ANGEL - SETH CLEARWATER X READER

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 25

PUBLISHED: 16/06/2022

!!FIRST PART HERE!!

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

READER'S POV

I walked around a furniture in London, hand in hand with Finn. We had come up for the day to buy new furniture, and then, tonight, we'd be going to the fair tonight. I felt giddy just thinking about it.

We had a shop attendant escorting us around, explaining each piece of furniture. Finn had arranged it, as well as arranging for delivery and assembly of our new furniture.

We had already gotten a full body mirror to place at the end of the hallway in our apartment, which was fun.

"What if we got Chesterfields?" Finn mused as we slowed down in front of them.

I scrunched my nose up. No wonder he wanted Lizzie to come with him to get the beds. He obviously didn't know how to decorate, or what was good or not.

"Finn, we are not getting leather sofas. If we fall asleep on there for a nap the other will have to pry us off with a spatula." I replied, making him snort.

I heard the shop attendant chuckle but cover it with a cough.

"We'll what if we got a Chesterfield knockoff that had proper upholstery then?" Finn asked, and I shook my head.

"The buttons will fall off at some point and I don't want to spend the rest of my life sticking them back on." I reasoned, making him sigh, but nod.

We walked down further, and I spotted the perfect couch.

"Finn, come sit your arse on this," I commanded, walking over to it and flopping down onto it.

I sighed and laid back on it. It was quite comfy. It'd be nice to nap on, and to top it all off, it was the same colour as the cat so the cat hair wouldn't show up much.

Finn came and sat on it, then laid back next to me, "Fucking hell. I didn't know they made couches like this. It's like sitting and laying on a cloud."

"We're getting two!" I decided as I sat up, and he gave a thumbs up, still laying down.

"It's a four seater," The attendant explained, making me nod, "And it's modular, meaning you can move the chaise and split the couch in half as you pleased. The corner on the side Mr. Shelby is laid on splits off."

(Obviously a more modern couch shhhh)

"That's the lounge settled, then." I stated, and Finn hummed in agreement as he sat back up.

"We have armchairs by the same people, same colour if you'd like to see those," The attendant added, and I looked at Finn, who raised an eyebrow.

My call. I looked back at the attendant, and nodded.

"Yes, we'd like that," I replied, and he gave a quick smile and lead us towards the armchairs, showing us the armchairs he described earlier.

"We'll take two of those," Finn told the attendant, coming up and wrapping an arm around my waist.

I leaned into his embrace without even thinking about it.

"Good choice, Mr. Shelby! You head to the register and I'll attend to you just after I speak to our delivery men," The shop attendant excused himself, then walked off.

We headed back to the front of the shop, waiting around the register.

Finn stood behind me and wrapped both of his arms around my waist, and I almost immediately leaned back into his embrace.

"You excited for tonight?" Finn questioned, and I could hear the nervous tone in his voice.

"Absolutely," I replied, a soft smile finding its way onto my face.

I felt him sigh in relief, making me grin. The attendant came back, and Finn stepped away from me, making me feel slightly disappointed at the lack of contact. I reached out and slipped my hand into his, and he quickly squeezed my hand three times. That was new.

As Finn started talking to the attendant, I raised my wrist to look at my watch and spotted a blue ribbon.

Saoirse. I had promised to get her something from Harrods, since she couldn't come with us. Finn squeezed my waist, making me look up at him.

"We're done here." He informed me, leading me out to the car.

"We've got to go to Harrods. I need to buy Saoirse a doll." I reminded Finn, and he nodded.

"I remember, she needed a new one because Karl broke hers." Finn replied as we got into the car, making me grin.

Saoirse had come visited Finn and I, sleeping over whilst Dad took Polly away from camp for the night. We had taken her, and Karl, who had come out for the weekend to visit his favourite uncle (Finn), to the park. We were stood in a bunch kicking a soccer ball to each other. Karl kicked it wrong, resulting in the ball hitting Saoirse's porcelain doll that Bonnie had bought her and knocking it off the bench we had sat our stuff on, the poor doll shattering on the concrete.

I had to sit on top of Saoirse so she didn't strangle Karl. It wasn't one of her finest moments.

"Oh! Finn, can we buy clothes here too? I want to match when we go out tonight." I said, removing the blue ribbon from my wrist as he drove.

"Isn't that tacky?" Finn replied, making me gasp.

"No!" I snapped, then calmed myself, "If we did his and hers versions it could be cute."

Finn hummed in agreement, and I started fiddling with the hem of my skirt as we drove along, looking out of the window at the scenery.

•••

I stood in front of the full body mirror, checking my outfit as Finn got ready in the bathroom. We had decided to wear blue jeans, and white T-shirts, along with a pair of black tennis shoes. We would also have to take coats, as it would get colder as the night went on. I had my favourite yellow sweater wrapped around my waist.

I had braided the top half of my hair into twin braids, pulling them back into a bun, and left the bottom half out. I looked at how my new earrings shone under the light. Finn had bought them at Harrods for our first date.

We'd be leaving for it as soon as he was ready. Arthur had agreed to drop us off, and pick us up if needed, so we didn't need to drive around.

I didn't want to wear a dress or skirt, because we'd be out and about and I didn't want any outfit malfunctions in case a good breeze came by.

I was glad I didn't, though, because this outfit showed off my curves very well.

In the reflection of the mirror, I saw the bathroom door open, "I'm ready!"

I turned around and watched as Finn came out of the bathroom, white T-Shirt clinging to his muscles, and his curly hair free instead of gelled back, one hand up on his shoulder, fingers hooked under the collar of his black jacket which hung freely on his back. I noticed his half heart necklace over his shirt instead of under it. He looked good. I whistled, making him chuckle and look away, rubbing the back of his neck.

I could see the blush climb up his neck, making me smirk, "Don't you look pretty, lover boy?"

