"I need a word," Tommy's voice startled Florence as the front door to her house opened.

"Nice to see you too," Florence rolled her eyes as she sat at her kitchen table, grateful that her mother was busy at the Harrington estate, "What can I do for you?"

"Did you know?" He exhales, running a hand back through his hair, visibly agitated.

"You'll have to give me more details, I'm lost," Florence answered as she stood up opposite him.

"Did Ada tell you that she's pregnant?" He asked, and Florence quickly realised that she didn't have long to decide how to answer him.

"Yes," She nodded, promptly concluding that lying would only make the situation more complicated.

"And why didn't you tell me?" Tommy asked, frustration in his voice, as though that were the most important aspect of the entire situation.

"It wasn't for me to tell you, Ada was worried that you'd be angry," Florence explained, noting how accurate Ada's concerns had been, "She also knew what you'd be like if you found out who the father is."

"Did she tell you that as well?" Tommy sighed as he began pacing back and forth.

"No," Florence shook her head, even though she knew exactly who the father was.

Upon their return from finding out that Ada was pregnant, the three women retreated to the Dawson home. Imelda was still up and working on a dress, but when the three women appeared in the living room she knew something wasn't right. Florence took Ada upstairs while Polly and Imelda shared their concerns in the kitchen, as Ada revealed to Florence that the father of her baby was in fact Freddie Thorne.

"You better not be lying to me," Tommy replied.

She scoffed under her breath, folding her arms across her chest, "You can leave if you're going to talk to me like that."

"Flo-"

"No," She shook her head, eternally frustrated by the version of Tommy that she knew was buried under everything that the war had burdened him with as she paced towards the back window in the kitchen, overlooking the yard.

"Hey," He paced after her as she kept her eyes on the empty yard, Tommy snaking his arms around her shoulders, nestling his head into the crook of her neck, "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about my sister."

"Of course you are," Florence sighed, knowing deep down that this was also about Tommy's reputation, that he needed to remain someone who could be feared, "But if you approach this the way you usually do, you'll only push Ada away."

"I won't have someone take advantage of my sister like that, Flo," Tommy reiterated, kissing the side of her head, "You know what the men around here are like."

"Yeah, I do," She sighed, turning to face him as he rested his hands at the base of her neck, "But Ada seemed certain that this man would be decent enough to marry her, whoever he is."

"Well that's something, I suppose," Tommy muttered, "Do you know where she is?"

"She mentioned going to the pictures, why?" Florence replied cluelessly.

"I need to sort this out," Tommy answered, letting go of his girl and heading for the front door.

"For fuck sake," Florence hissed to herself, following after Tommy, "What good do you think this will achieve?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead," Tommy replied, opening the front door as Florence grabbed her coat and followed after him.

"That's not like you, maybe you should stop to think for just a minute," Florence suggested as she sped up to walk alongside Tommy, noticing the way he held out his arm for her to hold onto.

"Thinking is just preempting what's bound to happen," Tommy told her as Florence held onto his arm, the pair walking together in the direction of the cinema, "I know how to handle Ada."

"If you say so," Florence whispered.

"Would you like to do something again later?" Tommy asked, changing the subject, "We could go for dinner again."

"There are two things I would like to do with you one day, Tommy," Florence answered, "The first is that I would one day like to dance with you in a hall full of people wearing a beautiful dress, the second is that when the weather is better, I'd like us to take a day trip to the beach."

"I've never been much of a paddler, Floss," Tommy sighed in defeat, knowing that Florence would no doubt work her charm on him and get her way.

"There are a lot of things you didn't do before we started doing whatever it is that we call this," Florence reminded him with a smile, "I'm sure I could get you into the sea, even if it's just to dip a toe."

Tommy hated to admit it, but he knew that Florence was right, she would most likely manage to convince him to take her to the beach, then they would paddle, they'd swim. Tommy would win Florence the best prize on the promenade and the smile on her face would make it all worthwhile.

The local cinema wasn't too busy as the pair strolled inside, the cinema itself only had two screens, so Tommy took his chance and went for the one on the left. He held the door open for Florence before walking in behind her, not caring whether the door slammed as it alerted the other customers to their presence.

Tommy walked confidently, picking up speed as the pair spotted Ada, Tommy beelining for her as he walked down her row and sat in the seat beside her, leaving Florence to sit beside him.

"Tell me the man's name, Ada," Tommy muttered firmly, leaving no room for pleasantries.

"Rudolph Valentino." Ada answered coyly with a straight face, keeping her eyes on the cinema screen.

Tommy glanced at Florence, leaning towards her and whispering in her ear, "Wait here, don't let her leave."

"Did you tell him about the baby?" Ada turned to Florence as Tommy walked back up towards the exit.

"No," Florence whispered as Tommy left the room, "I made a promise to you, I won't break that."

"Thank you," Ada sighed, "Who would've told him then?"

