The next morning, vicky woke up early, got dressed and got bouncer. George began to wake up groggily but vicky just planted a kiss on the back of his head
"Go to sleep darling. I'm just going round my uncle Arthur's for a little while. I won't be long"
"Are you-"
"Yes im taking bouncer. Go back to sleep" she chuckles at his worry, kissing him once more before the sound of snoring echoed off the walls making vicky roll her eyes. As she walked down the hall, she peered into Henry's room. He wasn't in there. Panic began to fill her chest as she ran to the next room frantically. Her heart could relax when she saw Henry in bed with Tommy, both sleeping soundly. It reminded her of when she was a little girl. She'd always sleep in Tommy's bed to stop his nightmares. Some would argue it should have been the other way round. But she didn't care. She would protect Tommy at all costs, and now it seems Henry was doing the same. She just wished Tommy would protect his family as much as they protect him.
Vicky doesn't bother knocking on Arthur's door. She let's herself in and to her surprise, he is awake
"Wow. And I thought I'd have to drag you out of bed" she chuckles, taking a seat at his table as he dug into his toast
"Got woken up early because some fucking bird got into the fucking house. Want some?" He asked offering her some toast
"No its alright. I'll have a cup of tea though please"
"Didn't offer you tea" he says
"I don't care" she smiles at him as he smiles back, standing up to make her a cup of tea. Once they sat back down, Arthur got ready to hear the rant. Vicky often went to Arthur's house when she was pissed off at Tommy
"What's Tommy done this time?" He asked
"That's the thing. I don't know"
"You don't know?"
"Me and Henry, we were attacked by three men. Don't worry. We're both fine. Bouncer was really brave and he fought them off. They said it was a message to Thomas shelby. God, if I had a penny for every time I heard that, I'd be able to buy Buckingham Palace. Tommy says they're a small rival gang, and he'll take care of them. He's lying to me. And I want to know what stupid thing he's done" vicky crosses her arms, waiting for an answer
"You were attacked? Didn't hurt ya did they?"
"Ugh! Arthuurrr! Just tell me what's going on" she whines, almost pulling her hair out from stress
"Vic, Tommy's telling you the truth. He spoke to me about it a couple days ago. Some small gang sent a minor threat but it wad laughable. Nothing to worry about"
"Now you're lying aswell. How can you say it's nothing to worry about? If bouncer wasn't there, if it was anyone else, they'd be dead. You realise that if I wasn't fucking dying, then they would have killed me. What if it was polly? Or ada? Or Henry by himself? Arthur, please, I don't want anyone to get hurt. Just tell me what's going on so I can talk some sense into him. I'm begging you. Please"
"Love...I cant" Arthur sighs
"I don't understand. This isn't fair. I'm dying. You want me spend the rest of my life wondering what Tommy did?"
"Oh you jammy bugger. Using your cancer to get what you want?" Vicky smirks crossing her arms and leaning back
"And I'm proud of it" she smiles. Arthur rolls his eyes
"Fine. I'll tell you. But Vic, you need to listen to me. I tried to convince him it was a stupid idea. But my brother is desperate. I've never seen him like this"
"Just tell me" she begs
"There are rumours, the royal family has access to a drug. Its only being trialed. But scientists believe it can double a terminally ill patients years. Tommy had been trying to get his hands on it. But to do that, he's had to steal alot of money from various gangs. He hasn't even got a quarter of what he needs yet. It's fucking expensive vic. I want you to live. I really do. But I just can't see this ending well. Not for anyone" vicky was in shock. She sat with her eyes watering and her head in her hands
"But...but I thought...I thought he'd accepted it"
"It's impossible. You don't have children. So I'm not sure you'll understand love. But no parent can accept that their child will die. Not if there is the slightest chance of hope" vickys lip quivers as she looks at Arthur
"Oh darling" he sighs, opening his arms. The minute he is hugging her, she begins to cry. She had to find Tommy. She had to find him and tell him how stupid it all was
Once vicky got home, she opened the door to find Henry having a thumb war with George on the sofa and Tommy reading a news paper
"This isn't fair. You have bigger hands" Henry whines
"Cry about it" George laughs
"Wonderful. We now have two children in the house" vicky rolls her eyes smiling. She walks closer and gives George a quick peck on the lips
"Can I have a thumb war with you vicky?"
"Careful lad. She's good" Tommy warns. Vicky smirks, getting ready. They have a thumb war and vicky ends up winning, causing Henry to flop down in defeat
"Don't worry. Soon, you'll be the same height as your brother. And if you try hard, you'll be stronger than him too. Then you'll get to beat him" vicky reminds him
"Daddy, can we have a quick word?" Vicky asks Tommy
"Uh oh. Someone's in trouble" Henry laughs. As Tommy walks past him, he hits him round the head playfully with the news paper. Tommy and vicky go to his office and sit down
"Arthur told me"
"Right. Now what?" Tommy asks
"Please don't. I...I know that I'm dying. And I don't want you dead before me. You'll be shot or stabbed or beaten to death. Hanged in prison. Please daddy, I don't want you to go. I don't want to I've an extra couple of months. I don't. Because I know that when the time comes, I'll be ready"
"Baby, you're my little girl, how am I supposed to give up on you?" Tommy asks with his eyes watering
"You know when I get really ill from the treatment? And I'm vomiting and in constant pain, hardly able to move. Those are the times when I would welcome death with open arms. Because it would be peaceful and I'm prepared. Please don't take that away from me. If I am given this drug, then I'll only be bed ridden for another three months before dying. Let me go peacefully. With you by my side. Please daddy. I'm so scared and I want you there for me. You have to promise you'll be there for me"
"OK ok I promise. I promise my darling. I'll be with you" Tommy rushes up and hugs a crying vicky, kissing her head multiply times, stroking her hair back. He had to let her go. Tommy knew that. He just couldn't bare the thought of a world without his baby girl
YOU ARE READING
Shelby Fire- Completed
FanfictionBefore the war, there was a girl. Her customers knew her as Sapphire, her family knew her as Dotty. After falling pregnant with Thomas Shelby's baby, she runs. No one knows where and Tommy was left believing she had simply grown tired of small heath...