"I suppose so," He replied, and looked back in my direction.

His eyes widened, and he looked me up and down.

"You look good," Finn commented as he pulled his jacket on, leaving it unzipped, "Proper good. Might have to ask some Peaky boys to tail us around to make sure all of the other boys at the fair keep their eyes to themselves."

I giggled as I walked up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He wrapped his around my waist, and leaned down, placing a kiss on my forehead. My heartbeat sped up at the small gesture.

"Let's go," He said as he pulled away, and laced his fingers through mine.

I gave his hand a squeeze, and he gave mine three quick squeezes.

"What does that mean?" I asked as we exited the apartment, Finn locking the door behind us, "The three squeezes?"

"'S a secret," Finn said with a grin, making me huff, half-joking as we walked along the balcony.

I started swinging our hands, and felt a bit sick in anticipation. Not the bad sick. The good kind of sick. The excitement that made itself a funny feeling running through your veins. Nearly electric. I spotted Arthur leaning against his car, removing a cigarette from his mouth and stomping it out.

"Artie!" I called out, making him look over at Finn and I, and smirk.

"Don't you two look like a cute couple?" He teased, opening the door for us.

"That's because we are," Finn interjected, making me blush.

Arthur laughed as I climbed into the backseat, followed by Finn.

"You got any snow?" Arthur asked Finn as he started the car.

Finn shook his head, "Tonight I'll be feeling good enough without it, I reckon."

Arthur chuckled, "Alright, Finny boy, fair enough."

We drove through Small Heath, and I could spot the lights from the fairground before we actually arrived there. I started bouncing in my seat, making Finn chuckle.

Bonnie and Dad would be working a stall here, somewhere.

Arthur slowed the car to a stop, and we got out.

"Call me when you're ready to come home, or let me know if you're walking," Arthur commanded, and we nodded.

"Don't have too much fun," Arthur said with a wink, making Finn roll his eyes and shut the car door.

"What do you want to do first?" Finn asked as I grabbed his hand and led him into the fairground.

"Save the Ferris wheel until last — Actually no, we should go soon, then at sunset, then one last ride before we leave here — Can we go look at the stalls? And the bumper cars?" I begged, looking back at him.

He slowed down and plucked a pamphlet from a stand. I came over and looked at it with him. There was information about the fair on one side, and a map on the other. Handy.

"Oh! Big top, Finn, let's go there!" I exclaimed as I spotted it on the map.

"I want to go too but I reckon it'll be sold out," Finn grumbled, which made me frown as I looked at the map again.

Hold on.

I pointed at the red and white tent on the map, labelled 'Circus Extraordinaire', "Finn, that's the Palmer's circus crew. I'd be able to get us in for free because we're family."

Finn perked up, "Really?"

"Really," I confirmed, and looked up, "We should go on the Ferris wheel now, then go to the big top."

"Yeah. Says here the next show starts in an hour. We'd have enough time to go on the Ferris wheel before then." He agreed, folding up the map and putting it into his back pocket.

I could see the Ferris Wheel from where we stood. I hooked a finger through one of the belt loops in Finn's jeans, and dragged him along, making him laugh at my enthusiasm.

We weaved our way through the crowd until we ended up in the line for the Ferris wheel. I bounced on my heels, feeling excited.

"Oi!" I heard behind us, making me turn around and look.

Ezzie and Isiah were there, Ezzie holding a big brown teddy bear.

"Do you follow me everywhere? That's a bit odd," Finn joked as Isiah led Ezzie over to us, making Isiah chuckle.

"You two on a date then?" Isiah asked, eyeing us in curiosity.

"Yeah — First one." Finn replied, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Good luck," Isiah said, and Ezzie narrowed her eyes at Finn.

"You hurt my little sister and I'll chop yours and Isiah's pricks off." She warned, making Isiah look at her in surprise.

"Now, we're going to have one last go of this, then go home," Ezzie informed me as they lined up behind us, making me nod.

The night's not even begun and they're going home. I pouted, feeling slightly disappointed, but also slightly thrilled.

It would be nice to have Ezzie there for a bit, but I was glad that Finn and I got to be alone. I wanted Finn and I to be alone, in each other's presence, without any distractions.

§§§

I’ve been updating on Wattpad but forgetting to update here oof

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 26

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 10

PUBLISHED: 22/05/2022

!!FIRST PART HERE!!

Part 1

MASTERLIST

FINN'S POV

It had been a week since you and I had tied the knot, and you adopted Finn Junior. In that week, you had pulled me closer and pushed me away as you pleased. I was sick of it, and glad that I was going back to work today so I could get away from it. Tommy had called me this morning to tell me to be at Charlie's Yard in an hour.

Tommy had wanted you to come along as well, but I told him that you weren't well enough. Aberama had waxed poetic about your skills with guns, knives and even bow and arrows, and Tommy believed every word. I did too. This morning I had witnessed you stick a fly darting around to the kitchen ceiling with a knife because the buzzing annoyed you.

I didn't need you bothering me though, so you would be heading to Polly's after we went shopping. It was hard enough to try to get anyone older than me to take me seriously, but with you constantly belittling me it was an impossible task. I had no doubt that you would overshadow me too, and that was a big no-go.

I wrote the list out, and called out to you. You walked into the kitchen, Finn Junior hot on your heels, the bell on his little red collar tinkling. He had a little name tag, and our names on it in case he ever got lost, not that he ever would. He'd follow you everywhere, the Garrison, the betting den, Charlie's Yard, around the neighbourhood.

He'd never come near me voluntarily, though. He hates me, and I hate him. I nearly threw him out the window yesterday, because I turned my back on my cup of coffee for five seconds only to find him drinking it. You said that it was my fault for leaving the cup alone, but I'm positive that it's your fault for not training that fucking monster properly. He never ever tried that with your food either, it was always mine. I felt like you two had some sort of secret agreement to drive me mad.