"It would've been Aunt Pol, I just think she's worried about you," Florence assured her.

"She doesn't need to worry, I'm perfectly fine," Ada smiled, even though both of the girls knew it was far from true.

"Ada, you're twenty two and you've just found out that you're pregnant," Florence whispered, conscious of the other people in the cinema, "There is no fault in being anxious about this."

Before Ada could answer the film on the screen flickered off, leaving the screen blank as the lights came up and the audio cut out. Florence could only assume that it was Tommy's doing and the eye roll Ada possessed suggested she felt the same.

The doors swung open again and Tommy's voice rang through the room, "Get out, all of you! Go on, now!"

"I said, tell me his fucking name," Tommy told Ada through gritted teeth as he reached the two women.

Ada sighed, glancing at Florence before looking up at her brother, "Freddie fucking Thorne!"

Tommy stood in shock, as though words had failed him as Florence kept her eyes on her hands, not sure of what to say as Ada continued to ramble, "Yeah, your best mate since school, the man who saved your life in France! So go on, go on, cut him up and chuck him in the cut!"

Wordlessly Tommy stormed out of the cinema, leaving Florence beside Ada, unsure what to do next. She promptly realised that Tommy would only do something he'd regret given the fire of rage burning inside him.

"I'll handle him," Florence assured the girl as Tommy pushed through the doors.

She stood up and hurried after Tommy as she heard Ada call out, "Oi, I'm a Shelby too, you know, put my fucking film back on!"

"Tommy!" Florence called out as she rushed after him through the foyer as he stepped back out into the street, "Thomas!"

The Shelby man stood still as she exited the cinema, watching her run down the steps towards him, "Freddie fucking Thorne? He's a fucking communist, Flo, he's on every policeman's watchlist in the city."

"I know," Florence nodded, "I think Ada's convinced that she can do it whether or not he comes back from wherever he is these days, maybe it's because she saw my mother raise me on my own, I don't know."

"You'll have to make her see that she can't keep it," Tommy instructed her as he lit himself a cigarette.

"Me?" Florence scoffed, "This is not my choice Thomas, it's not your choice either, besides, we both know that there is only one person who could persuade her to do something like that."

"Polly?" Tommy replied as the girl simply nodded.

"If I try to persuade her she'll just think that I'm there as some sort of proxy speaking on your behalf, she won't think that of Polly." Florence reminded him, both of them knowing that it was the most accurate conclusion.

"This day has just been one problem after another," Tommy exhaled, pacing back and forth, "I just need to not be in Small Heath."

"Then let's go," Florence suggested, the spontaneity surprising Tommy, "We'll take the horses and ride until we reach the edge of the earth."

"The edge of the earth being where?" Tommy asked her with a smile.

"Probably Warwickshire," She grinned, knowing that anytime the pair had ridden together they'd never got further than Coventry.

Charlie and Curly only had one horse available for the couple to ride up to the heath, so Florence ended up sitting on the horse with Tommy, not that she minded. They reached the top of the hill that overlooked most of Small Heath, the sun setting in the distance, the warm gold embers hinting at the first signs of spring.

As much as she cherished such moments with Tommy, she wondered what it would be like if they didn't have to be so secretive about it. It wasn't so much that they had to, but rather Tommy said that was the way it should be.

"What are you thinking about?" Tommy asked the girl, as though he could hear the cogs whirring away inside her brain.

"Do you think we'll ever grow out of Small Heath?" She asked as they sat on the blanket that Curly had handed Florence, warning her of the evening chill that was expected.

"That's a profound question, what sparked that thought?" Tommy asked, keeping his eyes on the view of Small Heath, while Florence's eyes remained on the side of Tommy's face.

"I just don't want to end up like my mother," Florence sighed honestly, leaning back on her elbows, "I don't want to be surrounded by the four walls of that house my entire life."

"So, what do you want?" Tommy replied, glancing at her.

"A big house, with big windows that let lots of light in," Florence began to explain, a smile creeping onto her face, "Then one day I'd get married and have children, the house would have a proper garden for them to play in and the air would be fresh, but most importantly, it would feel safe."

"I don't know what there is for me beyond Small Heath," Tommy told her.

"Well, how are you going to run all the racetracks in the country if you don't leave Small Heath?" She asked, knowing that Tommy had too much talent and skill that didn't deserve to be wasted in their town.

"Valid point," Tommy smiles, appreciating the attention that Florence pays to every word he says.

"Ada will be alright, you know that, don't you?" Florence assured him, fiddling with a blade of grass.

"I'm not so sure, Flo," Tommy sighed, "I don't think she realises how serious this is."

"She has every right to be scared, she's going to become a mother, and whether Freddie returns or not isn't the priority," Florence reminded him, "Your sister needs to feel loved and supported, I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it weren't for Polly supporting my mother."

