XXX. Business first.

Tommy arrived home late after his meeting with May Carlton, meeting Maude in the kitchen as she prepared dinner for them. She was cutting up fresh vegetables when Tommy stepped into the kitchen, shrugging off his coat and draping it over one of the kitchen chairs. "Sweetheart." He greeted as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head before making his way over to the liquor cabinet.

"Thomas." She greeted coldly and Tommy sighed knowingly as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. "How did your meeting go?" She asked, getting harsher with slicing up the vegetables, the knife continuously banging on the wooden cutting board.

Tommy turned towards her, knowing seeing May in the shop earlier had made her upset all over again. He put down his glass and approached her, wrapping his arms around her waist, chest pressing to her back and chin resting on her shoulder. "You have nothing to be jealous of." He assured her.

"I know." She muttered as she put her knife down and turned around in Tommy's arms. "I trust you, Thomas. I trust you with my life. But not her, I don't trust her." She insisted with a firm shake of her head. "So let me give you a warning." She muttered as she pressed a hand to his chest.

"A warning?" Tommy repeated as he quirked an eyebrow at her.

She hummed as she nodded her head, pulling loose from Tommy's hold. "If you do anything with that woman, I will do the same." She warned as she backed away from him, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. "Arthur is single, right?" She asked as she quirked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows.

Tommy silently stared at her for a second, jealousy surging through him as his jaw clenched. "Be careful, Maude." He warned as he pointed a finger at her. "Be very fucking careful." He repeated before closing the space between them, pressing his forehead against hers as his hand gripped her waist. "You forget you're mine and mine only?" He asked.

She slightly shook her head as she stared up at him, her hands pressing against his chest again."Of course not my love, I'm just making sure you don't forget that you're only mine." She muttered as she gave him a dismissive shrug of her shoulders.

Tommy clicked his tongue as he shook his head. "Maybe I didn't fuck that attitude completely out last night." He muttered as he pushed Maude against the table behind her.

"No, seems you didn't." She agreed with a shake of her head, and Tommy immediately pushed the cutting board aside before hoisting her onto the table, his lips on her neck and his hands pushing her skirt up to her waist.

Soon Michael's eighteen birthday came around and the Shelby family as well as the Felton family all gathered in the Garrison's snug to celebrate with the young boy. Polly and Michael were yet to show up, so the Peaky Boys took it upon themselves to get the party started.

"Well, Finn, you've got two choices, mild or mild," John informed his younger brother as he poured all the ladies a pint of mild.

Finn smiled up at his brother as he shook his head at him. "Mild." He replied and John handed him a pint.

Maude sat back in her chair next to Tommy as she sipped on her beer, her gaze drifting towards Anna who sat with a glass of water she had gotten from the bar, pushing her pint of beer towards Daniel when he finished his own pint.

The door to the snug opened, catching everyone's attention. "Here he is, look." He said and everyone rushed to get up to their feet as Polly entered with Michael and everyone began cheering, clapping their hands for the birthday boy.

"Happy birthday, Michael," Tommy spoke over the cigarette between his lips as he reached out to shake Michael's hand.

"Eighteen years old. You're a man today." Arthur told the young boy before turning towards John, patting him on the back. "Give him a drink, John boy." he insisted.

"There you go, lad," John said as he handed Michael a pint of beer.

"And after that, we'll go to find you a lady of the night," Arthur said as he raised his glass of whiskey before taking a sip of it, a smile on his face as he looked at Michael.

Polly's eyes winded as she turned towards the oldest Shelby brother. "Arthur!" She scolded him as she shook her head and John and Daniel snickered as they glanced at Arthur.

"Michael," Tommy spoke as he pulled a small box from his coat pocket, handing it to Michael. Everyone watched as Michael opened the small box, revealing a pocket watch that resembled the ones the Shelby and Felton brothers wore. "So you're never late for work," Tommy informed him, already having discussed with Polly that Michael wanted to work for Shelby Company Limited and they agreed he'd work on the legal side.

A smile tugged at Michaels' lips as he looked at Tommy who nodded his head at the young boy. John looked over at Michael, nodding his head as well. "Welcome to the business, Michael." He said, and Arthur as well as Daniel and Henry repeated his words as they raised their glasses at the young boy. "Right, come on, let's get him drunk." John insisted as he reached out and grabbed Michael. "Come here, you." he insisted as he pulled the boy closer, sitting him down.

