𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲:
mr. shelby

IF YOU HAD ASKED MARGARET KEGLEY two years ago where she saw herself in the future, never she would have answered: in Small Heath again.  And, definitely not with Tommy's son waking her up.  Not that she minded, to be honest.  Maggie was the Eldest Kegley which meant she sometimes had to take care of her brothers, but she quite enjoyed the company of children.

Charles sat on the edge of her bed, wearing a cheeky smile, "Morning, Maggie!" He cheered and she noticed he sounded happier, less shy.

"Morning, little one." Smiled Maggie, sitting up and put her back against the cold headboard behind her. "How did you make your way in here, eh?"

Charles giggled, showing the door, "Daddy opened it for me." He admitted and Margaret hummed.

"Come here, Charlie." Spoke the woman as she patted the bedsheets next to her. Charles slowly crawled next to the woman and sat next to her, Maggie's hand immediately found Charles' hair as she started to ruffle it. "How did you sleep? Bedtime story was good?"

Charles nodded his head and Margaret arched an eyebrow, "I loved it!" He exclaimed clapping his hands together.

"Ye are lying, Charles. You fell asleep before I could tell the end." Teased Margaret as he looked away ashamed she noticed, the brunette cupped his face with a smile as she looked at his blue eyes— the same as Tommy. "I'm joking, sweetheart. I will read it again tonight, all right?"

Charles furiously nodded as the door opened, revealing Thomas already dressed.  His mouth slightly opened as he noticed Maggie was only wearing a nightgown, who showed a lot more skin than what her casual dresses used to show.  Tommy had seen her earlier peacefully sleeping, he couldn't help himself but let his eyes on her for a few seconds before leaving a kiss on his son's forehead and disappearing.

He cleared his throat tilting his head towards the two as Charles wore a giant smile, and Maggie seemed to have one too, "Having fun, eh?"

Charles hummed at his father's statement as Maggie turned her head the other way, smiling at Tom, "Yep, we were talking about how he fell asleep last night, eh? Poor boy was exhausted, couldn't keep an eye open." Chuckled the woman as she tickled Charles' tummy and his laughter echoed through the whole room.

"Hope you don't mind." Added Tommy pointing at his son who seemed distracted by Maggie's hand, and that beauty stop on her wrist—  the Shelby man would do anything to touch it himself. "I felt early this morning, and I didn't have the time to call in for someone." He admitted.

Maggie shrugged as Thomas offered her a cigarette but she refused, "Not around your son." Kindly beamed the woman and he hummed, throwing his away. "And it's all right, it really is. It's a good yet surprising way to wake up."

Tommy chuckled agreeing, "He jumped on the bed, didn't he?"

Margaret nodded her head, "Oh yeah, he did. Come sit with us?" Proposed the woman.

Thomas seemed to think a second, and Maggie thought he would say no— instead he took off his coat, flat cap, and made his way towards Margaret's bed sitting on the edge of it.

Charlie snapped his head towards his father waving, "Daddy, how do we call that?" He put his finger on Maggie's beauty spot as Thomas readjusted his glasses before moving closer to Margaret, his hot breath on her skin.

"That is a beauty spot, Charlie." Answered Tommy. "I'm sure Maggie has a lot of them."

Maggie lightly blushed, not even knowing why his comments had an effect on her, "A lot more than you think, Mr. Shelby." Teasingly answered Margaret before focusing again on Charlie. "So, am I going to work today?"

Tommy nodded, "Yep. I won't be here all morning, so Finn is going to manage the company today. Take care of him, or just keep an eye on that idiot." Said the raven haired man. "Linda might be here, God knows what she planned."

"Are you coming home tonight?"

Home.  A word Maggie never thought she would use, at least toward the Shelby man.  Now that Margaret was familiar with Charles, she felt like there wasn't any comeback for her—  she was destined to stay in Small Heath by their sides, his side.  Somehow, Thomas made it all worth it.  He clearly cared for the woman more than he wanted to admit—  and same for Maggie.

Tommy sighed humming as he stood up again, and this time Maggie repeated the same action as she followed him to the living room, "I'll come by the Company this afternoon, all right?" He spoke, eyes everywhere but on Maggie.

Margaret walked to his coat, putting a hand in his pocket to take a cigarette, "Hope you don't mind." Uttered the woman as she lighted it. "See you later, I guess?"

He nodded his head before allowing his eyes to rank the woman for a hot second.  He cleared his throat at the sight of such beauty, wishing she was his and not someone else's.  His hand clasped her shoulder as she focused back on the man.

"I will take you somewhere today." He whispered before leaving the house.

