a wedding!....      04x01

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ROSALIE PAUSED WHEN SHE HEARD THE COMOTION FROM DOWNSTAIRS.

she had stayed home, deciding to miss out on the family meeting — worried for the questions she would be asked if she was to leave the house.

she reached under her bed, pulling out a small metal box and quickly lifted it onto the bed. opening the lid, it held a stack of letters the boys had sent from war, her mothers wedding ring and a small hand gun she had thieved off of one of the boys when they were drinking.

pulling it out she opened the chamber than held four bullets. cocking the weapon, she slowly got up from her bed and made her way down the stairs.

the betting den doors were flung open and a group of men stood in it. scudboat was in the corner with a large gash on his forehead as the men ransacked the place.

rosalie held the gun up proudly, "who the fuck are you bastards!?" she yelled, her finger ghosting the trigger.

the men turned to look at her and a shotgun was pointed straight at her head. "that's the sister. the youngest one" one of them men spoke up. all five advancing on her.

"lee boys, nice to meet ya' now get the fuck out of my house" she bellowed, pressing the trigger watching as a bullet flew out and peircing the side of one of their shoulders. the knock back caused the girl to step back slightly, fear growling through her veins as two of them men ran at her.

one of the boys grabbed her wrist pushing her against the wall, slamming her arm against it causing the gun to fall from her grasp as he used his foot to kick it away.

"you bastard" she screeched, the man elbowing her in the stomach, causing the girl to groan in pain.

"little shelby, ay?" the man whispered, his breath covered her face causing rosalie to grimace and recoil is disgust.

"get your hands off her!" scudboat bellowed, thrashing against his restraints.

"brush your teeth, your breath stinks of shite" she spat, the man's face contorted into anger. he grabbed her hair slamming her head into the wall. the girls body crumbled to the floor, a dent left in the drywall with a slight tint of crimson.

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rosalie groaned as she felt an arm pull her up from the floor. "your alright, love" john assured, although worry was present in his voice.

coming to her feet, rosalie leant into her brother. "fucking lee boys. bastards all of them" the girl groaned, rubbing the back of her head where a dull ache laid.

"your fat head broke the wall" john joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"shut it" the girl snapped, john immediately shutting up.

"they've taken anything they can get their hands on" polly informed as she kept searching throughout the mess.

thomas walked to the centre of the room, staring at a pair of wire cutters in his hand.

"four cash boxes" polly continued.

thomas held up the wire cutters, "they left these."

"wire cutters, why would they leave that?" polly asked, looking at her nephew.

"nobody move" arthur ordered, johns grip tightened against his sister.

"i think our friends are playing the game" thomas spoke out of thought.

"what game?" polly asked, attempting to walk into the office with an empty money box before john placed his hand up.

"no pol' dont touch anything" he warned.

rosalie sighed, moving away from john. "would one of you pricks like to tell us what's goin' on?" she asked impatiently.

"erasmus lee was in france" thomas nodded.

"shit.." scudboat cursed, standing up slowly.

"when we gave up ground to the germans" thomas began. "we'd leave behind bobby traps, set up with wires. we'd leave wire cutters as part of the joke" he informed.

"somewhere in here there's a hand grenade" john added, looking around the room.

"what the fuck" rosalie spoke lowly.

"holy jesus" polly sighed.

"attached to a wire" arthur spoke. every person in the betting shop looked to the floors attempting to spot it. "don't move any chairs or don't open any doors."

"go easy john-boy" arthur nodded, the two slowly scoping the room.

thomas paused. "boys no, it's not in here. if it was in here it would've blown by now... it was my name on that bullet erasmus sent" thomas explained. "he set up a trap alright, but he set it up just for me" he nodded, removing his cap.

rosalies head shot up, "where's finn!?" she questioned.

thomas looked at the girl, realisation covering his features before he headed for the door — rosalie hot on his trail.

the two ran through the streets, coming to a slow as they reached the garage.

