"Hello, darling." My mother smiled in her over-pleasant voice. I was in complete shock, my adopted parents were standing in front of me with bags. They had not aged and it had been seven years.

"Mother, father." I whispered as I placed the gun on the sideboard. I looked behind me to see Tommy standing there holding Roma. I just sighed because I knew this was going to be a long night.

"How did you find me?" I asked them bluntly, Tommy Shelby style. Speak of the devil, he was standing beside me, holding our child, after he proposed to me and I did not give him a solid answer.

"We tracked you down. Private Inspector found you." My superficial mother answered like it was nothing. "He tracked you from New York all the way to this place." My mother continued with utter disgust.

"Tommy, meet Dana and Peter Baker." I muttered as I let them into my home. Probably a bad idea. Tommy shook both my mother and fathers hands.

"Yes, Tommy Shelby. King of the Peaky Blinders." My father stated, he probably did not like that his daughter was in love with a criminal. 

"What are you two doing here?" I asked them as we migrated into the living room. My mother was inspecting the room to the very last detail, my father was glaring at Tommy and Tommy was cradling Roma like his life dependant on it.

"It has been seven years, Clara dear." My mother answered and I nodded my head. 

"The best seven years of my life." I replied as I sat down next to Tommy. I smiled at him to reassure him but I was still pondering on the whole marriage idea. Of course I wanted to, but I did not know if Tommy actually wanted to. 

"Come home." My father stated bluntly and I just laughed out loud. I could not believe him. "Just pack your bags and come home. Just take Roma with you. You do not belong here." My father explained.

"My daughter is not going anywhere." Tommy stated bluntly and I shook my head.

"I was born here, my mother lives not far out. I have Tommy here, I have his family here. I have Roma, my baby girl, here. My family here. I do not want your rich lifestyle." I spat at them angrily as Roma started to cry. 

"I will take her up the stairs." Tommy whispered before he stood up and walked out of the room. He was leaving me in a room alone with lions.

"You named her Roma?" My mother asked me, I could tell she was disappointed in the name. I did not name her Dana like I always promised her. 

"It was a spur of the moment decision." I answered and I could see just how upset she was. "Her full name is Roma Dana Shelby." I continued and my mothers face perked up a little. 

"Why don't you two just come home with us?" My mother asked in a sweet tone. I had never seen her this nice before, I did not whether or not to believe her niceness or if if it was just a ploy to get me home. 

"This is my home. I have my family here and I have Tommy here." I explained in the calmest way possibly as I walked over to the tray to pour myself alcohol. I downed the whiskey quicker than bloody Tommy.

"Do you love him?" My father asked in a mocking tone and I nodded my head in response. 

"As a matter of fact, yes I do." I answered honestly as I took off my jacket and let my hair down.

"You are a criminal. You need out of this life." My father shouted at me and I shook my head. I was no such thing, the only people I have ever killed where people that special agents told me to. "Look, there is a man back in London. An earl. He is willing to marry you if you say the child is his." My father explained and I burst out laughing thinking they were joking. 

Tommy walked into the living room, my father was glaring at him. I just shook my head.

"I am not going to marry some man that you have picked out. I am going to marry a man of my choosing." I argued with my father strongly. I was going to win this battle and this war between us.

"You will do as I say or-" My father began to shout before I interrupted him proudly.

"Or what? You going to throw me out again?" I asked them with a raised eyebrow. "Do you know what it is like to be on the streets of London with nothing?" I asked them both and they stayed quiet. 

"What happened?" My mother asked me in a soft voice because she knew it calmed me down. Tommy slid his hand in mine comfortingly.

"Dad you would be happy to know, I did legal things." I stated to him snarky. I promised myself that I would never do prostitution and I never did. "Then the war struck and I went to France as a nurse. We all know the rest." I finished. "I am staying here." I added smiling up at Tommy.

"So you can be a criminal for the rest of your life?" My father asked me confused. I sighed loudly. 

"Clara doesn't do any of the illegal things." Tommy answered bluntly as he lit himself a cigarette and took a seat on one of my couches.

"If you don't come with us, we still custody of Roma." My father stated and Tommy stood up protectively. The thing that confused me was how confused with mother was.

"We will do no such thing." My mother replied in a stern voice, that made me believe that her niceness was the truth. 

"She's untouchable. She has the Peaky Blinders protecting her twenty four seven. Nobody is stupid enough to try and harm her." Tommy explained in his smug fashion. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Just get out of my house, dad." I stated bluntly as I pointed to my door. I was not sure if my submissive mother was going to follow after him or not. 

"Dana." My dad stated as he picked up his bags. My mother stayed still before she turned to face me.

"Is it alright if I stay here for the night?" My mother asked me and I did not know how to answer. I could not fully trust her again but I knew she was at least trying. 