"Let's go, you're reading the list." I instructed, throwing you the folded up piece of paper.

You blanched, but put it into your pocket. I rolled my eyes. I wouldn't have told you to do it if I didn't think you could. It was only four things, anyway. I put my cap on, and threw you your — our — brush, and you fixed your hair. It became our brush after you used mine to brush the knots out of Finn Jr's fur.

We started our walk down the street, to the market, you chewing your gum as usual. Once we entered, I grabbed a basket.

"What's the first thing on the list?" I asked, making you roll your eyes.

"You know damn well what's on the list, you wrote it!" You complained, but fished the list out of your pocket.

"Reading practice, won't hurt you." I replied as you came into step with me.

"I'm not sounding anything out," You warned, looking at the first word. "Erm, bread."

I nodded, and made a beeline for the bread aisle. I grabbed two loaves, knowing we were going to babysit Karl tomorrow and he was obsessed with jam sandwiches at the moment.

"Tea, coffee," You read out the next two items, and I put an arm around you and guided you to the aisle containing tea and coffee as you stared down at the page, trying to figure out the last word.

"What's the first sound you're sure of?" I questioned as I grabbed teabags and a jar of coffee.

"Bis," You answered as I grabbed your shoulder and started guiding you again.

"What do we eat a lot of, starting with 'bis', that we might need to top up on?" I prompted as we walked through the store.

"Oh, um, biscuits?" You replied unsurely, looking up at me, making me nod.

"Biscuits. Good girl," I praised as we reached the biscuits.

You blushed and looked away as I grabbed three packets. I lead us to the checkout and placed the items down. You made small talk with the cashier as she added up the cost of everything. I paid her, then we walked back to home. I could see Tommy, Arthur, and Isiah walking up the street. I looked down at my watch. Oh fuck, they left five minutes early.

"I've got to go with Tommy, I'll see you later, don't leave the Lane." I commanded, handing you the bag holding our groceries.

"Why?" You demanded, adjusting your grip on the brown paper bag.

"Family business," I brushed you off, adjusting my cap.

You stopped, and I turned to look at you.

"What?" I said impatiently.

"I'm part of the family now, so what business are you attending to?" You questioned, "Or are you not telling me because I'm a Gold?"

"It's complicated," I answered, not wanting to start up on the street.

"Fuck you, Shelby." You spat, walking past me and into our house, slamming the door behind you.

I ran to catch up to the other boys, patting Arthur on the back once I caught up.

READER'S POV

"Fuck Finn Shelby and the other Shelby's, and fuck the Peaky Blinders!" I swore as I walked to the kitchen.

"Is that any way to speak about your husband?" I heard a familiar voice speak.

I looked up, and Mum was sat at the kitchen table, stroking Finn Junior.

"If you try anything, I'll kill your cat," She said coolly.

I had no doubt that she would, so I sat across the table from her, tucking my hair behind my ears.

"What are you doing here?" I asked carefully, watching her as she scratched him behind the ears and made him purr.

Little grey traitor. I should've let Finn leave you at the yard.

"I'm doing a favour for some people." She replied, and I heard a car pull up outside, making my blood run cold in my veins.

"Leonardo, now!" Mum commanded, and I heard the floorboards creak behind me.

I quickly got up, and swung the chair that I was sitting on around, hearing it crack and break as it made contact with a man. I felt long nails scratch my scalp as Mum grabbed my hair from behind, yanking me back and making my back hit the table. She kept her hold on me, and no amount of thrashing could free me from her hold.

The man, Leonardo, stood back up and grabbed a wooden pole from the back of the chair. The last thing I felt before I fell unconscious was the pole cracking across my face and Mum letting me go, making my head connect with the kitchen bench, then everything went dark.

•••

FINN'S POV

I aimed at the group of men on the bridge, finger on the trigger, willing myself to pull it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't do it. If you were here, you'd probably be telling me to grow a pair and pull the trigger before you did it yourself. Then, you'd probably grab the gun off of me and proceed to do it yourself.

"Too late to back out now, mate." One of the men said, making me breathe a sigh of relief as I lowered the rifle.

"It's a fucking decoy!" I heard Tommy yell out, making my eyes widen, "Bring the car around!"

I started running to the apartment that Arthur was in, unloading my rifle and pocketing the bullets.

"Arthur!" I called out as I ran along the pathway in front of the apartments, and opened the door to the apartment that held my eldest brother.

"Arthur, they're not here for you. It must be Michael." I said, panting, eyes flickering from him to the woman.

He took a breath in, then grabbed the tablecloth, shoving it off of the table.

"You fucking bitch!" He roared as everything clattered on the floor.

"You set me up, eh?" He said, pulling out his gun, "you set me up!"

He flipped the table, then stepped closer and grabbed the woman by the shoulders, "I know!"

"Arthur, you need to get to the hospital now." I stated, walking over and grabbing his shoulder.

"Fuck off!" He grunted, tearing himself from my grip, making me stumble.

I walked back over to the door. He looked back at the woman and growled. She was damn near crying.

"If your faith is real," She began shakily, "I've got all the kids!"

Arthur put a hand on her face and pushed her away, heading to the door, but not before kicking a teapot and shattering it, making her gasp.

"If you're here in one hour, I swear to God — I will cover you in tar and fucking feathers." Arthur threatened, pointing at her, then spinning around and pushing past me.

"Come on, Finn, let's go," He commanded, and as we walked away I could hear the woman start to sob.

We piled into Tommy's car, and Tommy began speeding through the streets. The car was silent, the air heavy. When we arrived I nearly tripped as I rushed out of the car, Arthur helping me to find my feet.