"All right, whisky." Arthur nodded in agreement as he reached out for the whiskey bottle but Tommy cut him off.

"No whisky, he's at work tomorrow" he demanded as he looked between the four men on the other side of the table, shaking his head at them. "Give him only dark mild." he insisted before raising his glass into the air. "A toast. Toast. To Michael."

"To Michael." everyone repeated as they raised their own glasses into the air as well.

They spent the entire night drinking, and most of the men got drunk fast. Polly kept herself sober to watch over Michael, and Maude didn't have the stomach to drink too much, so she only had two glasses of mild and a whiskey. Anna on the other hand kept pushing the drinks offered to her, toward Daniel, thinking no one would notice. But Maude did. Because Maude always noticed everything.

After a while, Maude excused herself and left the snug. She entered the Garrison ladies' lavatory, smiling when she saw Anna inside, touching up her makeup. She went to stand next to the woman, touching up her own makeup. "You're not drinking, Anna?" She asked.

"No," Anna replied with a shake of her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she looked down and pressed a hand to her stomach. "I read that it harms the baby." She revealed before glancing at Maude.

"My God," Maude whispered as her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Her gaze fell to Anna's stomach and a smile tugged at her lips. She let out a soft chuckle before wrapping her arms around Anna who happily accepted the warm hug. "Congratulations." She said before pulling away. "Does Daniel know?" She asked as she looked at Anna.

"Not yet." She replied with a shake of her head, her hand returning to her stomach. "I want to tell him this weekend." She said softly.

"He's going to be so excited." Maude insisted, letting out another chuckle as she looked down at Anna's stomach, pressing a comforting hand against the woman's shoulder.

After Polly came looking for the girls, they rejoined the party in the snug, both staying quiet about their conversation in the lavatory. But after a few drinks, the conversation was all Maude could think about. She loved her brother, and she loved Anna. She was proud of the two and she knew they'd be amazing parents. She couldn't wait to be an aunt and spoil the little one.

But a part of her yearned to start her own family as well. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with Tommy, for however long that may be. She wanted to marry him and have children together, children who would carry on the business. The legal side, of course.

Despite how well Tommy and Maude communicated in their relationships, topics of their future were never really discussed. Because for Thomas Shelby it was a given that he would marry Maude one day, and together they would have many children.

Maude was quiet when they arrived home. She kicked off her shoes upon setting foot inside the house, shrugging off her coat before running off to the bedroom. She sat by her vanity, taking off her jeweler y and wiping off her makeup, while Tommy sat on the bed watching her.

Tommy knew she wasn't still upset over May Carlton, but he could tell something was bothering her as an uncomfortable air of silence surrounded them. "You're quiet." He commented as he lit himself a cigarette.

"Just thinking." She muttered softly as she began brushing out her hair. "Anna's pregnant." She informed him.

Tommy hummed in surprise as he slowly nodded his head. "Happened a lot later than I thought." He commented as he shook his head. "Can barely count on two hands how many times I walked in on those two." He scoffed as he took a drag of his cigarette.

She was silent for a second as she continued to brush her hair, and through the mirror, Tommy noted the blank look on her face like she was lost in her thoughts. "When she tells Daniel, he'll ask her to marry him." She said as she got up to her feet.

Before Maude could run off to the bathroom, Tommy grabbed her hand, pulling her to sit down on the edge of the bed. "What's on your mind sweetheart?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows at her.

Maude sighed softly, looking down at her lap as she began picking at her nails, but Tommy reached out, holding her hands to get her to stop. She pursed her lips, slowly shrugging her shoulders. "People have been asking questions, recently." She muttered softly, thinking back on all the conversations where she was asked or discussed about her future with Tommy. "Questions I don't know how to answer."

"What questions?" Tommy asked as his eyebrows furrowed, growing concerned as he stared at her, unable to figure out what was upsetting her.

"Where our future is heading." She explained softly as she sighed again. "They talk about marriage and kids...and I don't know what to tell them."She muttered. "We've never really talked about it." She said as she slowly turned to look at Tommy.

