart and not her head. An act that led to utter heartbreak before hand, but she didn't want to just survive comfortably, she wanted to live happy, and the answer to that?
Tommy Shelby.
"You coming to the garrison re-opening later dolly?" Arthur questioned as all three Shelby brother's and herself made their way towards the watery lane home. "course she is" john interrupted before the brunette could even get a word in.
Giggling in response, charlotte glanced to tommy for a second who held a ghost smile on his face at the sound. "yes i am, not that i had a choice anyway" she chuckled, walking in-between the pair, tommy very slightly behind.
The ex lover's seemed to have come to some sort of civility, the situation wasn't spoken of and the constant tension that hang in air was slowly dissipating, and it was nice, for everyone.
"run for the hills it's digbeth kid" Arthur bellowed playfully, pointing his gun towards charlotte and john.
"you'll have to catch us first!" Charlotte giggled, grabbing johns arm and legging it down watery lane. A faint smile came about Tommy's face as he watched john throw charlotte over his shoulder, the pair full of laughter.
"oi, your meant to be on my side" charlotte scowled, gently tapping his back for him to put her down. "i am" he chuckled,hoisting them both towards the home as he ran, Arthur in suit.
"get outta town kid, or i'll shoot your fookin head off" john joked, now entering the home. "john put me down" charlotte struggled, consumed with laughter. Although she was pleasantly surprised when he did so without question, however she very rapidly realised why when she noticed polly's company, Michael.
"your dead go down" Arthur frowned, before slowly facing his aunt polly, soon placing his gun back where it was as the three stifled their laughter.
"right then polly, who's this?" Arthur question, a slight smirk on his face as Charlotte smoothed out her dress.
"gentlemen, this is your cousin" tommy answered, gesturing his head towards Micheal. Charlotte sent a genuine smile polly's way in realisation, it only widening when she saw the glisten of pride in her eyes.
Walking towards the Shelby's brothers, Michael held his hand out, shaking the pair's hands. "pleased to meet you"
"well we met when i used to throw you out the window so john could catch ya" Arthur stated, as a wide smile came about Michael's face. "yeah i used to put you in a shoebox and kick ya down watery lane" john added, as charlotte laughed. "bet your glad to be back" tommy sarcastically chuckled, before noticing Michael's attention fall on Charlotte. "i've seen you in the pictures" Michael perplexed, the room filling with chuckles. "I'm Charlotte, i used to babysit you with tommy but you wouldn't remember that" she smiled, as he smiled in clear confusion.
"her mother was the boy's mother's best friend, they've grown up together" polly stated, clearing the air of unanswered questions. Nodding in realisation, he couldn't help but hold a small expression of awe. "don't get to high in your thoughts Michael, she was with tommy for years" john playfully spoke, the boys face turning slightly pink as small chuckles once again filled the room, tommy's face even holding a small smirk.
"Lottie girlll" John addressed the Windsor girl as she made her way over to the table he was sat on. "john boy" she smiled before tussling Finns hair "i'd be abit more discreet with that whiskey if you don't want ya brother to take it off you" charlotte spoke, glancing over to tommy who was mid conversation. "i've already told 'im that" john rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from under her breath. "what do you think of me pub?" Arthur made his presence known as he pulled her under his arm, a broad smile on his face.
"it's very" "gold" Arthur finished for her, a small laugh leaving her lips. "yes" "well it suit's you then don't it Lottie" john playfully spoke, watching as she rolled her eyes in response.
Before she could reply, she felt arms pull her into their own.Within seconds Charlotte was aware of who it was, simply due to their signature perfume.
"Ada!" she smiled, pulling her into another hug at the realisation. "i didn't know you were going to be here tonight" charlotte smiled once again, matching the wide smile the Shelby girl also held. "neither did i, last minute thing" she chuckled, gesturing her head towards tommy with a playful roll of her eyes.