Tommy lead us to Michael's room, my heart pounding so hard that I thought it was going to come right out of my chest. Tommy stopped in the corridor just outside of Michael's room, then burst in, followed by Arthur, then me, Isiah and Johnny waiting in the car.

Michael was sitting up peacefully reading the paper.

"What's wrong?" He asked, looking at us in confusion as he lowered the paper.

"The Italians — They had a decoy, they was meant to attack Arthur but they didn't," Tommy explained, making Michael's eyes widen.

I had a funny feeling in my stomach. I didn't like this. I spotted the cup of tea and biscuits next to Michael and my mouth went dry.

"Tommy," I began nervously, "What if they went to Watery Lane; after the girls?"

I watched as all the colour drained from Tommy's face, and he got up from the chair he was sitting on and told us to get our asses back into the car. I didn't waste any time running through the halls. Isiah and Johnny were leaning against the car sharing a smoke. Johnny quickly put it out when he saw us, and hopped into the back, followed by Isiah.

I clambered into the back after passing Isiah the shotgun, Arthur putting the seat up and hopping in, and Tommy getting into the drivers seat, starting the car and speeding to Watery Lane.

I found myself twisting my wedding band around my finger, a habit I picked up when I was nervous. Tommy came to a screeching stop in front of Polly's, and I couldn't get out of the car quick enough, running down the street to our house, and opening the door.

"(Y/N)!" I called out, scanning the room.

Finn Junior was laid on the coffee table, and he got up and strolled over to me, rubbing against my legs, making my stomach drop. Something was definitely wrong.

I ran upstairs, and you weren't there. I stumbled back down the stairs, and into the kitchen. A chair had been broken, and there was blood on the edge of the kitchen bench.

"Fuck!" I hissed, looking around the room. I spotted an envelope on the kitchen table.

I snatched it up, and ran back out to the street.

"Where's your wife?" Tommy asked, looking me up and down.

"She's gone," I snapped, handing him the envelope I found.

He tore it open.

"What does it say?" Polly asked, coming to stand with us.

"That Luca Changretta is keeping her until he kills one of us, and if he can't kill one of us, he'll kill her." Tommy said, his face unreadable.

I suddenly felt nauseous, and doubled over, my breakfast making a reappearance on the cobbled street. Arthur started rubbing my back. This was unfair, you were innocent. You didn't have anything to do with this.

As I heaved for air, I came up with one thought; if I had taken you with me this morning, you would be fine. This was all my fault.

§§§

OOOOH IT FINALLY HAPPENEDDDD

I've been waiting to write the kidnapping for agesss

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 11

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 41

PUBLISHED: 16/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You spritzed the vinegar in the spray bottle over your mirror, Saoirse wiping it up with newspaper. You and Saoirse giggled and giggled as you got the bottle of rubbing alcohol and dipped the cotton swab in it, writing your message for Finn onto the mirror, Saoirse grabbing her own cotton bud and dipping it into the liquid, drawing pictures to decorate around the message.

You worked quickly, then headed downstairs, shushing each other as you snuck back through your bedroom, trying your best not to wake Finn up as you headed downstairs and into the kitchen, starting up on breakfast.

Finn woke up to the smell of bacon cooking, which made his stomach rumble. He headed into the bathroom, turning the hot water on at the sink, washing his face and hands. He didn't like cold water, even in summer. It always had to be hot.

He went to look at himself in the mirror, but noticed the words in the fog on the glass.

'Happy Father's Day!

Thank you for everything you do for this family.

We wouldn't be here without you.

With love from,

(Y/N), Saoirse, Finn Junior,

Daisy, Duke, Charlotte,

Tuck, the chickens, and the twins'

Finn grinned widely as he read the last bit. You were having twins. Polly and Esmeralda saw it in a dream. You, surprisingly, had no dreams about your babies. It was everyone else.

Finn headed downstairs, already in a good mood. His good mood became lifted when he saw you and Saoirse arranging pancakes on a plate, everything already set out on the dining table. You looked over at your husband, and your eyes lit up at the sight of him.

"Good morning, my darling," You greeted, coming around the table and walking to him, hugging him the best you could with your stomach in the way.

"Good morning, my love," Finn replied, then placed a chaste kiss on your lips.

Saoirse gagged at the pair of you, making you chuckle as Finn pulled away.

"Good morning to you, little miss," Finn said, and Saoirse hummed in reply, mouth full with some of the strawberries that were meant to go on top of the pancakes.

Finn knelt down, placing a kiss on your very prominent bump and saying good morning to his 'daughters'. You were now at the beginning of your third trimester. Only a couple more months and they would be here, in your arms. Finn was excited — nervous, but mainly excited.

"We don't know if they're girls, Finn," You sighed exasperatedly, slightly annoyed with the way he insisted that they were girls.

"I feel it in my gut," He replied as he guided you over to the table, pulling out chairs for you and Saoirse before sitting down himself.

"I want girls too," Saoirse agreed, and Finn high-fived the girl, making you roll your eyes at the pair as you started filling a plate with food.

"I want healthy babies," You said simply, but you were hoping for boys.

Boys that could look out for their younger siblings. Boys that could be a good big brother, like Bonnie is to you.

“Well we already have two sons, let’s hope these two are girls to even it up, aye bubbas?” Finn said, rubbing your bump at the end of his sentence.

Finn felt a jolt under his hand, and beamed a million dollar smile.

“Are the babies kicking?” Saoirse asked hurriedly, leaving her French toast in favour of putting one hand on your stomach too.

“Medium Bee just kicked me,” Finn confirmed, making you snort and roll your eyes.

Since you were the original Bee, your babies were ‘Medium Bee’ (the more active twin, they kicked and moved more) and ‘Small Bee’ (the less active twin, they just relaxed — they moved, but not as much as medium bee, and their kicks and hits seemed to be less stronger). Saoirse, with the wonderful way her mind worked, came up with the nicknames first, and you and your husband followed suit.