"Sweetheart, there's nothing to talk about." Tommy said, putting his cigarette in the ashtray on his bedside table before turning to Maude, cupping her face between his hands "We're going to get married one day, and have as many children as you want." He assured her, putting both her mind and heart at ease for once and all. "It's our future. Mine and yours, together." He insisted before closing the gap between them, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I love you, Maude." He whispered as he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers.

"I love you, Tommy." She replied before wrapping her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck as his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her in close.

On Sunday afternoon both Tommy and Maude, along with Henry and Lizzie were invited to Daniel and Anna's apartment for dinner. Food and drinks were already set out on the dining room table when the couples arrived.

"This looks wonderful, Anna." Lizzie complimented as everyone found their seats by the table, her gaze drifting over the various dishes before turning to Anna. "Thank you for having us all over." She said sincerely.

"And thank you for not letting Daniel cook," Henry added as he sat down next to Lizzie, his arm draping over the back of his chair as she reached out, clicking her tongue and lightly smacking his chest as he chuckled.

"Right, because you're any better." Maude mused as she glanced at her older brother with raised eyebrows, and Daniel let out a petty chuckle.

"And you are?" Henry asked in return as he raised his eyebrows at her and Maude replied by flipping her middle finger at him, which he did in return as well.

Daniel cleared his throat before his siblings could start bickering at the table, turning all the attention to him. "Right, we invited you all here for a reason, not just so you could eat all our food and drink all our wine."He joked before turning to Anna, taking her hand in his as he smiled. "Anna?"

"I'm pregnant." She revealed and a gasp left Lizzie's lips, Henry's eyes widened and a big smile tugged at Maude's lips. "And we're getting married." She added.

"Oh, congratulations." Maude was the first to speak up, reaching across the table and taking Anna's hand into hers, giving it a gentle squeeze."I've always dreamed of having a sister, now I finally get one." She said as she stood up and so did Anna, both women embracing tightly.

"Gonna pretend like that didn't hurt," Henry muttered with a huff as he glanced at his sister, pouting that he and Daniel weren't enough for her. Maude replied with a roll f her eyes and a teasing smile tugging at her lips. Henry got up to his feet, pulling his brother into a hug. "Congratulations, brother."

Tommy and Lizzie got up as well, both saying congratulations. When everyone had given their hugs and congratulations, Tommy turned towards the expecting couple. "Daniel, Anna. I hope you will receive my gift of having your wedding paid for." Tommy insisted.

Daniel was silent for a second as he stared at Tommy. "Tommy, I don't know what to say." He said softly before reaching out and patting Tommy on the back. "Thank you." He said sincerely.

Anna thanked Tommy as well before glancing between Maude and Lizzie. "I was hoping you two would be m bridesmaids." She said as she smiled hopefully at the two.

"We'd be honored to," Lizzie replied and Maude hummed, nodding her head in agreement.

Soon they all sat down for dinner, making light conversation as they ate what Anna had prepared for them. While in the middle of eating their pudding, the phone in the living room rang and Anna got up to her feet. "I'll get it." She said before disappearing into the living room. She had a short conversation with whoever called before returning to the dining room, a concerned and worried look on her face.

"Tommy, it's John. He's looking for you." She informed him.

"Anna, what's wrong?" Daniel asked, noticing her expression, and everyone at the table grew concerned as they turned their attention to her,

"Arthur and Michael have been arrested." She informed them, glancing between Tommy and the three Felton siblings. "John says everyone is waiting for you at the shop."

Maude's eyebrows furrowed, her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach as she turned to Tommy, who looked just as confused as she did. Tommy went to the phone and spoke with John. After the conversation ended, Tommy informed them that while doing business in Camden Town, Arthur was attacked and Billy Kitchen was murdered, which ended up being pinned on Arthur. And Michael was arrested for a fight he had a while back with a racist drunk in a pub.

Most of the family waited for them in the betting shop, Polly was sitting inside the kitchen, smoking a cigarette. "John?" Tommy questioned as he stepped into the shop with the Felton siblings behind him. He clasped his hands together behind his back as he looked down at his brother who sat by the table.

John took a deep breath before he began. "Coppers have lifted ten of our men in Camden town, the rest of them on the run." He informed his brother.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed in response as she grabbed her cigarettes and matches from her coat pocket, lighting herself a cigarette before she sat down by the table, pressing a hand against her stomach that once again felt unsettled as a lump formed in the back of her throat.

