XXXIX. Won't break.

It was at least nearly a week after Maude woke up, that Tommy had begun to allow the family to visit her, and everyone had respected the boundaries even if they all wanted to see Maude so badly. First to visit were Maude's brothers, both of them anxious to see their sister.

She offered both of them a small smile as they entered the room after Tommy had stepped out to give them a little more privacy. Tommy barely left her room and he helped her with everything, even walking her to and from the bathroom.

"How are you feeling?" Henry asked, setting a bouquet of roses in a vase on her bedside table before taking a seat next to the bed, reaching out to hold her hand.

"Like shit." She muttered softly as she gave his hand a weak squeeze, her smile still lingering on her lips as she looked between her brothers.

"Yeah, you look it too." Daniel teased her with a smile as he sat down on the opposite side of her. Even though he was teasing and smiling, Maude could see the emotions of seeing both his wife and sister in the hospital, weighed heavy on him.

"Yeah, I got shot, what's your excuse?" She teased back as she quirked an eyebrow and he scoffed in amusement. She smiled softly and after a second of silence, she spoke up again. "How's Anna?" She asked him.

"She's doing good." He replied with a nod of his head as he took a deep breath, pursing his lips. "Doctors say she can leave as early as tomorrow." He added, his eyes glancing between Maude and Henry.

"What about you, what do the doctors say?"Henry asked as he looked at his sister, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his thighs, hands clasped together.

"If all goes well, I can leave in two maybe three weeks." She informed the softly, clearing her throat as she looked for the glass of water Tommy kept full on her bedside table. Henry grabbed the glass for her, helping his sister take a few sips.

"Can't fucking believe this happened." Daniel huffed softly, shaking his head as he stared at his sister with furrowed eyebrows.

"Everyone involved will pay," Henry assured as he set the glass back on on the bedside table, turning to his brother with a firm look settled in his dark eyes.

"Only one man is responsible for this," Daniel replied, a muscle in his jaw growing tense as he looked at Henry, taking a deep breath before venomously spitting out a name. "Mr. Changretta."

Henry was silent for a second as he nodded in agreement before turning towards his sister. "Why would he target you and Anna?" He asked softly as his eyebrows furrowed.

"The bullet hitting her was an accident," Maude whispered as her gaze slowly drifted towards Daniel, her lips tugging into a frown and her eyebrows knitting together. "It was meant for me." She insisted as she slowly shook her head, letting out a shaky sigh. "I was holding the meeting when John made the threats, so I guess they decided I had to pay." She explained softly.

Henry and Daniel were silent for a second and when Tommy stepped into the room they both got up to their feet, saying their goodbyes to their sister. "Get some rest," Henry told her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We'll be back later." He assured as he gave her shoulder a squeeze before following Daniel out of the room.

Later that day, after Tommy had left to go check on Charlie, Polly, Lizzie, and Esme came to visit Maude, only minutes after John and Arthur had left, leaving behind flowers and gifts for Maude. Maude smiled when the door opened and the woman stepped inside.

"We've brought flowers," Esme called out as she held up a bouquet of daffodils to show Maude, before laying them with the rest of the flowers Maude had received.

"And chocolate," Polly added as she placed a box of chocolates on Maude's bedside table, before pressing a greeting kiss against Maude's cheek and sitting down next to her bed.

"How are you feeling?" Lizzie asked softly as she and Esme sat on the opposite side of the bed, Lizzie's hand reaching out to give Maude's hand a soft squeeze.

Maude hummed softly as she slowly shifted so that she could look between the woman on both sides of her."Mmhhh...everything still hurts, and I'm getting sick of this bed." She muttered with a soft huff.

"When do they say do you get released?" Polly asked her as she raised her eyebrows, her head slightly tilting to the side.

"Hopefully in two weeks." She replied as she pursed her lips, desperate to be back home and in her own bed, where she could see her son. Because Charlie was so little, Maude and Tommy agreed it was best he didn't see her in the hospital and get scared or confused.

Polly hummed as she slowly nodded her head. She was silent for a second before looking around and then turning towards Maude. "Where is Tommy?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows.

"Checking in on Charlie," Maude replied softly.

"I'll pick him up later, he can stay with me until you're out." Polly insisted as she reached out and grabbed Maude's hand, holding it gently as she gave it an assuring squeeze.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed as she slowly shook her head. "Oh, I can't ask that from you Pol." She insisted.