"finn" thomas called, the boys head shot up his hands still on the wheel of the family car. "finn, stay exactly where you are" thomas ordered, his hand cautiously in the air.

"finn, love listen to tommy" rosalie spoke softly, slowly walking towards the car.

the boy giggled, "i was pretending i was you.. see rosie, i'm tommy."

fear coursed through thomas as he looked at the boy.

"which door did you open to come in, finn" thomas asked, coming closer to the vehicle.

"i didn't, i climbed in" finn told the pair.

"i want you to climb out exactly the same way you climbed in, okay" thomas spoke clearly.

rosalie nodded, encouraging the boy.

finn laughed, quickly opening the opposite door towards thomas.

"finn, no, no!" thomas exclaimed.

rosalies heart pounded as her eyes went wide, she rushed towards the boy and turned him away from the car using her body to cover his.

thomas reached in grabbing the explosive, "clear!" he yelled, throwing it onto the road.

rosalie felt thomas wrap his arms around the pair. the explosion shook the ground and finn let out a terrified sob causing rosalie to grip him tighter.

thomas pulled away from them and bent down to finn. "that's why you should never pretend to be me, okay?" finn nodded, and thomas stood up grabbing rosalies shoulder and pulling them both into a hug.

rosalies breath was ragged but she gripped onto thomas, still keeping a hand on finn who was shaking with fear.

"your alright, yeah?" thomas asked once he pulled away, looking at his younger sister.

"bit banged up, but nothing new" she sighed, bending down to pick up finn who was trying his best to keep the tears at bay.

"your alright, your safe" she whispered, walking back to watery lane with finn tightly gripping her shoulders.

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rosalie groaned, running a hand through her tasseled hair. "so, i was man handled, finn was nealry blown up and now your engaged... who's the unlucky woman john" rosalie asked.

"lizzie stark" john spoke proudly.

rosalie bit back a laugh, failing miserably as she allowed her head to fall back and loud cackles filled the room.

"stop laughing" john stated.

"i mean if you don't already have the clap ya' will know" the girl laughed, a hand coming to her stomach trying to catch her breath.

"i'll have none of it" john spoke as he shook his head disapprovingly.

regaining herself rosalie looked at him with a smile, "listen john, if it's the kids — i already offered to look after them, i'm already handling finn" rosalie offered, "no need to marry a whore, although she seems lovely the times i've passed her coming out of thomas' room" she couldn't help herself, she was a known bitch and she'd live up to the title at any chance.

"there will be no use of them words! i love her, i do!" john explained, sitting back in his chair — emptying his glass.

"love is love, but she'll be no martha" rosalie shrugged, watching as johns face contorted, falling silent.

"first our ada, now you... who's next bloody thomas?" rosalie chuckled in the irony.

"who bloody knows, seems like the pretty blonde has softened him up."

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thomas stood at the front of the room, the workers and family stood quietly watching him. james looked over a rosalie, smiling at how intently she was looking at her older brother.

"gentlemen, and ladies" thomas started, raising his hand towards polly and rosalie. the two smiling at him warmly.

"i have in my hand a legal betting license. issued by the board of control. the shelby family has its first legal racetrack pitch" thomas explained, holding up the certificate proudly. a wide toothy grin covering his face as the room erupted into cheers.

rosalie pushed passed people and jumped into her brothers arms, hugging him tightly.

"i'm so fucking proud of you!" she squealed, feeling her feet lift for a moment before being placed gently back on the floor.

she pressed a kiss to his cheek, before polly yelled and ran to hug him. the family stood proudly at the top of the room with bright smiles and proud hearts.

"as we fucking should!" rosalie cheered, clapping her hands together excitedly.

johns arm slinging around her shoulders, ruffling her hair.

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billy, connie and rosalie sat in the florist as connie attended to a bouquet she was working on.

"i have to admit something" rosalie sighed, looking at her mates as they both paused.

"what on gods earth did you bloody do now?" connie sighed, her hands slapping against the wooden counter top.