Saoirse squealed in delight as she felt your stomach move under her hand, making you smile. Your husband retracted his hand and started eating his breakfast, your sister doing the same.

•••

You mixed the pasta salad around, getting ready to take it outside. Everyone was at your house for lunch once more. You had bought a dining set to have outside, so you didn’t have to drag your dining table outside all of the time. The outside one was much larger than your inside one, and sat on the porch, getting carried down the stairs and sat on the grass when needed.

“Everything ready, ladies?” Polly asked, and you all gave her words of confirmation.

“Well, let’s go then!” She said, clapping her hands then picking up the tray of cooked meat.

You grabbed the pasta salad, putting the bowl on your stomach, and giggling at how it balanced there, taking a few careful steps before Ezzie scolded you for playing with the food. You rolled your eyes, but grabbed it properly anyway, taking it outside and placing it on the table.

“Here she is! Woman of the hour!” Arthur said, raising his bottle of whiskey when he saw you, making you chuckle at the tipsy man.

“How’s Artie and Will?” He asked, referring to your twins.

“They’re fine and they’re not being named after you,” You replied, making him roll his eyes jokingly.

You didn’t know what the twins would be named yet.

“I just thought, being Finn’s favourite brother and all, that I’d get them named after myself,” Arthur said, moving his hands around in his drunken rambles.

Linda elbowed her husband and hissed a ‘shut up!’ to him.

Finn frowned, and took a sip of his glass of water. Arthur wasn’t his favourite brother. John was. Arthur knew that, and even though his eldest brother was joking, the words didn’t sting any less.

“Here’s an idea; you have yourself another baby with your wife and name him Arthur,” You snarked, sitting down next to your husband.

Finn placed a hand on your knee and squeezed it, a silent thank you, then started putting food on a plate for himself, then for you, making sure to stay away from anything that set off your ‘anytime sickness’. Saoirse was doing her own, now closer to nine than eight and wanting to do everything for herself.

You tried to focus on lunch and the conversation, but you knew that after everything was cleaned you’d be seeing the nursery for the first time, Finn promising to let you see it. Finn had started doing up the upstairs guest bedroom for the nursery, moving everything from that bedroom up to the attic. Finn wouldn’t let you see the nursery, even going so far as to lock the door so you couldn’t go in. You were annoyed, but excited.

After the other women cleaned everything up (you got out of clean up duties do to your baby bump), and everyone either went home or started relaxing either in the living room, garden, or guest bedrooms, Finn took you upstairs, covering your eyes as he lead you to the nursery door. He guided you to find the doorknob, and you twisted it, pushing the door open.

“And — open,” He commanded as he took your hands off of your eyes.

The wall in front of you had been repainted — a light blue. The rest were still a faint, barely there yellow. A rainbow with clouds on each sides had been painted on the wall, the window in the middle of the rainbow. In front of the two clouds were two cribs, each of them with a mobile. There was a chest of drawers in between the cribs.

Down to your right, there was a big, red armchair with a footstool, a bookshelf with baby books and stuffed toys on it between that and the crib on the wall adjacent. There was a change table closer to you, a bin next to it. On the floor, in the middle of the room, was a light grey rug. In front of you, next to the crib, was a rocking chair. Finn put his hand under your chin, and gently tilted your head so you were looking up at the roof. Your jaw dropped.

The roof was painted black, with yellow stars. A crescent moon sat near the light.

“Do you like it?” Finn asked softly, scared that you wouldn’t and all of his effort would be for naught.

“Oh, Finn — it’s perfect,” You gasped, tears filling your eyes and threatening to fall.

Your husband grinned, leaning down and kissing you on the temple.

“Finn,” You began, going and sitting in the red armchair — which was quite comfy, if you were being honest.

“Yes, my love?” He replied, coming to sit in front of you on the footstool.

You placed your hands on your stomach, a habit you gained in the past six months.

“What did you want to name our babies? And don’t just say girl names,” You warned as you took off your necklace, making the corner of his lips turn up.

“I like Elizabeth or Polly for a girl,” Finn answered, then added, “John or Isaac for a boy. Something biblical. And sort of like Isiah’s name.”

You ‘awwed’ at your husband. You could definitely see your baby with those names.

“I like Isaac for a first name, but remember, Esme’s already got John Junior. What if we use John as a middle name?” You pondered as you slipped your wedding band onto your necklace, and Finn hummed.

“I want to name them Rosie or Ezra, if they’re a girl, and Finley or Elijah if they’re a boy. Not your name, but a variant of it,” You explained, and your husband nodded, racking his brain for where he heard that phrase before.

He chuckle once he figured it out. Your wedding day, when you were naming Finn Junior, his big baby boy.

“Finley,” Finn repeated, testing the name on his tongue.

He grunted in approval. It sounded nice. Finley John. Even better.

You gave the necklace to Finn, who held it above one side of your stomach, the side that Medium Bee sat in. He knew what you were doing. He’d seen it done in Johnny Dogg’s camp when he was younger.

He held his arm absolutely still, and the ring started swinging back and forth in a straight line. You and him watched it as it did so, mesmerised. He stopped the ring, then moved it to the other side of your stomach, over Little Bee, letting it swing again. Another straight line, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

“Isaac Elijah doesn’t sound too bad, does it?” You asked, crinkling your nose up as your thought.

“No, it doesn’t,” Finn answered, feeling slightly dejected, but tried not to let it show.

“And Finley John. That’s a good name. A strong one,” You continued, tilting your head as your thought.

Finn chuckled as he undid the clasp on your necklace, placing your ring back on your finger gently, giving your hand a kiss, then putting your necklace back on you.

He stood up, then helped you out of the armchair. Instead of going and telling everyone the news of your discovery, you decided to go and have a nap, after a bathroom break of course.

