11; Karl after Karl Marx

Sullivan hated the way people were sometimes behaving in the Garrison. Thing is she had taught the usual customers how she wanted them to behave: no fights, no disrespect towards barmaids, and most of all, no one was able to come in and require everyone out. Everyone seemed to have understood that she didn't like this, and the men had tried to behave correctly around her as much as they could. 

Everyone, except Thomas Shelby. 

As he stepped into the Garrison, ordering everyone to leave the pub, Sullivan sighed next to Grace, making the barmaid frown. The blonde looked as the customers left the pub, giving her some waves which she responded by a big smile and muttered excuses. 

"My money's leaving," she moaned as she pouted sadly, making Grace giggle and Tommy roll his eyes. As Grace gave him a bottle of whiskey, Tommy asked Sullivan to reach for two more glasses. As she did, Thomas poured them all whiskey, then looked at the both of them. 

"Make a toast," he ordered to Grace, whom of which smiled in answer. 

"I'm Irish, I could make a million toasts," she responded. "May you be in heaven a full half-hour before the devil knows you're dead." They drank at it, and as they started to discuss, Sullivan looked over them, thinking again about the last time she had drank a whiskey - when she had wrote the letter. 

"Contract of employment," Tommy said to answer at one of Grace's questions, making Sullivan fall back on Earth. She frowned as the blonde read her new status in the Shelbys' company, and Sully rolled her eyes at it. She let them have their conversation of celebration, and as Grace put out a full bottle of champagne Sullivan grew bored of it. 

"Alright folks," she said with a smile. "If you would excuse me, I have to go. Obviously, nobody's needing me here anymore, and I can't lose too much time." Tommy glanced at her as she put her coat on and rushed to the Garrison door. 

"I'll have to talk to you," Thomas called to her, but the girl waved his words away. 

"Yeah, well, you miss the train, and now I don't have any time to accord you," she responded with a smile as she turned her head to watch him. "But I'm not worried, you're in very good company now." 

And like this, she was gone. 

When she finally made it to her house, she walked in, closing the door behind her - but didn't lock it -, and sat on the couch, a book opened on her lap as she started to read it. It had been so long since she felt relaxed enough to read like this. 

However, she wasn't left alone very long, as Thomas opened the front door of her house, making her lift to watch him. She snorted, closing the book and putting it on the table. 

"You could at least knock, you know? We're not at the Garrison here, for fuck's sake," she said as she crossed her legs at the ankles, motioning for him to sit down. 

"Yeah, maybe you should lock your bloody door next time. Speaking of the Garrison," he mumbled, sitting in front of her. "What was that?" 

"What?" she retorted, earning herself an eye roll. "Oh, yeah, I forgot to congratulate her for her now really new job," she scoffed. "How stupid it is!" 

"If I didn't know better I would say that you're just jealous," he said with a smirk. Sullivan rolled her eyes. 

"Yeah, well, do I have reasons to be?" she asked, crossing her hands on her lap. 

"Not at all," he said truthfully. Sullivan nodded and started to play with her hands, thinking about telling about the meeting she had with Campbell, but finally decided to not talk about it. Instead, she told another truth. 

"I miss Ada," she said softly, turning her gaze away from him. 

"I know," he answered as he came to sit next to her. "That's why I sent Grace to give her an invitation, but you didn't listen enough to hear it." She smiled happily, a light of incomprehension in her eyes. 

"An invitation for what?" she asked as Tommy smirked, leaning towards her a little. 

"John's wedding," he answered. This time, Sullivan frowned for real, any trace of smile disappeared. 

"I thought he wasn't marrying Lizzie?" she said with a raised eyebrow. 

"He doesn't," Thomas confirmed. "He's marrying Esme." 

"Esme, like Esme Lee?" The man nodded and the blonde sighed, her fingers caressing his lightly freckled cheek. "Tommy Shelby and his peace weddings." The man pursed his lips as she smiled slightly. "At least, she's not a whore." 

"That's what I wanted to hear," the man exclaimed with a smile. 