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Margaret passed through the Shelby Company Limited's door, instantly greeted by Polly and Lizzie, "I thought you would be here later." Commented the aunt.

Maggie shrugged as she took off her coat and hung it, "I woke up early. Might as well start early, eh?" Chuckled the brunette.

Polly brought the cigarette between her lips as she took a few files and put them on Maggie's desk, "Is it Tommy?"

Margaret quickly shook her head, "Charles, actually. Jumped on me bed." Laughed Maggie. Lizzie and Polly shared a look, noticing the smile whenever she would talk about Charles meaning she really cared for the child. "He's a good kid."

A door closed soon revealing a blonde woman, Linda, holding the paper and her hat in her hand, "I said to Arthur while I'm in this fucking place I want something to keep my mind busy." Suddenly spoke the woman and Maggie chuckled silently, smoke leaving her lips.

Polly tilted her head with Lizzie behind her, "What? You're going to take bets?"

Linda with her back still facing the three women, "I've always been able to do addition and subtraction without a pen and paper." She explained. "But I'll need a telephone." She added looking at Polly. "Apparently we have special clients who take bets by telephone."

"Linda. This is a betting shop." Replied the aunt, not exactly understanding her point.

The door opened revealing the Youngest Shelby, Finn. And Maggie stood up, smiling at the young man as he strolled in with his briefcase.

"There you fucking are!" Exclaimed Margaret. "I thought you were going to be late."

He shook his head, "The rule is that door should always remain locked until 9.00 am." Precisely said the man as he looked over his aunt, while Lizzie and Maggie shared a look holding in their chuckles.

Polly with wide eyes looked at her nephew, "Right. Boy. Boy, where are you going?"

"Well, Arthur's not coming in today. He's taking the day off. . ."

Maggie cut him off with a sigh, "Tommy's not here either. So, he said he was in charge." Mumbled the woman and Lizzie kept her arms crossed over her chest, and an arched eyebrow eyeing Finn Shelby.

"Yeah. That's what he said." Confidently answered Finn.

Polly longly sighed before bringing the telephone to Linda, "All right, girls. Let's give our boss a first day that he'll never forget."

Finn left, leaving the four women with a quizzed look.  Margaret stood up and walked to the main office, strolling in as she watched the Youngest carefully looking around the place.  She sat in a love chair before putting a cigarette between her lips and lighted it.

"I don't think Tommy wants someone to smoke in here." Commented Finn as he gulped. The little man did like Margaret, she was just insanely scary to him for some reasons.

Maggie smiled widely, "Do I give a fuck? Tommy's not here. You're the boss, Finn." Pointed out the woman, holding her cigarette between her two fingers. "Tell me more about you."

"What about you tell me more about you? I'm the boss right?" Smirked Finn as he sat down next to her. Maggie laughed before humming.

"Got a point. All right. What do you want to know?" She asked leaning towards the desk to put her ashes in the bowl.

Finn nervously played with his fingers before looking up, eyes filled with innocence, "Ever been in love?"

"Fuck off, Finn. You're so soft, eh." Teased the woman but sighed. "Twice, actually. First time was your brother, John Shelby. It was an innocent love, we were kids. Then, the other one was from London— Henry. We fucked, laughed, talked then he sadly died from cancer." Uttered Maggie. "Couldn't be sad for too long. People die and we must go on."

"That seems nice." Softly commented Finn.

Margaret peeped at him, "What about you, eh?" He shyly shook his head and a gasp left her lips. "You're a fucking virgin, aren't you? You are!"

"What's wrong with that?"

Maggie shook her head, "Nothing. But, Finn, you're a Shelby. You'll have to be a man, and sooner than you think." Commented Margaret standing up.

She walked back into the office, all the girls waiting for the woman to say what they were talking about— even though, Margaret knew at least one of them was listening to the door.  So she told them, and clearly didn't except that reaction as they started to call someone for him.  On the other side, Finn was quite happy with Margaret.  He never had those kinds of conversations with Ada, not that he was ashamed but he found it easier to talk to the Kegley woman than one of his relatives.

As Maggie read the few files Polly had put on her desk earlier this morning, she noticed she had to show some to Tommy.  Lizzie put on her coat and followed her outside, after all she had to go there too.

"You know, am glad you came back." Spoke Lizzie, taking Maggie's by surprise. "Everyone seems happy."

Maggie hummed, "Yeah. Am happy too."

The two women continued their conversation, mostly talking about Margaret because Lizzie didn't like to talk about her past.  The tall woman pushed the door and strolled through the place until she reached Thomas' office, and walked in taking off her gloves as Margaret repeated the same action.  Tommy's eyes laid on Maggie as he smiled at her.