"i slept with a peaky boy— and before you start your not getting a name, but i had to say something 'cause it was killing me keeping it a secret" the shelby girl admitted, looking between the two.

billy faltered, trying to cover up the stinging pain in his heart.

"for christ sake, shelby, you bloody idiot" connie cursed, grabbing a newspaper and swatting it at rosalies head.

her hands came up, "in my defence, i was drunk— but i'd do it again."

"was he good?" connie asked, the two not noticing how silent billy had become.

"best i've ever had, honest" rosalie spoke truthfully.

billy stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets. "i've to go, ma wanted be in before dark and it's already eight" the boy spoke quickly, exiting the shop before the two got a chance to reply.

"dunno' what's up his arse today" rosalie murmured, pulling out a box of cigarettes — lighting one with ease before inhaling deeply, savouring the taste.

"don't mind him" connie shrugged, dismissing the boy. "so tell me about this peaky boy" she nodded.

"he's gorgeous, always thought he was a prick but we got drunk and then... would definitely shag him again" rosalie smiled bashfully, a small blush covering her cheeks as she talked about james.

"you sound smitten" connie teased, poking the girls arm with a smirk.

"i could be, but not just yet" rosalie shrugged. "dunno' there's something about him, he's like sniff, you try it but you always crave the high... not that i've had sniff but you get my point."

"rosalie shelby has found her match, hm?" connie quizzed, looking at her friend with a proud smile.

"maybe, but thomas would have my head if he found out. nearly killed freddie and ada and that was only this fuckin' week" rosalie chuckled, het head snapping to the clock as it rang loudly signifying the hour was up.

"i better head home too, tell your mum i say hello."

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rosalie groaned as thomas chucked a dress on what was once her sleeping form. "thomas what the fuck are you doing?" rosalie asked bewildered as she leant on her elbows.

"johns to be married today" thomas informed.

"him and lizzie?" the blonde assumed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"no, a lee girl."

rosalie rolled her eyes, "does john know this?" she asked.

"no" he curtly responded. "now get dressed, we leave within the hour" thomas rumbled, leaving the small room and closing the door behind her.

rosalie sat up with a groan, she reached over to the stool beside her bed a grabbed a cigarette, lighting it and taking a long drag.

the smoke trailed around her room, rosalie picked up the dress. it's material was soft, small diamonds traced the neck line and hem yet the lilac lace covered the whole dress. it really was beautiful.

she stood up, discarding her sleep wear in a pile on the floor as she stepped into the tight dress. coming to sit at the smell desk in her room, she smudged black around her eyes and pinned ho her hair letting a few curls fall around her face. she felt nice, she always enjoyed dressing up. she slipped on a pair of heals she prayed wouldn't be wrecked by mud and horse shit, quickly rushing out of her room and down into the kitchen.

"you look lovely" polly complimented, coming over to her neice with a doting smile.

"shall we leave?" rosalie asked, which caused polly to nod and the woman hurried out to thomas and arthur who were waiting in the car.

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rosalie walked beside thomas and arthur. john and a few men jumped out of the car with hammers and axes as if they wouldn't hesitate to kill a lee or two.

"ready boys? john, ready?" thomas asked as they neared them.

"yeah i'm fine" john nodded, looking towards rosalie with a smile, "you look pretty, rosie."

"thanks, john" she smiled warmly.

"have a drink" arthur offered, holding out a flask which john took.

"what? why are you all staring at me? what?" john quizzed, confused of the watchful eyes.

"good. let's go" thomas spoke as he began walking.

"what's happening?" john asked, allowing rosalie to hook his arm with his.

"don't worry, brother.. you'll find out soon." rosalie sighed, the lees littered the area. armed with guns and knives.

"tommy! what's your plan? we are in shotgun range" john muttered quietly. men surrounded her and john yet she paid no mind.

everyone paused, turning to him. "john, before we go into battle..." thomas paused, taking a breath "there's something your going to need" thomas spoke, pulling out a small white shirt rose, pinning it to his jacket, the rest of the men doing the same.
arthur turned to his sister, slipping one in her bundle of curls.