"Yes." I smiled over at her and with that my father left in a huff. I was loving it, once I heard the door slam I turned to my mother. "Why do you want to stay?" I asked her confused.

"I have missed you like crazy." My mother admitted as she tried to hug me. I slowly hugged onto her. I had not felt her embrace in so long.

"I will show you your bedroom." I stated as I started to walk and my mother followed after me with her bags. I took her up the stairs and into one of the spare rooms. "Here you go. There are things in the cupboard and the loo is down the hall." I explained as my mother looked around the room. Examining it. 

"Thank you." My mother smiled back at me and I nodded my head awkwardly.

"I should go see Tommy. I will see you in the morning." I replied before I walked out of the room. I could hear my mum shout good night before she closed the door. I walked down the stairs to see Tommy standing there.  I was one step above him so I just met his high level. "What the hell is going on?" I whispered to him grinning with confusion. 

"I just met your parents." Tommy smirked at me and I nodded my head 

"My mum is up the stairs." I stated with such amazement. I never thought I would say that again. "Are you staying over?" I asked him happily as I placed an arm on his shoulders. Tommy smirked smugly. "Come on." I grinned at him before we slowly walked up to my room.  

I was just going to ignore the question that Tommy had previously posed because I did not have an answer. I was not completely sure if Tommy's eye would wonder or not, I could not tell you. 

___

I was sitting on the edge of my bed trying on the ring that Tommy had bought for me. Just to see if I could do the whole marriage thing. I inspected it carefully before I turned around to see Tommy sleeping. 

This is the life I could have, married to Tommy, big house, more children. We could live in gigantic manor I always wanted to live in. I could do it with him. But there was still a cloud of doubt, he left me before. What if he finds a new girl? Or just decides that he no longer likes me. Then what do I do. 

"Trying it on for size?" A voice from behind me croaked and I turned around to see Tommy rubbing his eyes. I blushed crimson red as I took off the ring and placed it back into the box. 

"I don't know what to say." I admitted as I crawled back over to my side of the bed and got under the covers with him. 

"Do you love me?" Tommy asked and I just rolled my eyes as I grinned widely.

"The majority of the time." I teased and he just smirked smugly at me. Like he usually did. "I do love you Mr Thomas Shelby." I stated honestly and Tommy nodded his head.

"That is all I need just now." Tommy whispered as he closed his eyes. I looked at him confused, what did that mean? Did he not want to marry me? Or was he just trying to play it cool and he really wanted to marry me?

"Tommy." I whispered and Tommy just groaned. It was really early and he was obviously wanting to sleep. "Tommy." I whispered loudly as I smacked his bare chest a little with his cool tattoo.

"What?" Tommy moaned as he looked at me with his piercing blue eyes. God his blue eyes, they were amazing.

"What did you mean by that?" I asked him pouting a little as I stared up at the roof. Tommy just kissed me reassuringly.

"You need to sleep on it and I get that. Just go to bed." Tommy explained and I nodded my head before I cuddled up to him.

"I love you." I whispered before I fell into a peaceful slumber happily. 

___

"A civilsed place. Smart." I muttered as I looked at the cafe my parents wanted me to meet them at. It was covered in people. I walked in and saw them already eating food, forgetting about me. "Afternoon." I stated as I pushed the buggy up to them and sat down with Roma on me.

"Hello sweetheart." My mother smiled at me but my father stayed quiet. "We just want to have a civilised chat." My mother continued and I nodded my head in agreement.

"I am not moving. I am staying here because I have a family here." I stated bluntly, I wanted to get straight to the point. "I love it here." I added emotionally. My father did not do well with emotions.

"We want you home." My mother replied and I shook my head.

"We are not going anywhere. I love Tommy and Roma needs him. Not some Earl." I explained in a snarky tone and my father rolled his eyes. 

"You are ruining your life and your childs." My father snapped and I shook my head.

"You did that." I stated coldly and I could see how upset my mother was. My mother had always loved my father and would do anything for him. It was my fathers idea to kick me out, maybe she never wanted me to leave. Maybe my mother was jealous that I was trying to break the social expectation that she followed submissively. "I was not happy then but I am now. My happiness should come first." I explained passionately.

"Peter, maybe we should just let her stay." My mother whispered but I could still hear. My father shook his head sternly.

"She is an embarrassment and we need to help her before she ruins everything." My father explained explicitly. 

"I am done. I have to get ready for a party at the Garrison tonight." I stated as I stood up and placed Roma in the buggy. "I want to make this work but I need you to try." I stated to my mother, just my mother before I walked out of it. 

___

I was sitting in the back room of the Garrison with Roma, Esme, John, Arthur and Finn. We were all waiting for Michael, Polly and Tommy. We were all sitting and laughing. 

"Well, Finn, you've got two choices." John stated as he stood above the bucket of beer. "Mild or mild." He asked jokingly as I drank some beer. 