"Do I need to wear a white dress?" she asked, and the man shrugged. He looked around him, scanning the living room with wide eyes. 

"Where's your cat?" he demanded, watching her smile drop slightly. 

"He died, three years ago," she whispered. She cleared her throat to add, "I think he drowned in the Cut." The man put his hand on hers, a sorry look on his face. 

"I'll give you another if you want," Tommy proposed, and she smiled as an answer. "Alright, get dressed, you're leaving with Pol." He rested his hand on her lap to stand up, and as he left, he gave her a tiny smile. 

Sullivan put on a dark dress, wearing a pair of hair heels and red lipstick, her straight blond hair falling in her back and on her shoulders wildly. As she was trying to pick the best coat to wear with her outfit, she heard a knock on the wooden door. She screamed a 'come in', hearing Polly's voice from downstairs. She picked a black coat and stumbled down the stairs, smiling down at the eldest Shelby. 

"Hello there," Sullivan greeted as Polly motioned for Finn to wait outside. Sullivan checked her outfit for the last time, before the two women stepped outside, alongside with Finn. "Are we picking up Ada?" the blonde asked. 

"Yes we do," Polly answered. "The boys are already on their way, John didn't know he was about to get married." Sullivan nodded as they picked up Ada, hugging the future mother against her body.

"Oh my, Ada, you're so big!"  The brunette nodded, speaking about how pregnant she was and how she couldn't wait for her baby to born, her little Karl. "Freddie must be so happy." 

"So am I," Ada confirmed, her hand in Sully's one, the two friends smiling to one another. They chatted happily until they reached for the place of festivities, where people were already sat. They smiled to the future couple down on their knees in front of Johnny Dog, whom of which smiled to the newcomers. The girls and Finn took seats next to the other Shelbys, Sullivan finding herself next to Arthur. 

"We're here today to join in matrimony this man and this woman. So they can live a life full of truth and harmony and togetherness. Which is sanctioned and honored by the presence and the power of these two families around us." Sullivan turned her eyes to Arthur, whom of which rolled his, patting her shoulder with amusement. "Do you John Michael Shelby take Esme Martha Lee to be your beautiful wife?" 

"I do," John answered, making Sullivan bit her lower lip in joy for him.

"Do you Esme Martha Lee take John Michael Shelby as your husband?" he then asked. 

"I do," the girl answered. 

"There remains one more part of the ceremony. It's the mingling of the two bloods. Where the two families become the one family." As Johnny Dogs use a knife to cut the couple's palms, Sullivan scrunched her nose in pain, feeling her palm burn even if it wasn't injured. Arthur noticed her disgust and giggled, nudging her in the ribs. 

"If you marry me I swear you won't have to cut your hand," he said with a laugh as the blonde bit her lower lip to contain her laughter, smacking his arm gently as Tommy lifted to his brother, still speaking to his sister, his eyes however holding an angry light at their exchange. 

"If you're not cutting my palms, then maybe I'll say yes," she joked. 

"I now pronounce you man and wife! Come on, John, kiss the bride will ya?" Johnny Dog said as John kissed his brand new wife, making the crowd cheer as all the guests stood up simultaneously, applauding their union. As soon as John left the little platform that had been standing for the occasion, Sully jumped in his arms, holding him tight, mumbling her congratulations for the man, as his brothers came around to pat his shoulders with pride. 

"Can you believe that you're now remarried?" the blonde asked with a wink. 

"You won't have to babysit the kids again," John cheered, patting her cheek with amusement. 

"That breaks my heart," she retorted with a finger pointed in his direction, her arm being pulled to Ada, whom of which was inviting her to dance. The two girls danced for a moment before Sullivan turned her head away, looking for Esme. As she found her standing alone after John had let her to get a drink, she rushed to her with a smile. 

"You're Esme, right? I'm Sullivan," she introduced, outstretching her hand so the brunette could shake it. 

"It's really nice to meet you," Esme replied, a big smile on her face. 

"We're barely married and you're already bothering her?" John joked as he gave his wife a drink, making the women giggle. 

