Ayla wrapped her arms around her body, the breeze was colder than she remembered, it would blow every few seconds sending chills down her spine. The streets of small Heath were busy on a Friday night. After all it was payday for most. Men and women piled into the pub with smiles on their faces and what looked like no cares in the world. Ayla wanted to be like that. Desperately. She wanted to be happy with a normal life and a smile on her face 24/7, she had never wished for anything more.
Punters walking straight past her without helping her up reminded her how cruel the world could be, how everyone was out for themselves and only the strongest would survive. Ayla wasn't sure that she fell into that category anymore.She remembered her daughter and how beautiful she was. She missed her more than anyone could imagine, she felt so lonely and so lost in a place that didn't feel like home. She just wanted a bath, she just wanted a decent night sleep.She wanted Tommy to be beside her. Ayla knew it must have been something Tommy had done to get her out of Chesters hospitality.There was no way Chester would have let her out at his own will.
"Ayla?" A faint female voice rang in her ears. Her mouth dry and her once pink lips pale and cracked, bleeding slightly.
"Grace." Her voice groggy, she tried to swallow but there was no liquid left in her mouth drier than the safari desert she could barely talk.
"Are you alright? Where have you been?Let's get you inside" Grace helped her up careful not to hurt her anymore than she was. Ayla limped into the garrison as she tried not to make eye contact with anyone in there as she leaned her weight against Grace how kindly walked slow enough for her to limp.
Everyone noticed the state she was in and gasped, they knew it must have been something she couldn't fight as Ayla was one of the greatest fighters they had ever seen, strong and independent able to look after herself. Their eyes glued to her as they stood outside the family room. Grace knocked gracefully on the door before letting herself and Ayla into the little room where the brothers sat waiting anxiously.
The very sight of Ayla lifted everyone up in the air with panic. Tommy rushed to her side holding her weak pale body in his arms cradling her like he had never done to a woman before. Polly was glad to see her alive but she knew she wasn't in good shape everybody knew but didn't want to admit it.
"She's in even worse state than Arthur" Finn said which earned him glares from everyone around him.
"We need to get her to a hospital" John spoke the obvious but Ayla scoffed
"Will you guys shut up" Polly shouted grabbing everyone's attention, he took a closer look at her.
"It's not as bad as it looks, I can clean myself up after a drink and a bath" Ayla tried to sound strong. Thomas helped her sit down fetching her a glass of water which she threw back rather quick.
"No way! You're going to a hospital!" Tommy fought back, he wasn't going to let her out of his sight. He would never let anyone harm her again but he had realised this was the second time he had broken this promise which made him wonder was he fit to be around her anyone?
"There's no need honestly I've been worse, I'm good with a needle" she cracked a smile for the first time in three days. "I just want to go home" she said, her voice filled with pain.
"Get me some Alcohol, a needle, thread and towels" Polly said to Grace. Ayla gave into Polly's mother like friendliness. Grace brought the things Polly had asked for as quickly as she could she cleaned and stitched up Ayla's cuts as best as she could from her previous experience with the boys.
"I'm afraid we've decided that you're going to be staying with us. For your own protection. Its not safe for you to be out there on your own" Polly said which angered Ayla. Pushing herself up with as much energy as she could conjure up, her head spinning more than it was before but she pushed through it.
"You don't own me! I'll do whatever the fuck I want to do!" she stood up with all the might in her body before limping as fast as she could out of the garrison, she felt like she was falling apart with no hope whatsoever. Tommy looked at his family which gave him a reassuring look to go after her. He knew how fragile she must have been feeling after everything she had been through this must have felt like a do over for her and it was all because of him.Staggering down the pebbled roads of small heath she didn't bother to look back.
"Ayla!" he shouted after her watching her quicken her pace, closer and closer to her little home. "AYLA LISTEN TO ME!" he finally pulled her arm back swinging her around. Her emerald eyes tired, faintly shivering from the breeze lingering in the air around them.Her eyes finally trailed to the ground unable to look into his ocean pools.
"Listen I'm not going to pretend that I own you because I don't you are you're own person but I want to protect you" He shook his head which made her smile a little.She couldn't stay angry at him for too long, she could feel the gangster softening slightly.
"You got me out of there. How?" she finally asked, her face serious again.
"You don't need to worry about how. I got you out didn't I?" he raised an eyebrow, the same manlike gangster returned within seconds but she wanted to know the truth.They both paused as he could see anger building inside of her.
"Thomas for once in your fucking miserable life tell me the bloody truth!" she demanded. Silence falling between them, he didn't answer.
"Fine!"she swirled around charging towards her door once again. She obviously didn't have the key but she knew another way of unlocking the door.