"Tom, they've taken Michael," Finn said as he turned to his brother, fiddling nervously with his peaked cap in his hands, and Polly immediately got up, abandoning her cigarette in the ashtray as she joined them in the shop.

"Business first," Tommy replied as he held a dismissive hand out to Finn.

"They took Michael," Polly repeated as she looked towards Tommy, leaning against the threshold of the door as she clasped her hands together, and Tommy snapped at her.

"Polly, business first!" He spoke over her with a raised voice as he held a dismissive hand out to her as well before turning towards his brother again. "John?" he questioned, urging his brother to continue.

John stared down at the table, his eyes squinted and his lips pursed. "They took all our whisky. So no doubt they'll be supping that for Christmas." He commented. "They've impounded all our vans, put their own locks on the warehouse. The Eden Club and all our pubs have been raided by the coppers and handed back to Sabini and Solomons." He added, going silent for a second before he went on. "The Black Country boys think it was Arthur who killed Billy because that's what the coppers told them. So there'll be no more free passes for our whisky boats."

"I don't give a fuck about whisky." Polly snapped at them. "I don't give a fuck about Billy Kitchen." She added as she shook her head before approaching the table, tapping her finger against the table as she stared at Tommy. "I want my son out of prison now." She demanded.

"Thomas, I spoke to Johnny Dogs," Esme spoke up as she looked over at Tommy, crossing her arms over her chest.

"This meeting should just be family." Polly snapped at Esme, although her gaze remained on Tommy.

"I can help," Esme argued as she looked at her husband before turning toward Polly and Tommy.

"It's family only, she's not blood," Polly demanded as she shook her head and Maude raised her eyebrows as she glanced at Esme before her gaze drifted towards her brothers who stood silently behind John.

"Let her speak," Tommy demanded but Polly continued arguing speaking over him until he snapped at her again. "Enough!" He yelled at her and she went quiet. "Enough, Polly," he warned her as he held up a hand to stop her from continuing on and his gaze turned to Esme. "Esme." he urged her to continue.

"I spoke to Johnny Dogs," Esme informed Tommy. " The Lees are kin." She insisted.

"The bloody Lees!" Polly yelled as she turned to Esme with wide eyes, bewildered by the suggestion, slamming her hands down on the table.

"They can give us men," Esme argued with the older woman.

"We don't need more fucking men," Polly argued back as she shook her head. "It's men that have done the damage." She insisted. " It's..." She spoke, taking a deep breath to calm herself before she continued. "It is men fighting like cockerels that have put us here in the first place." She insisted.

Tommy was silent for a second as he nodded his head. "Esme, I'll take up their offer." He replied as he looked towards Esme before his gaze briefly turned to Polly. "We need men." He insisted.

Everyone was silent for a second as they stared around at each other, waiting for someone to explode. Polly stepped towards Tommy, glaring at him. "If Michael ever gets out of prison, I am taking him away from this family, for good." She informed him. "This life is bad." She insisted as she rounded the table and grabbed Finn by the arm, walking him towards the kitchen. "This life is all bad." She repeated.

"Aunt Pol, what are you doing" Finn questioned as he looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, trying to pull free from her tight grip.

"Shut up and walk." She demanded as she lead him into the old Shelby house.

Everyone remained quiet as they watched Polly take Finn into the house, and even after the two disappeared from sight, they remained quiet for a little longer. Esme was the first to speak up as she approached the table. "Thomas. Should I go and speak to Queen Mary Lee at the Black Patch?" She asked him.

Tommy lowered himself into a chair next to Maude, clasping his hands together in front of him, staring down at the table, silent for a second before he looked up at Esme. "Yes," he replied with a nod of his head.

"She can give us soldiers for a few nights." She informed him softly.

Tommy hummed as he nodded his head again. "Good." He muttered.

Maude stared at Tommy for a second before she stumped out her cigarette in the ashtray, resting a hand on his shoulder as she got up to her feet. "I'm going to speak with our lawyers, assess the damage, and see how fast we can get Arthur and Michael out of prison." She informed as she looked around at everyone.

Tommy hummed again as his gaze lifted from the table, landing on her. "Keep me updated." He insisted and she nodded her head before walking off in search of Polly, the unsettling feeling in her stomach growing, making her feel extremely nauseous all of a sudden.