"I was just introducing myself, I leave you two alone," she winked at John. "It was really nice to meet you, Esme." She walked past Arthur, whom of which grabbed her wrist to dance with her. She danced with him for a moment, until he gave her a drink. She spotted Thomas sitting alone, so she decided to sit next to him.

"I love marriages," Sullivan said as she sat confidently next to him, taking a sip of her drink. Tommy turned to look at her, landing his ocean gaze on her frame.

"Really?" He asked, a smirk on his lips.

"I swear," she chuckled. "I mean, look around you, everyone's so happy, everybody's dancing." The man nodded in agreement. 

"We never spoke about weddings did we?" Thomas suddenly demanded. 

"No we didn't," she answered. "Do you want us to talk about it now?" 

"I don't know, do you?" Sullivan laughed and shrugged her shoulders. 

"We can if it'd please you," she said softly. "But if you're planning to ask me to marry you right now, just be aware I'll probably say no." The man rolled his eyes as she giggled. 

"I wasn't planning to ask you, but anyway it makes me reconsider the offer," Thomas joked. "That's true, you never told me if you wanted to be bloody married one day." 

"Well," she sighed, "if you had asked me a few years ago, I'd have said yes so quickly you'd have been stuck with me already."

"I don't believe it," he muttered as he leaned forward, speaking closer to her. 

"I swear it's true!" she exclaimed. "Ask John, I told him about that, everybody knows I would've said bloody yes." He laughed, his thumb rubbing his lips. 

"Then sorry I didn't ask," he joked. 

"Maybe you'll have a chance to make it up," she laughed back, her eyes settling on John and Esme, dancing together. "And you, do you want to ever get married?" 

"I'm not sure," he said softly. "Today, I mean, I'm not sure." The blonde nodded, sipping in her glass. 

"I'm not mad, you know," Sullivan stated. "For what happened at the races, I'm not mad anymore. I mean, I forgave you long ago, and I tell you this because I never had the opportunity before." She turned her head to the crowd, spotting Ada dancing strangely around a man. "And I think we should stop Ada from drinking before she does something bad." She stood up just as Tommy, stepping to Ada when he put himself next to Polly. 

"Hey, Ada, you should stop drinking," Sully advised, her eyes worried as the brunette lifted, a smile on her face, her drunk frame struggling to stop herself spinning. Ada fell in her friend's arms, laughing behind her shoulder as she looked at her brother behind. 

"I want to speak to Esme, and there she finally is!" Sully turned her head, sharing a knowing look with John. 

"John, please, pull her away," she asked as the man nodded, grabbing his new wife's wrist. Arthur passed by the two girls and put his hand on Ada's shoulder.

"Ada, that's enough," he said, leaning forward to reach his sister's gaze. 

"Come and look, Esme. Come and look at the family you've joined. Come and look at the man who runs it!" Ada exclaimed, making the blonde turn around. 

"John, for fuck's sake," Sullivan groaned, holding Ada's shoulders, her body stuck between the woman's and now Tommy's one. 

"Chooses his brother's wives for them. He hunts his own sister down like a rat and he tries to kill his own brother-in-law! And now he won't even let me have a fucking dance! Not even at a fucking wedding!"

"Ada, please," the blonde asked, the hand that wasn't laying on Ada's shoulder now on Tommy's chest. "Tommy, step back, I can hold you and her at the same time." 

"I just want to talk," he retorted. "Calm her down."

"Obviously that -"  Sullivan was cut by water falling from Ada, splashing on the ground. "Fuck." She turned a panicked head to Polly, but couldn't find her behind Tommy. 

"Not now," Arthur mumbled, grabbing his sister's arm. "Bloody hell, you do pick your times!" Ada lifted her gaze to Sully, anxiety in her eyes as she gasped Sullivan's name. Tommy and Polly rushed to the man's car as the rest of the Shelby - including Sullivan - stepped in John's car. As Esme settled herself next to Sullivan, the two women stared at one another. 