Finn ended up with one less pillow than he would’ve liked, the pillow ending up supporting your stomach, but he didn’t mind. He dreamt good during his nap, dreaming of two little boys toddling after you in the garden, giggling and squealing as their feet got muddy.

§§§

The next chapter will be a doozy oof

I hope you all enjoyed this one :))

Love y’all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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NEXT PART

Part 42

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 36

PUBLISHED: 09/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

As soon as your eyes opened you grinned. You dreamt of babies, mini versions of Finn and mini versions of you running amuck in your house.

Eyes still closed, you reached out, fully expecting to feel your husband next to you, but instead felt the cold sheets of the bed. You looked over, and he wasn't there. Odd. The curtains of the bed were also pinned back, signalling that he had been gone for a bit. You strained your ears for a sign of your husband moving around the bathroom or the closet. You could hear Saoirse's giggles coming closer to your room, and Finn shushing her, telling her that they needed to be quiet.

After a few beats, the door swung open, and the pair came through the open door carrying trays. Finn's tray was filled with food, and Saoirse's had drinks and biscuits on it. The animals trotted in straight after them, single file. You snorted at that sight.

You noticed a paper flower, which had been painted yellow with what looked like watercolour paint, in one of the glasses, making the corners of you lips turn upwards. That would have been Finn's folding skills and Saoirse's painting, for sure. You had given her watercolour paints for her birthday. It was good to know she was using them.

"Surprise! We made you breakfast in bed!" Saoirse announced, grinning.

You bit back a giggle at the sight of her missing tooth. She had a mishap on her play equipment yesterday, tripping and hitting her mouth on a bench, which knocked out a tooth on the bottom, right next to her front ones. You were just glad that it was a baby tooth, and that she didn't bust her lip.

She'd probably have to smile with her mouth closed for the photos today, but you didn't mind.

You shuffled over and helped the pair arrange the trays on the bed.

"Thank you, my darlings," You said to the pair as you settled back down.

"Do I still get money even though the tooth fairy isn't real?" Saoirse asked the pair of you as she poured herself some juice.

Finn looked at you as you piled your plate up with scrambled eggs and bacon, and you nodded.

"Yeah, why not," Finn chuckled, then pointed to the bedside table on the left, "Top drawer. In there's my wallet, you can grab yourself some money."

Saoirse whooped and rolled backwards off of the bed, then jogged around to the other side, opening the top drawer enthusiastically and shifted things around in her search for Finn's wallet. Once she found it, she held it up victoriously, beaming a smile. She moved to open it, but looked at Finn for permission. He nodded, and she opened it, getting herself five pounds, then placing it back in the drawer where she found it. She crawled over the bed to curl up next to you. You hissed as her cold feet hit your arm, immediately causing goosebumps.

"Sorry," She mumbled, wiggling around so her feet were now under the blanket.

"S'Okay," You replied as you passed your sister her plate, which was filled with pancakes.

She immediately started to scarf them down. You rolled your eyes at her behaviour. Anyone would think that you and Finn starve her with the way she was eating.

Finn repositioned himself so he was sitting up straighter, and so his side was tucked into yours. He had a plate full of French Toast, topped off with bananas, ice cream, and honey. He had cut everything up before he brought it up here, saving everyone the task of awkwardly attempting to cut stuff whilst sitting on the bed.

You all ate in a comfortable silence, bar the purring of the cat on the end of the bed. The dogs were all curled up on the floor together, in front of the fireplace.

Once you finished all of your drinks you stacked everything up on one tray and put the spare one under the other, ready to be taken back downstairs.

You crawled off the bed, stood up, and stretched, reaching straight up to the roof and standing on the tips of your toes, yawning as you did so. Finn watched you as you moved, your hair swaying with your every motion. You turned around and grabbed the trays, and Finn got ready to help you.

"I've got it," You reassured your husband, who nodded.

"If you give me a kiss I'll believe you," Finn replied, smirking.

Saoirse giggled as you leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his lips, then lifted up the trays, heading downstairs.

You managed to not drop and break anything in your trek down the stairs, making a feeling of success bubble up in your chest.

You started humming a song as you continued your walk to the kitchen, and placed the trays on the island, filling up the sink to wash up the dishes, putting your hand under the tap to test the temperature. You looked out the window, and grinned. Today would be perfect photo taking weather. You stopped the tap, then decided to put away the stuff that Saoirse and Finn used to make the breakfast first, making room on the sink for the rest of the stuff.

Once you were done, you grabbed the glasses and jugs, washing them up first, putting them on the rack, then did the dishes, and let the sink drain. You wiped the trays over with a wet cloth, placing them on the rack too, then went back upstairs. You peeled into Saoirse's room, and noticed that her bed was unmade. You made it for her, arranging her stuffed animals amongst the pillows the way she liked them, then went across the hallway to your own room, where Finn and Saoirse were fixing up the pillows on the bed, having just finished making the bed themselves. Saoirse was knelt on the bed as she adjusted the pillows, being too short to lean over it with ease like Finn.

You leaned against the doorway, watching as your sister sneakily grabbed the pillow closest to her, and moved it as if plumping it, gripping it tightly, then picked it up lightning quick, swinging it back then bringing it forward, connecting it to the side of your husband's face, sending him stumbling.

You gasped as your sister cackled, but Finn wasted no time grabbing a pillow of his own and returning the favour, sending Saoirse face first into the mountain of pillows she had just finished fixing.

You guffawed at this, then quickly clapped your hand over your mouth as Saoirse sat up, and looked at you. Finn also had his gaze set on you. Saoirse narrowed her eyes, and shuffled forward on the bed.

"Saoirse — no," You warned holding a finger up as she got off the bed.

"Saoirse; yes," Finn encouraged, making you glare at him.

"Hit me with that pillow and you're not getting any dessert for the next week," You warned, finger pointed at her.