"We will support her, Flo," Tommy answered, although he still wasn't sure whether that would be enough, "But Freddie, he'll have a lot to answer for when I get my hands on him."

"Ada said he saved your life in France, I also know that Elijah did the same once," Florence told him, recalling one of the first times Elijah and George had told her about the war, and how Elijah wasn't supposed to be in the tunnel, but he was, and without him, Tommy probably wouldn't have made it, "So what makes Freddie any different from Elijah?"

"Elijah didn't get my sister pregnant," Tommy answered, pulling two cigarettes from his pocket, placing one between his lips and lighting it before handing it to Florence, then doing the same for himself, "Besides, he's a respectable man."

"But Freddie was your best friend at school," Florence persisted, hoping that her attempts could assist in bridging the gap between Tommy and Ada.

"Was being the operative word," Tommy muttered, "He burnt that bridge when he got into bed with the Communists."

"Well, well, well, what have we got here?" The voice behind the pair startled them both, Tommy more so, as he pulled his pistol from his jacket, pointing it in the direction of the voice, lowering it when he realised that it was George Harrington.

"Fucking hell, George!" Florence exclaimed at the sudden appearance of her second favourite Harrington brother upon a horse, "You can't just sneak up on people, you nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Apologies," George smiled, removing his cap as he steadied his horse, "Just thought I should greet you both, I've barely since our Floss since I've been engaged."

"How is that fiancée of yours?" Tommy asked, balancing his cigarette between his lips.

"She's well," George nodded, "Not that I see much of her, I think it's our parents' idea so she doesn't get cold feet before the wedding."

"I don't blame them," Tommy mumbled, earning a playful elbow in the ribs from Florence.

"I'm sure you'll see more of her before the big day," Florence assured him, "Have you set a date?"

"It'll be this autumn," George tells them both, "Mother's booked the cathedral."

"Of course she has," Tommy scoffed, earning daggers from Florence.

"So, what are you two doing up here, anyway?" George asked, being used to seeing the Dawson girl at the Garrison or in her home.

"Hunting." Tommy answered simply, choosing not to elaborate any further.

"Right." George nodded slowly, noting the lack of guns.

"Which horse is this?" Florence asked, standing up beside George, feeling an urgent need to change the topic of conversation, "I don't recognise her."

"This is Dakota Dash, my father's latest project," George explained, "She'll be racing at Cheltenham."

"She runs well?" Tommy asked, joining the pair.

"Don't get any ideas, Thomas," Florence warned, "You don't need any more horses."

"This is your horse?" George replied, almost impressed as he admired the white horse.

"Indeed," Tommy nodded, "It remains to be seen whether he'll race well."

"Are you still doing the thing with the goldfish?" Florence asked George.

"Of course," George replied with a smile.

"Goldfish?" Tommy remarked.

"When you boys were in France I helped out at the Harrington's stables, we'd put goldfish in the troughs, they'd eat all the algae, keeping the water clean for the horses, works a treat," Florence told him with a proud grin.

"I'll bear that in mind," Tommy nodded.

"Well, I better get Dakota back, my parents will be sending out a search party if their favourite child isn't back soon," George smirked, glancing between Florence and Tommy.

"It was good to see you, George," Florence smiled.

"Pint of beer on the house next time you're at the Garrison, alright?" Tommy told the Harrington boy.

"You forget, Mr Shelby, my family makes that beer," George grinned before pulling on the reins, encouraging his horse to begin trotting away, leaving Florence and Tommy alone with his horse.

"I seem to forget the effect you have on those Harrington boys," Tommy muttered as the pair watched George ride off into the distance.

"What do you mean?" Florence asked, turning her attention to Tommy's nameless horse.

"The way they look at you, both George and Elijah, it's like they've never laid eyes on a woman before," Tommy explained, dropping his cigarette and stubbing it out with his foot.

"You're not jealous are you, Tommy?" Florence teased, running her hand back and forth over the horse's soft fur.

"I've got nothing to be jealous of," Tommy remarked confidently.

"If you say so," Florence smirked as Tommy moved closer to her.

"What do you mean by that?" Tommy asked.

"There's no denying that the Harrington boys are attractive young men with an impressive inheritance," She continued to tease, knowing that it would get under his skin.

"And that's supposed to make me jealous?" Tommy sighed with a smile.

"No, their interest in me is supposed to make you jealous." Florence muttered, feeling Tommy's hand on her wrist, his grip firm yet tender.

"I don't have any reason to be jealous of the Harringtons," Tommy whispered, the pair's breath becoming heavy and tangled as the gap between them continued to grow smaller.

"And why is that?" Florence asked, bewildered by Tommy's closeness given the broad open land on which they stood.

"Because I have you, and they don't," He smirked as he kissed her lips gently, not caring for who appeared on that marsh. In fact he would not have minded if George were to appear again, because at least then the message that Florence was unavailable would become clear, in Tommy's language at least.