"You're not asking, I'm offering," Polly replied as she gave Maude a soft smile.

Maude replied with a soft smile of her own, knowing it was useless to argue with Polly when it came to the toddler that Polly adored so much."Thank you, Pol." Maude responded softly, knowing she'd feel a lot better with Charlie being with family rather than the maids of Arrow house.

It was a few hours before the woman left again, all of them shunned by Tommy after he returned and noticed his wife was growing tired. Maude only slept a few hours before she was up again, on her own in the room as Tommy went for a smoke.

There was a soft knock on her door before it creaked open, and Anna slowly waddled in, her hand pressed against her wounded side. "Will you look at that, we accidentally wore the same hospital gowns today." Anna teased with a small smile and Maude scoffed in amusement. "Where's Tommy?" Anna asked as she slowly lowered herself into one of the chairs.

"Went out for a smoke, said he didn't want to smoke in the room with me," Maude replied softly as she let out a soft groan while pulling herself into a sitting position, her hand moving up to rest over her wounded abdomen.

"Surprised he leaves your side at all." Anna teased softly as she smiled over at Maude.

Maude hummed in response, knowing how bad Tommy was with leaving her alone even for a second.

"Surprised Daniel lets you walk around," Maude commented as she quirked an eyebrow at Anna. "What are you doing up?" She asked as her head tilted to the side.

"Couldn't stand my four walls anymore, so I came to your four walls...oddly looks very similar to mine," Anna muttered with a hint of teasing in her voice as her eyes roamed over Maude's room.

A soft chuckle slipped from Maude's lips, soon followed by a wince as her hand continued to rest over her abdomen. She turned to Anna, raising her eyebrows. "How are you feeling?" She asked softly.

"Hurts when I put any pressure on it, but otherwise I think I'm okay," Anna replied as he glanced down at her side, her hands hovering over the wound. She sighed before looking at Maude. "How are you feeling?" She asked in return.

"Hurts no matter what I do," Maude replied with a soft huff as she shook her head. Both of them were silent for a second before Maude turned toward her sister-in-law. "Anna...I'm sorry." She whispered as her eyebrows tugged together.

Anna's eyebrows furrowed as her head tilted to the side. "Sorry about what, Maude?" She asked softly as she looked at Maude in confusion.

"The bullet was only meant for me...because of what I'm involved in. Because of my role in The Peaky Blinders." Maude explained softly, slowly shaking her head. "I'm sorry you got caught in the crossfire." She whispered as she stared at Anna with an apologetic look in her eyes.

"You shouldn't apologize." Anna insisted with a shake of her hand as she sat a little forward, taking Maude's hand in her own. "It's not your fault and I do not have an ounce of blame towards you, in my heart." She assured softly. "We are both victims of men's actions." She said and Maude closed her eyes as she let out a deep breath, knowing Anna's words were right.

Two weeks later and Tommy could finally take his wife back home. Maude's bed rest was not done yet, and she knew her husband would be strict about it, but at least she could now do the rest of her healing in the comfort of her home.

"How are you doing sweetheart?" Tommy asked as he held onto Maude's arm, supporting most of her weight as he lead her through the front door of their home.

"It feels great to be in my own home again." She replied with a soft huff as she looked around the foyer, her eyes landing on vases and vases of flowers that stood in one corner. "That's a lot of flowers." She commented as she glanced at Tommy with raised eyebrows.

"They're from the family, people at work." He informed her as he glanced at the flowers before turning to his wife with a tight-lipped smile. "There's a lot of baked goods in the kitchen as well." He said and Maude hummed as her eyes slightly went wide, curious to see what there was.

"Welcome back, Mrs. Shelby," Mary called out as she stepped into the foyer, smiling brightly at Maude. "We've prepared a warm candle-lit bath for your return, with the oils you like, and afterward we'll bring a warm meal for you in bed," Mary informed her as she clasped her hands together in front of her.

"Oh Mary, you shouldn't go through so much trouble for me." Maude insisted with a shake of her head, resting a hand over her heart as she smiled softly back at Mary.

"It's no trouble at all Mrs. Shelby." Mary insisted as she shook her head. "You are worth it anyways." She stated. "You have always only been kind to all staff here, we care for you as you care for us." She said, melting Maude's heart.