"Mild." Finn laughed and John placed the cup into the beer before handing the filled cup to Finn. 

"There you go." John grinned as Finn held onto the cup. Then the door opened, Polly, the birthday boy and Tommy arrived. Tommy looking as good as ever. 

"Here he is, look." Arthur exclaimed and we all cheered as we clapped our hands. Michael looked so happy to be with his family. 

"Happy birthday, Michael." I grinned as I hugged him while holding Roma in the other hand before I took my seat next to Esme again. 

"Give him a drink, John Boy." Tommy instructed and John did just that. 

"There you go, lad." John smirked as he handed him a drink. Arthur looked a little to pleased. 

"And after that, we'll go to find you a lady of the night." Arthur explained in this thick accent. We all laughed as I covered Roma's little ears, she was only one but I did not want her to remember it. 

"Arthur!" Polly snapped and we all laughed some more. 

"Michael." Tommy called as he brought a black box out of his jacket pocket and handed it over to Michael. 

"What's that?" Michael asked as he opened up the box to see a gold pocket watch. 

"So you're never late for work. Welcome to the business, Michael." Tommy smiled at his younger cousin as Michael admired the beautiful pocket watch. 

"Welcome to the business." I grinned at him as well as Roma held onto my finger for her dear life. 

"Thank you." Michael stated to the both of us before he hugged an ecstatic Polly. It was great to see her smile too, after everything. 

"Right, come on, let's get him drunk. Come here, you." John smirked at his cousin. 

"All right, whisky." Arthur smirked as Michael made their way over to the rest of the Shelby brothers. 

"No whisky, he's at work tomorrow. Give him only dark mild." Tommy instructed and it was great to see Michael smiling. "A toast." Tommy continued and everyone nodded their heads. "To Michael." Tommy stated holding up his glass and we all did the same thing. 

"To Michael." We all chanted before we drank some alcohol. There was a knock on the door and then my mother walked in. I was confused as to how she knew but then I realised I told them. 

"I thought I could join." My mother stated awkwardly and I was shocked to see her. Arthur obviously did not know it was my mother. 

"Who is toff doing here?" Arthur asked eyeing her up and down. My mother looked disgusted and probably felt a shudder inside. 

"Everyone meet Clara's mother, Dana Baker." Tommy introduced and they all looked wide-eyed. 

"It's lovely to meet you all." My mother smiled with such warmth. It could make anyone feel happy again. People said I inherited it from her even though we were not related by blood. They said we were like twins. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked my mother confused and I was not surprised to see that my 

"Trying, darling." My mother smiled at me and I grinned back immensely. 

"In you come." Tommy ushered and my mother nodded her head politely before she closed the door behind her. 

"Where's dad?" I asked her as she took a seat down beside me. 

"He's gone. He asked me choose between you and him. I chose you." My mother answered and my heart exploded with so much joy and love. 

"Why?" I asked her intrigued. Do not get me wrong, I was happy just really really really confused. 

"I want to be apart of your life." My mother admitted and that was all I wanted hear. It was all  I needed to hear. 

"This is it." I explained and everybody was waiting to be introduced. "This is Esme, my best friend here. We have John, Arthur, Polly and Michael. We are celebrating Michael's birthday." I explained as I pointed everyone out. My mother waved at all of them before she turned to Michael. My mother knew her manners and was going to showcase them. 

"Happy Birthday." My mother said and I was happy that she was trying. It meant a lot to me. "It's nice to meet you all." My mother smiled and they all nodded their heads back at her. "Please continue, sorry to interrupt." My mother said blushing. Then I saw her look of disgust at the beer. I laughed a little. 

"I will go get you a drink. Take Roma." I smiled at my mum as I handed her Roma before I walked over to Tommy. I took his hand and we walked out together. 

"I thought you were capable of making a drink by yourself." Tommy explained jokingly and I laughed at him. Check Tommy trying to joke. 

"Yes, I am." I giggled as we walked into the bar together. 

"So why am I here?" Tommy asked me as I got a glass and poured gin into it. I smiled at him nervously. 

"I do not want to marry you." I stated bluntly but then I realised that sounded wrong. "Yet." I added optimistically.  "I want us to continue the way we are going and then soon marriage." I explained honestly and optimistically. "Can you wait for me?" I asked him as I bit my lip playfully as I poured some cordial in with the gin. 

"Yes." Tommy sighed in defeat and we kissed. I was not caring who was watching and I did not think he was either. We were in love and happy right now with Roma. That was all I needed in my life. 

"We better go before my mother runs away with Roma." I grinned jokingly before Tommy and I walked back into the back room laughing with my mothers drink in one hand. Before we closed the door, away from the world. We wanted to have a great night with just family.

+++

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mrs n o'brien xxxx