"how are you ades?" charlotte questioned, searching for any dishonesty as she spoke. "i'm doing well, i promise" she nodded in reassurance. "i'm glad"
"how about you Lottie, how are you doing, really?" the Shelby girl further questioned. "i'm okay, always better when i'm home" the pair not missing the ulterior meaning behind the last statement. "i think i know the reasoning for that" ada nodded with the raise of her eyebrows. "you need to let it go ades" she chuckled "it's done" Charlotte shrugged, although she wasn't even sure if she meant the words leaving her own mouth.
"you two were the example of love i've always looked up to, don't let time fool you into thinking you didn't have something extraordinary" ada sighed, taking Charlotte aback slightly at the strong statement. However before she could even process what to respond, ada smirked. "incoming" she smiled before leaving the brunette girl in pure confusion.
Feeling a light tap on the shoulder, she turned around to face icy blue eye's piercing into her own emerald's.
"you look beautiful" a hoarse voice spoke, watching as a small but genuine smile became one on her face.
"thank you tommy, you look handsome" she sighed through the same smile, the pairs eyes not leaving one another's. "come with me" he hoarsed, stepping out the way to allow her in-front of him.
Walking into the empty snug, Tommy shut the door behind them before significantly lessening the proximity between them both.
"i want you to have this" tommy spoke, his voice unusually quieter then it always was, displaying a side of vulnerability. Frowning slightly in confusion, Charlotte swallowed as she came to the realisation of what it was he was giving her. Her eyes met a pretty bracelet that she hadn't seen since she made her first departure from small heath, it was one that had originally belonged to Tommy's mother however after her passing, tommy insisted Charlotte was to have it. Without a doubt she wore it everyday for most likely around 10 years straight, although unfortunately she clearly misplaced it.
"i found it the day you left, kept it on me ever since"he added, now his voice entailing pure emotion. "i want you to have it back" he nodded, meeting her intense gaze, one that also held arrays of emotion.
"thank you tommy" she spoke just above a whisper as she glanced back at the bracelet. "that's very sweet of you" she added, biting her lip as he placed the bracelet on her wrist, the familiar touch sending a unwelcome surge simultaneously through them.
"thank you" she exhaled quietly, not taking her eyes off his. not a word was spoken, all that could be heard was the slightly quickened breaths.
His eye's scanned over her for a second as he bit his lip, pondering on his thoughts as he stepped towards her.
Crashing his lips against hers, he cupped her face with strength and delicacy,urgency and care.
Returning the kiss, Charlotte couldn't describe the sensation that consumed her, she had many things to be proud of, things that ought for an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and pride. However stood here now, she could effortlessly admit that no feeling could match to what she was experiencing right now, one that could only be described as similar to letting out an exhale after holding your breath for too long. As if the universe conspired for them to be together, an overwhelming feeling of righteousness.
Soulmate love, they say, is a rarity, but she knew without a doubt, that she had always witnessed the magic of it.
A simple kiss acting as that reminder, spoke a thousand words solely.
Pulling away ever so slightly, the distance between the pair remained minimal, as he ran his thumb over her bottom lip gently. "i have a show this weekend, i want you to come with me" charlotte spoke irrationally, watching as he was taken aback by the statement. "you want me to be there?" he questioned with a small frown, recalling the amount of times she mentioned the papers and his reputation. "yes" she responded without hesitation. "but what about?"
"i love you" she cut him off, "and i have since we were sixteen years old tommy" she admitted through a sigh. "you have to promise you won't break my heart if we do this again" she whispered, loud enough for him to notice the vulnerability consuming her tone.
"i promise you" he spoke, as she lightly nodded her head. "Lottie" "i love you more, always have always will" he nodded as she chuckled lightly at the last part. "so will you come with me?"
"i'll be there Lottie."
Thomas Shelby and Charlotte Windsor, four words, twenty eight letters and eight syllables that unite together to construct a sweet tune of power.