"what are you bloody doing, tommy?" john stressed.

thomas hands came to his face. "smile, john. it's a wedding" the man grinned.

"who's bloody wedding?!"

"now if we told ya' you wouldn't have come" thomas explained, moving his grip to his shoulders.

rosalie brought a fist to her mouth, attempting to hid her amused smirk as she bit her tongue to stop a laugh escaping her.

"there's a girl in the lee family who's going a bit wild. and she needs marrying off" thomas explained calmly. john pushed thomas away, cussing him to stumble back.

"oh fuck off" john scoffed. hands came out to stop him from fussing. rosalie let out a chuckle at his reaction.

"john boy, john boy!" arthur bellowed, attempting to calm him down as he fussed.

"john!" thomas yelled, grabbing his face.

"you have no bloody right, tommy!" john spat.

"listen to me, listen to me!" thomas ordered. "a girl who needs a husband. a man who need a wife" the leader spoke calmly.

"tom, i'm not marrying some fucking mushroom picker" john spoke breathlessly.

"ay, maybe she'll be under fifty!" rosalie teased, causing arthur to shove her slightly.

"i've already betrothed ya' so if you back out now, there's gonna' be one mighty fucking war breaking out here" thomas explained.

"it's gonna' make the somme, it's gonna' make the somme look like a fucking tea party. but if you marry her, our family and the lee family will be united forever and this war will be over." thomas concluded.

"now it's up to you john. war or peace" thomas stated.

john sighed, pushing off the peaky blinders that held the back of his coat. "let go of me" he spoke frustrated.

john fixed his jacket, and walked to his sister. "ya' ready, brother?" she asked with a small smile.

john stuck a toothpick in his mouth and slung an arm over her shoulder.

they made their way to the caravan. "right, you should see the size of her dowry" arthur spoke gruffly.

"her what?" john asked.

"her dads giving you a car" thomas informed with a smirk.

john removed his hand from around rosalie and shoved them in his pockets at the stoic stare he was receiving.

"will he do?" thomas asked, pointing to john.

zilpha stared at john. a smile took over her stony expression, "he'll do" the woman confirmed. the lads cheered for john as arthur took him by the neck.

rosalie smiled at the woman, who stared at her with a knowing glint in her eyes.

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as they stood in the courtyard, rosalie doted over ada's large bump. she was nearing term and as sad it was that rosalie had missed most of it, she was glad her sister joined them.

"here she is" thomas spoke, as the lee girl knelt on the cushion.

"she better be under fifty" john murmured.

john knelt beside her as johnny dogs began the ceremony.

"we're here today to join in matrimony, this man and this woman" johnny began.

james stood beside rosalie quietly. "you look gorgeous" he grinned, still staring at the couple.

"thank you, i must say you clean up nice yourself" she nodded with a small blush.

john looked back at the family with a pleased smirk, "do you john micheal shelby, take esme martha lee to be your beautiful wife?" johnny dogs asked. "to have to hold. in sickness and in health, until death do you part" the man continued.

"do you esme martha lee, take john micheal shelby to be your lawfully wedded husband? to have to hold. in sickness and in health, until death do you part. there remains one more part of the ceremony. the mingling of the bloods!"

john held out his hand, wincing slightly as the blade slashed his palm. johnny dogs turned to esme, repeating the same.

"where the two families become the one family" johnny explained, watching as esme and john placed their palms together, uniting the clans.

"i know pronounce you man and wife! come on john, kiss the bride will ya' " johnny cheered, the crowd clapping and yelling joyfully as the newlyweds kissed.

"go on john!" rosalie yelled, her hands cupped around her mouth.

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rosalies arm hooked with a lee boy as they danced around. the girl had discarded her shoes, choosing to feel the earth against her skin as she used to do as a child.