She stopped her stalking over to you, and looked over at Finn.

"Hit her with that pillow and I'll give you two more pounds," Finn said, making your jaw drop.

"If I got hit, you do too," Finn stated, seeing your betrayed expression.

"Fucking — Saoirse, you'll not hit me with that pillow or you'll not be my favourite sister anymore!" You threatened, although it was empty; Saoirse knew you didn't have favourites.

"Bonnie's my favourite anyway!" Saoirse said with a shrug, before launching the pillow at your face, making you shriek and stagger back.

You pulled it off your face just in time to see Saoirse clamber back onto the bed, grab a pillow and pelt it at a laughing Finn, hitting him square in the forehead, throwing him off balance enough that he fell down into a heap on the ground.

While Saoirse was giggling with glee, you snuck up behind her, pillow in hand, and hit her across the knees, hard, making her stumble and fall onto the mattress with a squeal.

"That's what you get for hitting me first!" You declared, crawling into bed with her and tickling her, making her shriek with glee.

Finn, now up with the support of the bed, crawled onto it and started tickling your younger sister too.

"Say 'Finn and (Y/N) are the greatest and I'm sorry I ever hit you two with a pillow' and we'll stop," Finn told your little sister, who was wriggling around, trying to escape you and Finn, both of you with grins big enough to split your faces in two.

"Finn — Finn and (Y/N) — Are the greatest and — I'm sorry I ever hit you two with a pillow," Your sister said, the last bit of the sentence running together, making you and Finn immediately withdraw your hands.

She was now red in the face with tears slipping out of her eyes, huffing. You reached over and grabbed the bottle of water you kept on your bedside table, and offered it to your sister. She sat up and took it, having a few sips.

"So, Finn, when's the photographer getting here?" You questioned your husband, wanting to make yourself look presentable before they arrived.

"I didn't hire one," He said simply, making your eyes widen in disbelief, and your jaw drop.

"You didn't hire one after you said we could get family photos?" You asked disbelievingly, and Finn nodded, then put his finger up, signalling for you to wait.

"I decided that — wait for it — I would buy us a film camera and we take the photos ourselves! How good is that?" Finn replied, grinning, waiting for the reaction of the two girls.

"I like that idea," Saoirse agreed, face now back to normal.

"That is a good idea," You agreed with your husband, and got off the bed, heading to your closet.

"Finn, what's your favourite colour? I want to coordinate outfits with them all," You told your husband as you walked into the closet, immediately grabbing your yellow sundress.

"You won't be able to see it anyway," Finn pointed out, and you stuck your tongue out at him.

"Blue and yellow are fine," He decided, and Saoirse poked him in the arm.

"Finnegan Shelby-"

"My name is just Finn-"

"-Just Finn, everyone has a favourite colour, so what is yours," Saoirse prompted, and Finn shrugged.

"I don't know. Never really thought about it before. Blue and yellow," Finn answered, now deep in thought.

"Those are me and (Y/N)'s favourite colours, though," Saoirse huffed, and it was Finn's turn to poke her in the arm.

"Yes, but you two are some of my favourite people, so I can copy you two," Finn replied, making Saoirse grin.

Nobody else had favourite colours and stuck to them like you Gold children did. But, he had chosen yellow as his favourite colour long ago, when you had taken him to a paint store once. You had enthusiastically shown him all of the shades yellow came in, from a soft, parchment yellow to a deep, Dijon yellow. You chattered and chattered about the yellow, pointing out the shades you liked the most and the shades you liked the least.

He only added blue to his favourite colours after Saoirse moved in with the pair of you. She would always point out how pretty the blue sky to him, show him her favourite light blue dress, bring him home blue things that reminded her of him (his favourite one so far was a throw cushion from a market stall, bought because of how comfy it was, given to him in case he needed something to make his office chair more comfy).

Those two colours reminded him of home. The porch with paint on it from Karl and Saoirse going over the edge of their papers, the kitchen doorway which had all of the kids' heights marked on there, the living room with couches he always let the animals sleep on, even though you would tell him not to, and finally, the two people who helped him make this house a home. You and Saoirse.

•••

You had managed to colour coordinate your outfits well. Finn had on a yellow sweater and jeans. You had worn a yellow dress with a blue belt, and Saoirse had worn a blue dress with a yellow belt. All of you were barefoot, and with your hair down in its natural state, but you didn't mind.

You had ended up with thirty-six pictures. You took twelve, Finn took twelve, and Saoirse took twelve.

Your twelve consisted of;

- Saoirse laying amongst the wildflowers in your backyard, grinning widely, her two dogs laid on their backs either side of her. You and Finn had woven flowers into her curly hair. The sunlight shining down on her made her eyes look all the more golden instead of brown.

- Finn, leaning against the beam at the front of the house, Finn Junior and Tuck on the stairs under him.

- Finn Junior and Tuck resting in the sun on the porch.

- Finn and Saoirse on her play equipment, him pushing her on the swing set

- You, Finn, Saoirse (who had Finn Junior on her lap) on the porch swing, the dogs laid at your feet (this photo was achieved with the help of the self timer on the camera, which was sat on the top of the railing)

- In the field next to your house, you leaning back on one hand, looking down at Finn, who was laid with his head in your lap, one arm across his midriff, the other reaching up to play with your hair, and Saoirse leaned against your side, looking at the camera.

