by order of the fucking peaky blinders

21

"Happy Birthday Aunt Pol" Charlie smiles as her aunt enters the house later that day. "Where've you two been? He was meant to be in that hospital bed for another 3 weeks." Polly scolds, "uhhh London" Charlie says bracing herself for the slap round the back of her head.
"Yeah. Yeah. We are stubborn idiots. Happy Birthday." Charlotte mumbles, leading her into the betting shop, where everyone cheers wishing her a happy birthday.

"How'd you know it was my birthday? Nobody ever knows." Polly asks Tommy who wraps an arm round her shoulders, "ah, it's different this year, John, Arthur, bring the cars round." Tommy tells her. "Where we going?" Polly questions looking round suspiciously, "to unwrap your birthday present." Charlie says, leading Finn and Chris along side her.

After a 15 minute car drive, the 2 cars pull up to row of black and white houses. Walking up the path to one of the houses, Arthur opens the door, holding it for the rest to walk through, messing Chris' hair up as he walked past. "You said you were gonna buy Ada a house." Polly says running her hand along the back of the sofa. "Yep, that's right, I did. Just had a bit of cash left over." Tommy replies, watching as his aunt took in the house, running her hands over the furniture and eyeing the artwork hanging on the walls. "This is ours?" Polly asks, "no, Polly, this is yours, because you deserve it." Charlie says, and the matriarch looks round all her nephews and niece, mouth slightly agape, to see if they were kidding but their faces were serious. "What do I do with all these rooms?" Polly asks, "well, you could, uh. Relax for one." Tommy suggests shrugging.

"Welcome home, Pol" Arthur says dropping the keys into her hand. And Polly say back onto the sofa looking very confused and lost.

"Charlie, why don't you take the boys outside? Wait by the car." Tommy tells her and she nods, ushering her brothers and Chris out of the house.

"So, London, what the hell were you two thinking?" Arthur says. "Blame that on him. Stubborn. 4 days travelling on a bloody boat." Charlie tells him, taking a puff of her cigarette. "Said he was a sitting duck, needed to go to London."

"So you thought, woohoo bloody fookin boat trip?" John says, "no, of course not. I said no, but you know how he is. Gets an idea in his head and it's all he can think about." Charlotte says. "Isaiah almost slammed some guys head into a wall whilst you were away." Finn chuckles, "so I've heard." Charlotte replies, "do you know why?" John questions, "think I have a good idea." Charlotte tells him, "and are you going to tell us?" Arthur asks and she shakes her head. "The guys called Theo, he went to our school" Charlotte explains.

-

"I've heard some interesting things about when I was away." Charlie says to Isaiah wrapping her arms round his torso from behind. "Yeah, what'd you hear?" Isaiah asks, "that you threatened to batter Theo's face in with a brick." She says turning him to face her. "Sounds right." Isaiah replies, "why?" Charlotte questions, raising an eyebrow at him. "He wasn't coming to place a bet. Which meant he was here for another reason." Isaiah tells her, "I told you, you have nothing to worry about." She sighs. "I know I don't, just- just knowing he thinks he has a chance. And that you must've been interested in him at some point, for you to allow him to kiss you. It sets my teeth on edge, alright? That he's sniffing around." Isaiah admits looking anywhere but into her eyes, as he leant against his kitchen counter, Charlie stood infront, looking up at him. "Z, look at me. That was once. A few months ago. It meant nothing. But you, your kisses. They mean something to me." Charlotte tells him, resting her hands on his chest, as he finally looked down at her. "Forget about him. You.. this.. us. That's what I want." Charlie says pecking his lips. "I've got to get to the boxing ring. Promised Harrison and Arthur. Think Finn might be there too, why don't you come?." Isaiah sighs, "the boxing ring?" she questions thinking back to the last time she was there, "you don't have to" he says kissing her forehead. "No.. I'll come. I'll be alright." Charlotte assures him. "Then let's get going," Isaiah says lifting her up as she squeals. "Put me down" she says hitting his back as he laughs walking to the front door. "What's my reward?" He asks, "put me down and find out." Charlie says. Thinking for a sec he places her on the floor, not expecting her hand to slap him. Then grabbing his cheek and kissing it better. "There." she smirks walking out his door