A worldwide sensation, a notorious gangster, a duo that even power itself shy's away from. Truly Iconic.
As they walked into the club, Charlotte's arm linked with his the entrance was soon consumed with the flashes of hundreds of camera's, enough to overwhelm anyone. Although of course, the pair stood tall, leaving onlookers in awe of the scene that was enfolding. Not only was the ordeal going to be a staple piece in the media due significant amounts of interest in her love life, but her "partner" wasn't just anybody, he happened to be a notorious gangster and a beautiful one at that. Intimidation is often successful based off of two components, confidence and appearance, and god did they have both. The people watched in intimidation and awe, as charlotte placed her hand in his. Whispers contaminated the room, there was a man good enough to be with Charlotte Windsor?, there was a woman good enough to be with Thomas Shelby?
There was no denying how well they complimented each-other, there was no denying this was going to be the talk of all papers by tomorrow morning.
But for Charlotte? He'd do it all.
"Good luck tonight Charlotte" one of the club owners smiled, someone Charlotte had become familiar with over the past couple years. "Thank you, i need to find my partner quickly before i perform but i'll speak with you later" she smiled, soon followed by a thick swallow at her words.
My Partner
They hadn't even had that conversation yet, and undeniably many things lay untold however how do you explain to someone that he's my partner but not really but was for 10 years of my life?
Tommy stood conversing in very unwanted small talk as he waited for Charlotte, however he did so anyway, all for Charlotte's benefit.
"So Mr Shelby, what brings you here?"
a high pitched voice caught his attention, it holding a flirtatious tone.
"i'm here with my wife."
My Wife
He was just as aware as Charlotte was that they haven't even had the slightest of conversations in regards to what they are, and here he was referring to her as his wife, although in his favour it was also a plea to voice, "leave me the fuck alone".
"i don't see her" she smirked, licking her lips and running her hand down his chest.
From the other side of the room, Charlotte stopped dead in her tracks, feeling an instant surge of that unwanted ptsd, as she ever so quickly felt in touch with her old self, the naive and heartbroken girl who endured so much mental pain at the hands of that man. Here she stood, feeling that ever so familiar feeling, turning around within seconds, uninterested in watching even a millisecond more.
Taking an instant step back, Tommy screwed his face up in pure disgust.
"my wife's Charlotte Windsor, i wouldn't look at you if you payed me" he spoke,not missing the way the colour was now drained from her face at the realisation of who his wife is. "now if you excuse me, i'm going to find her" he added, walking away and scanning the room for her.
His eyes were successful when they fell upon her, nursing a drink on her own.
"why you stood on your own Lottie?" he frowned, under the impression she had gone back stage to prepare.
Taking the bracelet he had re-given her off within seconds, she opened up his hand placing it inside.
"you can have that back" she spoke through the clench of her jaw, fighting with everything not to convey her emotions. "what?" he furrowed his brows, confusion growing by the minute. "i forgive you, but i'll never forgive myself for trusting someone like you" she shot at him, watching as his eyes scanned over her face in confusion. "Lottie what are you talking about?" he questioned, concern riddling his tone. "you promised me, i left you for five minutes and you couldn't control yourself?" she spat, evidently attempting to disguise her hurt through anger.
A look of realisation came about Tommy's face when he glanced back at her, she had seen the worst part of the interaction and that's all.
"Lottie look at me" he sighed, desperate to let her know what really happened.
"how can i look at you, when in your eyes i see a stranger where i once saw a soulmate" she spat, feeling instant regret as an expression of pure hurt flashed across his face. "What?" he hoarsed, charlotte's guilt growing at the despair in his voice.
"Because nothing makes me happier, and nothing makes me sadder, than you."
-
he finally got that oscar👏👏👏
alsoo these updates are doing my head in and i'm not even a reader lol, trying my best to speed them up x
it's all smooth sailing after this promiseeee