"Oh, Mary." She whispered before pulling away from Tommy and stumbling towards Mary, pulling the older woman into a thankful hug.

Soon Tommy helped her up the stairs and took her toward their bedroom. He helped her undress and then carefully checked her wound before he helped her into the warm bath. "Easy now sweetheart." He said as she sat down, Tommy's hold on her arm never leaving.

"Oh...that feels so good."She whispered as she lowered herself into the water, humming softly as the warmth eases the discomfort and pain she felt around her stitches.

"It's not too warm?" He asked her as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before dipping his hand into the water, checking the temperature himself before looking at her with a quirked eyebrow.

"No, it's just perfect." She whispered as she laid back, her arms draped over the sides of the tub as she closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling slowly as she calmed down and relaxed in the water.

"Here, let me help you wash up, and then you can lay a little." Tommy insisted as he grabbed soap and Maude slowly sat up, allowing him to lather the soap over her skin.

Maude watched Tommy as he slowly ran the soap over her body, his touch feather-light on her, moving cautiously around her. She sighed softly as she looked at her husband. "I won't break, Tommy." She whispered as she shook her head.

"I know." He replied softly as he glanced over at her. He was silent for a second before putting aside the soap and lowering his head. "But I might, sweetheart." He whispered as he shook his head, taking a shaky breath. "Seeing you so close to death...it fucking scared me, Maude." He said, sniffing as he looked at her with teary eyes. "I'm scared, and I don't know what to do."

"We'll figure it out together, like always, Tommy." She insisted as she leaned forward, pressing her soaking body against his as she wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. "Me and you, yeah?" She insisted.

"Yeah." He confirmed as he wrapped his arms around her, one hand pressed against her soaked naked back and the other one holding her head to his chest. "I'm going to kill the man who tried to take you from me. "He assured her softly. "I will make his death painful and slow and he will pay every second he is left to suffer." He insisted and silence fell over them.

Maude's bath was wasted as she only held onto Tommy until the water had gotten cold and he took her out, helping her dry off and dress before taking her to bed. Then, upon her request, he went to fetch Charlie who had been brought home that morning by Polly.

"Mummy." Charlie squealed when his eyes landed on his mother, trying to wriggle himself free from his father's grasp, whining as he tried to push at Tommy's arms that were wrapped around him.

"Be careful, Charlie," Tommy spoke softly with his son as he approached the bed. "Mummy is hurt, so you have to be very gentle with her, alright?" He insisted as he turned Charlie in his arms, looking down at the toddler with raised eyebrows.

"Yes," Charlie whispered as he looked up at his father, nodding his head.

Tommy put the little boy onto the bed and Charlie let out an excited giggle as he crawled over to his mother. "Hello, my big boy," Maude spoke as she grabbed him, pulling him into a hug as she rested him against her chest, his legs sprawled out on either side of her, narrowly avoiding her wound. "Oh, I've missed you so much, my sweet child." She whispered as she rested her head against his. "Mummy's missed you." She repeated as she closed her eyes, holding him close.

"Polly says he's been asking for you at night," Tommy informed her softly as he sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to run a hand over his son's dark hair.

"Don't worry Charlie, mummy's back now, and she won't leave you ever again," Maude whispered as she pressed a kiss to the top of Charlie's head, and in response, his head nuzzled into the crook of her neck.

There was a knock at the door and Tommy called out a quick 'come in', before Mary stepped into the room, her hands clasped together in front of her. "Mr. Shelby, can I bring dinner?" She asked as she looked at Tommy.

"Yes, Mary, we will all eat in here tonight."He informed the maid with a nod of his head and Mary nodded in response before leaving the room again.

Maude looked at her husband with raised eyebrows. "Since when do we eat in the bedroom?" She asked curiously, her head tilting to the side.

"Since you have been ordered to bed rest." He informed her as his hand reached out again, running through Charlie's hair.

"You and Charlie should enjoy your dinner in the dining room, where it is comfortable." Maude insisted as she looked at her husband with pursed lips.

Tommy looked at Maude, slowly shaking his head. "We'll eat in here with you love, won't we, Charlie?" He insisted as his gaze turned to Charlie who nodded his head in response.