"I'm sorry for the mess," Sully said softly. "She's a little bit overwhelmed, and now she's giving birth, so..." Esme laughed, her hand connecting with the blonde's one. As they made it to Watery Lane, Arthur looked at his brother with a shocked expression.

"Fucking slow her up, nice and easy," Arthur ordered to his brother. 

"Story of our fucking life, Arthur," John replied, making Sully snort loudly. "Right, here we are." After the boys had helped them out of the car, the girls rushed to the house entrance, spotting Tommy in front of the property. 

"Where is she?" Sullivan asked quickly. 

"Upstairs," he barely answered before she was grabbing Esme's wrist. She seemed to think about it twice before she turned around, sending Esme forward and grabbing Tommy's hand.

"Call Freddie Thorne," she ordered before running inside, finding Polly and Ada in a bedroom. She stormed in, Ada looking at her, sobbing slightly. 

"Where's Freddie?" the brunette called out as Sullivan rushed to her, her hand on her forehead. 

"On his way, I swear he's coming," the blonde shushed, caressing the girl's hair. The three other women encouraged her the best they could, even when Esme informed them about the baby's wrong position. Once the baby was born, Esme brought him to his mother, smiling brightly. 

"This is a boy," Esme announced. 

"A little Karl after Karl Marx," Sullivan giggled. 

Someone knocked on the door and Sullivan's smile grew even bigger. She answered, opening the door to let Freddie get inside of the house, his eyes wide. He barely looked at her before he was stepping in, a smile on his face. 

"So good to see you," he said by grabbing her hand in his. "Where's she?" 

"In her bedroom, you know the way," she indicated, pushing his back to send him on the way. She closed the door and watched as Esme stumbled down the stairs, her eyes sparkling. 

"It'll be your turn soon," Sullivan laughed. 

"Oh, yeah I do hope so," the brunette answered with an eye roll. As Sullivan was about to reply, a loud knock was heard at the door. 

"Police!" Esme widened her eyes and walked to open it. As soon as it was done, officers ran through the house, pushing a terrified Esme to the wall. Sullivan turned an anxious head to the stairs, already hearing Polly's screams. 

"Don't go up there! You don't need to be so much, there's a baby!" Sully yelled at some officers, interposing herself between the officers and the stairs. "No, you won't go anywhere further." 

It didn't bother some officers whom were already running down the stairs, pushing her to the side as they passed by, two of them holding a desperate Freddie. Ada's screams were so heartbreaking, and it was even more when she ran down the stairs behind the police, screaming them not to hurt her husband. Sullivan caught her in her arms, holding her tightly as she felt tears rolled down her cheeks as well, her heart beating faster. 

"Ada, I swear to God your husband won't stay a prison any longer," she promised, separating from their embrace to lock her gaze with Ada's. "I'll put him out of this mess in less time than it took you saying 'I do'." She gave the woman to Polly, rushing down the street to the Garrison. 

When she pushed the door open, every Shelby brothers turned to look at her, big smiles on their faces while she was crying, almost breaking down on the floor if anger wasn't burning inside of her chest. Thomas frowned, just like his brothers. 

"Fucking bastard," she snapped. "It's a boy. And I can swear you won't be a man if Freddy's not out of prison soon." The dark-haired man frowned. 

"What happened?" he asked innocently. 

"Don't pretend you don't know," she scoffed. "They broke the door and took him away! He barely saw his son! You fucking promised the truce, and he barely stayed one minute with his family!" As he approached her, her fist hit his chest, making the other Shelby boys stepped up to her, grabbing her shoulders to push her away. 

"It's not me, I swear it's not," Tommy said, looking desperate too. 

"It's not, really?" she snapped, her voice reaching one more octave. "Thomas, I swear if you dare lie to me like you did before I'll cut you off." 

"Not necessary alright?" Arthur tried to calm down by pushing her away from him. Before he could put her out of the pub for good, she started to cry for real, big tears falling from her eyes. 

And Thomas felt so much pain in his chest he wished he could burn right there. 

-----

sullivan is clearly my favorite oc forever, I'll update her more often

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