"what's your name!" the boy yelled over the singing.

"rosalie, and yours?" she replied.

"connell! pretty name for a pretty girl" he smirked, his hand slipping from her arms to her waist. her back pressed against his chest feeling his arms slither around her.

james stared at him, gripping the glass he was drinking out of. she looked like an angel, she looked free. he wished he was the boy she was dancing with, he wished that they could openly affectionate. his eyes narrowed as she seen the boy dance her away behind the crowd.

his lips met her neck and she uncomfortably moved slightly. "loosen up" he whispered, his hand slithering up to her sleeve tugging it down slightly.

he wasn't anything like james. he was harsh and tough, james was loving and gentle with her.

"stop" she stated uncomfortably. her hands coming to his as an attempt to get out of his iron grip. they were off to the side, covered by the dancing mob and a few hay bales.

connells hand crept under her dress, trailing along her thigh, leaving a burning in his wake.

her brain was running a thousand miler per hour. she thought about reaching up to her hair, finding the pin that was tucked away — but she couldn't risk starting a war they had only settled.

her elbow came out, shooting into his ribs allowing a split second of weakness she pushed herself from his arms.

"touch me again, and it'll be the last time you have your hands" she threatened shakily. adrenaline rushed through her body as she fixed the sleeves of her dress.

"ya' alright?" james asked as he made his way from the crowd.

the look on connell's face scared her. he looked genuinely angry, and it disgusted her.

rosalie quickly walked towards james, she gripped his forearm tugging him away from the boy.

"what happened?" james asked, concern written in his tone.

"he was just being a prick" rosalie brushed off, dragging him to sit on a secluded hay bale that was covered by trees.

james looked at her, "you look stunning" he said once again.

"so you've said, love" she laughed softly, leaning her head against his arm. he ducked his head down, kissing her forehead.

"i think i really fucking like you" she whispered, she felt stupid as they don't even know eachother that well yet she felt safe with him and that was something she craved.

"i think i really fucking like you" he smiled softly.

they say their for a moment, rosalie looked up at him softly. quickly she pressed her lips against his, relishing in the way his lips moulded perfectly with hers. pulling away, she rested her forehead against his. "we should go back, they'll notice i'm gone" rosalie whispered, feeling james nod as the pair stood up.

rosalie broke away from james' side as she ventured over to thomas and zilpha.

"enjoying the wedding?" thomas asked the girl.

"it's alright" rosalie shrugged, looking back and john and esme, "they're perfect" she observed with a smile.

"you should tell ada to sit down" polly advised as she came up to the three.

"you think she'll listen to me?" thomas asked, handing the rest of his cigarette to rosalie who graciously nodded.

"i've tried stopping her but she's been drinking.. she's been stuck in that little basement for weeks, what do we expect?" polly shook her head. "she's going off lile a fire cracker. oh christ, tommy, please" polly stressed as she watched ads jump around.

thomas sighed and him and polly walked over to the girl. rosalie took thomas' seat beside zilpha.

"come look esme! come and look at the family you've joined!" ada yelled, "come and look at the man who's runs it! chooses his brothers wives for them, he hunts his own sister down like a rat and he tries to kill his own brother in law!" ada screeched, her hand flying towards rosalie, "treats the youngest one as a child solider, not caring for her safety!" the woman had gone too far, this was her brothers wedding and she'd be damned if a hormonal self-wallowing woman ruined it.

"ada, give your fat arse over!" rosalie yelled as she came to a stand.

"and now, he won't even let me have a fucking dance!" ada yelled, "not even at a fucking wedding" the woman sucked in deeply, holding her stomach as she panted.

"ada calm down, ada. calm down" polly spoke as she pulled the girl away from thomas.

rosalie shot up, about to walk over when zilpha grabbed her wrist. "you have a fire burning bright in you, girl.. i doubt this will be the last i see of you" the older woman smiled, rosalie stood silent before she quickly snapped back into reality as polly began speaking.