Grabbing a pin out of her undoubtably messy hair and attempting to unlock the door. Her hands shaking from the cold covered in dry blood and dirt. Tommy stood watching as she struggled letting a small laugh escape his lips which she ignored, her could see the bruises lightly illuminating from the street lamp above them. Thomas hated himself for letting it get this bad, he hated thinking about the pain that was inflicted on her on his account.
"Dont just stand there! help me" She finally gave in. Her eyes so tired that she could barely keep them open. Tommy pulled out the keys from his pocket which stunned her.
"You had the keys the whole time?" she said which made him laugh
"yes" he said with a smirk amongst his lips. He had kept them from the day she was captured.
"Open the door then!" she rubbed her shoulders trying to shade herself from the wind. Anger building inside of her towards him. He stood there watching her every move. Even though she was covered in blood and bruises she was still beautiful in her own little way. Ayla noticed his beauty too. Although it was dark she still knew he was beautiful and that his eyes were still glistening. Ayla could feel Thomas getting closer to her, not too quick not too slow. Her heart felt unusual almost like it was aching. like it was bleeding. Thomas had waited so long just to even get this close to her without any interruptions but he could sense the fear rising through her body. She held her arms out stopping him from coming any closer. She couldn't bare it.
"Tommy... just open the door" She stared at the ground as she hastily did as he was told. He could tell that it had gotten to her.As the door to her small little home had opened it was exactly the same as the day she left it. Her house in an absolute mess but she didn't care.She just needed a shower and a good night rest.
"I better get back to the Garrison" Thomas finally said stopping at the threshold. She instantly regretted what she had done.She finally admitted to herself that she wanted to kiss Thomas, she wanted to love him but why couldn't she? She knew anyone she would get close to would die just like everyone in her past and she certainly didn't want anything happening to Thomas, she knew that she couldn't protect him and he couldn't protect .
"How about a cuppa?" She said which made Thomas smile a little to himself.They both wanted to be around each other as much as possible but they couldn't admit it to themselves or each other.
"why not" He threw her a warming smile as she stumbled around the kitchen to find her kettle.
"Why don't you get a change of clothes and have a quick shower while I make us the tea?" Thomas brushed his hand against hers.She shuddered but didn't move her hand till their eyes met.
"yeah" she said quietly heading into her bedroom, scrambling around for some clothes she may have left behind.When she found an old dress her mother used to wear to bed, she had totally forgotten that she had left it behind.Taking a 5 minute shower letting the blood and dirt fall around her in the water. The warm water was heaven sent, she had missed the feeling of cleanliness. Her body started to ache as she dried it off with a towel. Bruises covering the majority of her body the woman in the mirror was a weaker version of her. Ayla knew she was becoming weaker as her feelings for Thomas began growing, she wouldn't let herself become weak. she would do anything she could to stop it. she carefully cleaned her cuts and stitched up any open wounds before slipping into her night wear.
When the bathroom door opened Thomas was stunned by the beauty before him. His crotch now aching but not the way it normally did. his body was filled with a willingness for passion and lust. His eyes looking directly into hers, pausing for a moment as her outfit took his breath away. Her wet hair dangling over her shoulders as the lace in her night gown covered her thin shaped body.
"Look about earlier-" she said scratching her head but got cut off shortly
"You don't have to explain yourself to me Ayla" His voice now deep. He had poured them both a cup of tea which steamed in their cups. She slowly sat opposite him letting the silence engulf them both. She desperately wanted to be honest with him and him with her. Playing with the sleeves of her night gown she finally broke the silence.
"You don't understand Tommy. even if we were" she paused thinking about earlier "even if we did, I'm not saying we would but..." she stuttered which made him look directly into her eyes "anyone I get close to dies." she finally admitted "And I wont let it happen to you" She said. Thomas wanted to smile but held it in.
"You don't have to worry about me. Pretty much everyone in Birmingham wants me dead but thats never stopped me from getting what I want" his face now serious. You could see how much he yearned for Ayla, needed her beside him to keep him sane. She was the last puzzle piece to his reality but she was so far away from his reach.The pain in her eyes were evident.
She looked away, scrambling around her house tidying up what she could. When Thomas leaned over to help, his hand purposely brushing against hers again. This time she didn't fight his presence, she didn't mind him being this close to her.
"What is it that you want Thomas?" Her eyes looking deep into his soul.
"you" He whispered sending chills down her spine
She couldn't bare it anymore. Her lips smashing into his purposefully letting them move in sync. Thomas felt himself smile into the kiss. He couldn't believe that Ayla was giving herself to him after everything she had been through. Ayla thought she would never touch another man again until now. Her arms wrapping around his neck as she held him in closely. When they broke for air his eyes stared into hers searching for an answer to his question.
"Are you sure?" He asked she pulled away from him for a moment. Without hesitation pulling the string on her robe revealing the thin white dress underneath.
"I'm sure" She said with a hint of anxiousness behind her words.