Lizzie was the first to speak, "Sending Finn to the shop was a mistake." She told the Shelby man as they both sat down. Thomas just gave them a questioned look.

"I thought Maggie was supposed to keep an eye on him." He mumbled as Margaret grabbed a cigarette, and he gave her his lighter.

She inhaled the smoke before releasing it, "I fucking did!"

Lizzie laughed, "They've already found out he's a virgin and are arranging a girl for him this afternoon." Explained the woman.

Thomas frowned, "I thought Linda was there."

"Oh she is." Chuckled Margaret glancing at Lizzie. "She loved the idea, Tom."

He simply scoffed as the raven haired woman hummed, "Yeah, I know. She even swears now."

Maggie agreed with the woman, "Fuck. Sounds funny coming from her." They both laughed. "Small Heath is not good for people like her, Tommy."

"Ah, well. . . Keep an eye on her." Muttered Thomas, his head towards Lizzie. "Does Finn know what they have planned?" She shook her head. "Do they have someone?"

"Yes. A girl I used to work with." Mumbled Lizzie, clearing her throat. "She's from Aston. They're paying her out of petty cash."

Thomas stood up, taking off his glasses, "Right, well, call 'em, and tell them to pay extra and get someone nice." Said the man as Lizzie mumbled something under her breath, but somehow agreed. He then turned his head towards Margaret who seemed lost in her thoughts. "Maggie, come."

She furrowed her eyebrows, "Where? I have work, Thomas."

"I'm the boss. Come with me, and Lizzie do what I told you." Yelled Tommy as he walked out with Margaret behind him. "I wanted to take you there later, but you showed up so might as well go it now."

Maggie lowly hummed, "Where are we going?" Queried the brunette, tilting her head as she waited for his answer.

"Somewhere I've not been in a long time." He replied, not looking behind him and simply continued to walk.

The two strolled around Small Heath, and reached the cut as Tommy led her under a bridge. The canal. Margaret sat on the haystack, her legs swinging in the air as Tommy walked a little further.  He held a cigarette and had this nostalgic look on his face, like he was reminiscing the past— his past.

The birds were chipping and Maggie couldn't help but looking at the man in front of her, "Are we excepting somebody?" No answers which made her sigh out loud. "Tommy."

"We used to come here. . ." He started, still looking at the boat. ". . . She'd wait for hours for me, when I couldn't make it. And I'd wait for her when her family kept her in." He gently spoke.

Maggie threw her cigarette on the ground, "Who?"

"Some girl before France." And even if he didn't mean to, his answer came out in a sweet whisper almost if he was scared to talk about a girl he used to love before the war—  or at least his old self used to love before.  He faced Margaret and walked towards her. "I haven't been back since."

His hand laid on her upper arm as she looked up at him, "Yeah?"

He hummed, "Wanted to come here with you." He admitted, his hands moved up and reached her face.  He slowly cupped her doll face, his thumbs roaming on her cheekbones.  Margaret had to admit, she didn't want them gone. Not in the slightest. "Have you thought about what we spoke about last time?"

"Are you safe? Are we safe?" Quizzed the woman as she closed her eyes at his touch.  Almost felt heavenly and she wondered how it'd feel all over her body. "You know the answer, Tommy."

He chuckled biting his lower lip, "Fuck Mag." He murmured. "When you went to sleep to Polly's, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop wondering if you were safe."

"Well, I was." Sarcastically told Margaret.

He leaned down with his blue eyes looking directly into her brown eyes, his right thumb moved to her lips as he ran across them.  He let out a shaky breath before leaning down—  he was slow, almost unsure as if he was scared she'd push him away but instead Maggie was the one who sailed their lips in a gentle kiss.

He pulled away smiling at her, his heart pounding, "That's all you're gonna get, Mr. Shelby." Whispered Maggie, her cheeks lightly red.

"Oh, I don't mind." He answered. "It's quite enough."

Maggie smiled widely as he continued to hold her face between his hands like his life was depending on it. In a way, it was.  Thomas loved Grace dearly, but what if Margaret Kegley, a ghost from his past, was the answer to all his problems and his broken heart?

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AUTHORS NOTE,
OMFG I DID THAT I DID THAT
MY BABIES

on that note, you'll find me dead on the side
of the road bc im scared of what you guys think
about that chapter

also if you go on -SOURTIMES i made a
"meet my ocs" book and i'm going to post
in a few— a chapter with my oc from my
finn shelby fic!!

thank you for 800+ reads <333