Sorry, I made you love me
a Thomas Shelby x reader series
Previous - Part 16 (you are here!) - Part 17
Tags + notes: arranged marriage, contract marriage, slow burn (like really), fluff, reader gets headaches from cigarette and cigar smoke, disliking Grace, reader is in her early 20s, language, around season 2 (sorta I'm mingling the timelines a lil), also Freddie stays alive and well 🥹, also Finn is like 14 turning 15 soon, just to make him a lil older than he was in season 1, so reader calls him Finn Finn which annoys lil teen him lol, so I'll probably update the previous parts a tiny bit. reader doesn't want kids
(Y/N) : your name
(L/N) : your last name
(Y/B/N) : your brother's name
(E/C) : eye color
(Y/B/W) : your brother's wife (name)
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As the festivities began, and everyone started dancing, Thomas led you to the dancefloor for your first dance together. You had left your veil behind at your table seat after dinner as it had gotten too warm
When the song began you felt your years of dance lessons kick in. But he wasn’t bad either.
You smirked at him, “So, where did Birmingham’s most notorious gangster learn to dance so well?”
He smiled at you, he was all smiles lately, you noticed, “We gypsies learn to dance from the moment we learn how to walk.”
You smiled at him, “That sounds wonderful.”
“Though you should see a gypsy wedding,” he continued, “nearly not as stiff as this.”
You giggled, “Well who knows, maybe Arthur and John will show off on the dance floor later, oh and Esme definitely won’t hold back either!”
“Yeah, she’s a feisty one,” Thomas agreed. “(Y/N)?” he got your attention again. “What kind of business were you thinking about starting?”
You started thinking, since you’re married now you would be spending more time together. Which made perfect sense that you could start creating a business plan together now. And after thirteen months you would be set to go about your own way, and who knows, maybe Thomas could at least be an investor if you split amicably. But something in you didn’t want that. You realized a desire grew in you to do something together which he also had dreamt about, a long time ago.
“What about something with horses?” he just blinked at you as you said that, waiting for you to continue explaining, “I mean, I know, you’re already doing something with horses; the races. But I was thinking, what if we I don’t know, teach children and others how to ride horses, you know become a renowned school for riding or oh! And what if people come to you for like horse whispering or something, and we could get Charlie and Curly on board? Although that would maybe keep you away from your own business,” you started mumbling as you were getting lost in your thoughts again.
He was quiet for a moment as the song continued, but he finally said, “That sounds an awful lot like you want us to continue being in each other’s presence.”
You looked down at your feet, flustered, “I—It was just a thought. Maybe not a realistic one.” You became quiet for a moment before continuing, “I did see some of the papers on your desk when I brought the signed documents to your office last time, about you setting up charities. I’m really interested in that as well. Not only for children but also for animals.”
He let the information sink in before he spoke again, “We’ll have plenty to talk about after the wedding it seems. Besides, Curly—no, Charlie is a better horse whisperer than I am.”
“Well, you’ve just been away from the horses themselves because of your business, right? But I’m sure it’s in you, I mean the Rom Baro wouldn’t be who he was if he didn’t have a way with horses,” you teased. It was a name your heard from Johnny Dogs among other stories he had told you.
“Now where did you hear that?”
“Hmmm, I don’t expose my sources,” you teased.
He leaned in, “Should I remind you of your own clause (Y/N)?”
You gasped, smiling, “Using my tactics against me?”
When the song ended you switched partners and after a few dances you were completely tuckered out after the day you’ve had. As you went to get a drink your mother was suddenly standing next to you.
“Mom?!” you sputtered.
“Well, if I didn’t come to you, then we would have never talked at all today.” You grumbled an apology and she looked you up and down, “Well, I guess they did a good job, but darling you look haggard, you should really go touch up your make-up so Mr. Shelby won’t get tired of you. After all, how do you expect me to have grandchildren before I’m in the grave.” She sighed dramatically. Your eye twitched and you asked for a whiskey on the rocks instead of a mimosa, you needed something stronger to get through this. “Besides, I gave your housekeeper this new aphrodisiac, she’ll bring it to you later, make sure you use it.”
You wanted to gag but you did everything to hold back.
“Darling!”
Ohhhh no.
“Dad,” you smiled nervously.
“I haven’t seen you since I sent you off from London, my little girl!” he smiled brightly.
“Yes, since you’ve sent me off to close a business deal, oh wait, I was what you needed to close it and you so conveniently didn’t tell me,” you said irritated, but thanked the waiter with a smile when he brought your whiskey.
“But you would have never have gone otherwise!” your father whined.
“Oh well, she’s here now, and married too so she must be doing something right.” Your mother butted in.
You downed your drink and was about to walk off, “Great talk dad, you too mom.”
“So, when will see some grandchildren?” your dad asked with sparkling eyes.
“Ask (Y/B/N). I’m not planning on having any.”
Your mother slapped you, and your father panicked.
“Dear! We’re in public…!” he tried calming your mother down.
“It’s not like you can stop that, so get over yourself. Don’t let your father’s business deal fall down the drain.” your mother told you and as she walked off huffing, your father turned to you.
“That’s not the way we raised you, young lady! A child is the best way to secure your position in this family,” and he walked off in another direction when he saw one of your brother’s friends.
Thankfully the music had been so loud and you were in a smaller room where not many people saw what just happened, thankfully no Shelby’s either.
Your brother suddenly passed you, “Hi (Y/N) having f—wait, why is your cheek swollen?!” he panicked slightly. You just gave him a look he recognized and he sighed, “Mom?” you nodded, he ran a hand through his hair, and noticed his wife and motioned for her to come over. “Darling I’m going to get some ice for her face; can you stay with her?”