And Tommy kept true to his words, as both he and Charlie ate their dinner in bed with Maude. As it grew darker and dinner had long been eaten, Tommy put Charlie to bed before turning to the bedroom. Maude watched her husband as he slowly undressed himself for bed. His eyebrows were tightly knitted together and he was clearly lost in his thoughts. "I can see you still have a lot on your mind." She commented.

Tommy sighed as he walked over to the bed in only his trousers, sitting down beside her, his hands pressed to his knees and his head lowered. "I want to go see someone." He whispered.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him, her head tilting to the side. "Who?" She asked.

Tommy was silent for a second, refusing to look back at his wife and meet her gaze. "Someone who can tell me if the sapphire is truly cursed." He replied as she lifted his head, sighing as he stared at the window in front of him.

Maude let out a deep breath as she looked down at her lap, her face blank and her jaw tense. "What difference will it make, Tommy?" She asked him softly.

"Then I will know if this was my fault." He replied as he looked at her over his shoulder, still avoiding her eyes as her gaze returned to him again.

"It's the fault of the man who pulled the trigger, and the man who ordered the trigger to be pulled. Neither of which are you, Tommy." She argued with him as she shook her head. "Whether the sapphire is cursed or not, you didn't know." She insisted. "What happened wasn't an accident, the hit was put out on me. The sapphire doesn't change that."

"If I gave you a cursed sapphire..."Tommy began, his voice cracking as he lowered his head, his sentence drifting into nothing.

"It wouldn't change a thing." She replied with a shake of her head as she scooted towards him, resting her head against his back as she wrapped her arms around his body. "It won't make me blame you, it won't make what happened your fault." She insisted.

Neither of them pushed the topic any further and decided to go to sleep. For the first time in weeks, Tommy could hold his wife in his arms again. For the first time in weeks, Tommy had gotten sleep again. He had been so accustomed to her presence next to him, that even on the nights were his family forced him to go home and get sleep, he only laid awake in bed, waiting to go see his wife again.

But even as the topic was dropped for the night, Maude knew that didn't mean it was the end of the discussion. She knew there would be no peace in Tommy's mind until he knew the truth. And if Tommy had no peace, it meant she'd have no peace either. So when Esme arrived that morning, Maude decided she was their best option.

"How are you doing?" Esme asked as she approached Maude with a cup of tea in her hand, setting it down on the bedside table before sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I can feel my sanity slipping, Esme," Maude whispered teasingly as she smiled, and Esme gave a soft laugh in response. Maude looked at Esme, her smile slipping as she spoke. "You're gypsy...you know about cursed jewels, right?" She asked softly as her eyebrows furrowed.

Esme looked at Maude, all amusement leaving her as she pursed her lips. "You want to know about the sapphire." She stated.

Maude's eyebrows furrowed even more at Esme's words. "Tommy told you?" She asked softly, unaware that anyone else knew of the sapphire.

Esme shook her head as her gaze diverted to the floor. "No, I heard when the Duchess told him." She muttered before a bitter huff slipped from her lips. "She found it all amusing." She spat as she shook her head. "Thought Tommy was going to break his whiskey glass on her face." She said as her gaze returned to Maude. "He couldn't get to you in time, to have you take it off." She explained softly.

At Esme's last words, Maude remembered how Tommy pushed through the crowd to get to her. She sighed softly before more of Esme's words struck realization within her. Her gaze snapped towards Esme and her eyebrows furrowed again. "Duchess, with brown hair?" She asked.

Esme nodded at Maude. "Yeah, I think her name is Tatianna." She said.

"She's the Russian we're doing business with," Maude revealed with a huff of disbelief as she shook her head. "She knew and she didn't tell me." She muttered softly as her gaze fell to her lap again.

"The royal Russians, they're the fucking worst of them all." Esme spat as she shook her head,

"She." Maude corrected. "She's the worst of them all." She insisted as she met Esme's gaze again. "Now Tommy blames himself." She said softly as another sigh escaped her.

"I don't know how to tell if something is cursed, but I know someone who can," Esme informed her. "I'll give Tommy her name, maybe if he goes to see her, it could put his mind at ease." She insisted as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Unless she tells him what he doesn't want to hear," Maude muttered softly as her gaze returned back to her lap.

Maude knew if Tommy was to believe any of this was his fault, he'd never forgive himself again. He'd forever blame himself for what happened to his wife at the charity dinner, even if she had not an ounce of blame to throw upon him. Because whether the jewel was cursed or not, Maude would never blame Tommy.