"holy shit. water. right" the older woman spoke.

rosalie rushed over to her sister, placing a loving hand on her back.

"bloody hell, ada! you do pick your times" arthur bellowed fiercely, he was to put it lightly extremely pissed off.

the shelby clan surrounded ada as they walked her to the car, esme following suit.

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ada's yells echoed off the walls. "their stubborn, i'll tell ya' that" rosalie chuckled as she wiped adas forehead with a damp cloth attempting to cool her down.

"keep going, that's right! push!" polly encouraged the woman. ada screamed louder, causing esme to feel her swollen stomach.

"i think the baby's the wrong way round, i attended the three sisters" esme informed, causing polly to look frightened as she herself checked.

"we should lean her forward" esme nodded, the three woman helping her come onto all fours.

"you've got this, ada. not long and you'll have your own little baby in your arms" rosalie spoke softly, brushing her hair back with her fingers.

"come on. not long now, darling" polly encouraged once again. "push, two, three!"

rosalie caught the baby as it slid out, wrapping it in a blanket before handing it to a now sitting ada.

"you have a beautiful baby boy, ada thorne" rosalie spoke tearfully, overjoyed for her sister pressing a loving kiss to her forehead.

ada let out a sob of her own, polly went of to make tea.

freddie walked through th foot and ada looked up happily. "it's a boy freddie" she grinned.

"a beautiful baby boy" freddie spoke in a trance, slowly taking the baby off ada and looking at him in pure adoration.

rosalie looked at the couple, before a banging disrupted their peace. rosalie ran to the door with esme.

"a woman's just given birth!" rosalie yelled attempting to push them back, but with no use as she got shoved roughly against a wall.

"you can't come in here!" esme told them, but the same happened to her.

"don't hurt him! freddie" ada cried, polly pushed her back gently as rosalie shielded her view and brought her arms around her.

"your hurting him, leave him alone!" ada sobbed, almost crumpling in rosalies grip.

rosalie felt tears of her own once brim, one's of sadness yet anger. this was thomas, and the feelings of rage were ones that should not be felt against family.

rosalie was out the door in a flash, polly following suit leaving esme to help comfort a distraught ada. as they reached the garrison rosalie pushed open the doors with such strength that the ones inside may think they were getting raided.

"it's a boy" polly announced, thomas smiled yet instantly dropped as polly ran at him. her fists pounded against his chest as arthur and john pulled her away from him.

"but the police came and took his father away!" she snapped, "don't you dare look at me like that!"

rosalie stood, blood boiling with the familiar feeling of anger as she stared at her big brother.

thomas stood silent, polly spat at his feet. "you liar" she growled.

rosalie stepped forward, "your a pathetic excuse of a brother, thomas shelby" she spoke calmly.

thomas looked taken aback, he had witnessed rosalies fury before but it was never once directed at him.

"the one chance you had to make amends with ada and you've fucked it up like everything else! she's our fucking sister you bastard! well maybe not anymore, because of you! it's always you!" rosalie seethed, in that moment she wished to take thomas' tongue — so that he could never speak again.

"and you tell me i make people feel bad" the girl scoffed, brushing johns gentle touch off her shoulder. "oh fuck this" she cackled, reviving no response she slammed her hand against his cheek causing his head to whip to the side.

"traitor" she spat calmly once again, shoving arthur out of the way as she followed polly out the door.

she didn't know if there was any coming back from this. thomas shelby had officially succeeded in destroying his relationship with not only ada, but the two people he trusts most in the world.

yet, rosalie shelby promised one thing silently as she looked into the inky sky. thomas shelby would burn in hell.

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AUTHORS NOTE

i cried writing this.

it's a chapter with alot to unpack, between the fastburn rosie/james, rosalie basically being sexually assaulted which she dismisses at the time but will come back to bite her in the arse,
zilpha 🤫, and the downfall of thomas and rosalie.

also it's literally the longest chapter so far like hello?? who am i?