Your sister-in-law walked up to you both and nodded. When she looked at you, she gasped softly, “Oh my little sun, sit down, here.” As she led you to a pouffe a few steps to the side, she softly stroked your back, “Was it mother?” You just gave a nod and leaned against her, a tear rolling down your cheek. You hated the way your body froze after talking with your parents. You thought you did well in avoiding them, but you should’ve known your mother would look for you.
Meanwhile as your brother was on his way back with a small bag of ice, he bumped into Thomas, “Sorry brother!” he said as he walked on.
Thomas frowned, finding it suspicious he didn’t stop for small talk and followed him, “Everything alright?”
“Oh well, it’s (Y/N)—”
“What?”
“Well, she’s okay, I think, there she is,” he wasn’t even done talking because when Thomas saw you, he jogged up to you. Your sister-in-law released you from your hug, but still kept her hand on your back, when she saw Thomas.
He leaned down in front of you, softly grabbed your chin and turned your face to the side, “Who did this?”
You glanced at him before casting them down again, “My mom…she—”
“Are you alright?”
Tears welled up in your eyes and you sniffed, “It was just a slap,” you mumbled, wiping the tears off. Your brother handed the ice to his wife and she gently put it against your cheek.
“No.” he said, his eyes turning cold, “No one touches you. Not even your parents,” and with that he stormed off.
“T-Tom…!” you looked worried at your brother, “Go after him, I don’t know what he’ll do!”
“Yeah… I think I’ll just let it—”
“Damn it (Y/B/N)!” you got up, “You’re hopeless!” And ran in the direction Thomas went.
Your sister-in-law tutted at him and took him by the hand, and followed you while dragging your brother along, who mumbled something about how good it was if your mother was put in her place for once.
Your father was the first one Thomas found, “Where is your wife?” he hissed.
Your father got very nervous, “Mr. Shelby! Son, what is it? It looks like you’re about to kill someone.”
Thomas grabbed his shoulder, “Listen here,” he got close in his face, “No one touches my wife alright?” Your father gulped, “No one. Not you. Not your wife. No f**** one.”
“What’s this?” your mother appeared looking at both men questionable, while the interaction attracted some glances and looks from nearby guests.
He let go of your father and stood before your mother, towering above her, “Listen here, you are to not contact my wife without my knowledge ever again.”
Your mother scoffed, “Excuses me? You would keep me from seeing my only daughter?”
Tommy didn’t back down, “Yeah, if you value our business deal.”
She stammered, “What? Oh, come on Mr. Shelby I was only helping you.”
“You call laying a hand on your only daughter helping?” he scowled and she rolled her eyes.
“Mr. Shelby, I had to let her see reason. A man like you understands the significance for an heir, yes? What use is a wife who won’t provide that?”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing but he was not about to go into a discussion with her, “Listen, if you don’t adhere to this term, I’m backing out of the deal, and you won’t hear from your daughter ever again.”
Your father walked up to her and took your mother protectively behind him, “Listen here, Mr. Shelby, I’m very sorry for my wife’s behavior. She’s had too much to drink—”
“I don’t drink.”
“Shut it woman!” your father hissed at her, panicked, before looking at Mr. Shelby again, “We’ll be good, we realize she’s your wife now.”
Thomas glared at them both, “Through me aye?” he pointed at your father first, who nodded nervously, and then at your mother, at her he pointed for longer, “She’s not yours anymore.” He looked back at your father, “And I want to deal with (Y/B/N) from now on, so transfer everything to him.”
He turned around while your father was stammering out apologies, and stopped in his tracks when he saw you with your brother and his wife. Thomas rubbed the back of his neck and walked up to you, taking the ice from your sister-in-law’s hand and taking your hand in his other one, leading you outside.
Once outside he led you towards a bench and sat you down. Kneeling in front of you, he placed the ice against your cheek as softly as he could. “I don’t think it’ll be swollen tomorrow,” he mumbled and looked in your eyes, “Did you see everything?”
“From the moment you told my parents to contact you if they wanted to get in touch with me,” you answered and he placed the ice in your hand. He took off his jacket and put it on your shoulders.
“Is it alright I took you outside? Are you cold?” he asked and you shook your head.
“It’s fine, I’m happy with the fresh air.”
He sat down next to you on the bench and took the ice back from you, and held it for a little longer against your cheek. It became quiet between you two again. The crickets were making noise against the sound of music coming from inside. You broke the silence first, “Thank you.” He looked at you, “For my parents, sorry for them as well. And for the ice, it’s okay now. Thank you.”
He pulled the ice back from your face and placed it next to the bench. “It’s fine, don’t worry.”
“I’m really grateful,” you felt tears well up in your eyes again.
He reached for your hand again, “What was it about anyway?”
You chuckled at that, “You just went for my mother not even knowing what it was about?”
“Of course. I told you I’d protect you.”
You looked at him, a wave of relief washing over you. You looked up at the visible stars before you spoke, “I don’t want children Tommy.”
“So?”
You faced him immediately, in shock, “What?”
“Isn’t that your decision and your future husband’s?”
You sighed, “Well isn’t it expected of every married woman to have children? Life is not kind to women Tom, you know that.”
He looked at you. “Listen (Y/N), no one can force you to have children.”
“But—”
“No, no woman or man who doesn’t want that should be pressured to,” he squeezed your hand, “That includes you.” Your tears fell in that moment, and he repeated himself, “No one can force you, not even your future husband. And if he’ll want to, just call on me and I will set him straight.”
That earned a laugh from you amidst the tears flowing down your cheeks. You kept wiping them off, “sorry.”
Tommy pulled you close, “Just let it out.” And you held him tight as you cried your heart out.
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Next (coming soon)
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