- Saoirse reading a book with Finn, the pair on the floor, leaning against the bay window seat

- You, Finn, and Saoirse holding hands and walking, Saoirse in the middle, the pair of you looking down at her and her looking at the animals (you had to bring a chair outside to achieve this)

- Saoirse on her carousel, reaching up and attempting to touch the lights that lined the top of it

- Your hand on top of Finn's showing off your wedding rings

- The three of you on the steps of your vardo (which you had moved next to the stables a while back)

- Saoirse feeding your chickens

Finn's twelve consisted of;

- You, leaning against a door frame with your arms by your side, smiling shyly up at the camera

- Saoirse petting your horse Charlotte

- You, sat at your vanity, brushing your hair (he managed to angle it so he was in the reflection of the mirror, camera to his face)

- You and Saoirse on his rocking chair, giggling, Saoirse in your lap

- The cat and dogs on the couch (you had scolded him after this one)

- Saoirse and you making a cake, you showing her the contents inside the metal bowl as she knelt on the kitchen island

- You, and him standing next to a tree in your orchard, looking up at Saoirse who was in the branch above the pair of you

- A mirror picture of the three of you in the guest bathroom downstairs, you leaning against the wall, plaiting Saoirse's hair, and Finn sat on the edge of the tub, Saoirse 'fixing up' his curls

- Saoirse, leaning against the couch with her arms crossed under her head, looking directly at the lens with a serious face

- You, playing guitar

- Saoirse playing ukulele

- Finn and you at the upright piano, Saoirse sat on top of it, legs dangling down over the keys

Saoirse's twelve were;

- Finn, sat up on Charlotte, you kissing Charlotte's nose

- You, spinning around in the field, so your dress was flared out

- Finn sitting in his rocking chair, lighting up a smoke

- You, brushing the cat's fur

- You and Finn, kissing in the backyard (she had giggled and giggled and giggled when she had took this photo)

- Daisy and Duke asleep in their basket

- You and Finn icing the cupcakes that you and Saoirse had made

- Finn, piggybacking Saoirse, Saoirse giggling

- You and Saoirse standing with your backs to the camera, your hands coming up to make a heart

- You, Saoirse, and Finn crouched (you two girls kneeling) in front of the small pond in your front yard, Saoirse pointing to a fish in the pond

- You, sat down in the field, weaving long grass into a basket

- Finn sat on a chair, his front against the back of it, watching you as you leaned towards a mirror, running a finger along your hair (This was Saoirse's favourite, because all you could see in Finn's eyes was pure adoration)

You had taken the film to town to get developed and buy photo frames, a trip which you all thoroughly enjoyed, especially because Finn ended up taking you all to get ice cream. It was a good day.

§§§

Thank you to everyone that voted on names, appreciate your input so much!!

Also shout out to everyone that replies/messages me and gives me feedback/comments!! I love hearing feedback lol

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 37

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@bethabear12

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@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 37

PUBLISHED: 14/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

READER'S POV

"(Y/N), which frame do you want for this photo, this oval one or this rectangle one?" Finn asked, holding the two frames up, along with the photo he was talking about.

The photo was the one of Saoirse leaning on the couch.

"Mm, oval one," I decided, and he nodded.

I took the backing off of the heart shaped one in front of me and placed a photo of Finn, Saoirse, and I (and the animals) in it.

We were just finishing up putting photos in the frames now. These two would be the last two to go in the living room, one going to sit on the piano (the one of Saoirse) and the one I had was going to sit on the bookshelf.

I didn't like photos in bedrooms. I was funny like that. I got it off of an elderly woman that used to live next to me when I lived with Marian. She said that photos in bedrooms would see every sinful action happening, and as a child I completely believed it.

I secured the back onto the frame once more and picked it up, then stood up and walked over to the bookshelf, deciding the put it on the shelf that was eye level with me.

It sat between a deck of cards and a small clay statue Saoirse had made in an art lesson at school. It was meant to be an artistic rendering of a heart, but it was shaped more like a lopsided triangle.

My eyes drifted back to the cards again, and my heart stopped. Oh fuck, Finn and I forgot to give each other anniversary gifts. I had gotten Finn one on very short notice, but I didn't want to bring it up in case he forgot. It'd be shit to make him feel bad about it.

"Erm, Finn?" I started as I turned back around, facing my husband who was now gathering all of the empty photo frames.

"Yeah?" He replied, stacking the frames into a pile.

"I just realised that we forgot to give each other gifts for our anniversary," I snorted, shifting from foot to foot.

"Oh, fuck," He muttered, standing up, photo frames forgotten, "I got you one but I got distracted with the breakfast and the photos."

He then headed upstairs. I headed into the mudroom, and fished around in my coat pocket, producing a deck of cards. The back of them were blank, and that's where I put my gift for him.

I went and sat on the landing of the stairs, waiting for my husband, bouncing my leg as I did so. I heard Finn coming back down the hallway, and looked up when I heard his feet hit the stairs to see him carrying an engraved wooden box.

He came and sat next to me, and handed me the box. I ran my fingers along the top of it, loving the feeling of the wood dipping and curving. It was an intricate design of a sunflower with vines and other things surrounding it. There were small divots in either side of the box, and it had three drawers in the front. I opened the top, and found that it was a jewellery box. Inside the lid were hooks to hang necklaces on, with pouches at the bottom so they could sit in there, and adjacent to it were boxes for rings and pairs of earrings. There were two small figurines holding hands on a little platform along the back of the box.

"You can lift the top bit out," Finn informed me, and I did so, revealing more compartments, these ones slightly bigger, probably for bracelets and bangles.

I put the top part back in then shut the lid, opening up the sides to find more hooks to hand stuff on. I opened the first drawer in the front, and it was another compartment drawer. The next one down had padding in it, to put rings in. The last one was just a drawer with no compartments.

"Oh, it's gorgeous Finn, thank you," I murmured, looking up at my husband.

I needed a jewellery box, having to use the drawer of my vanity to put everything in and just being too lazy to go to the shops and buy anything.

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "It's alright."

He then reached out and touched the back of the box, and I heard something cranking. Once he stopped cranking and removed his hand, the figurines started rotating and the box played music. After a bit, I realised what song was playing.

"Is that one of the songs from the ballet we went and seen?" I questioned my husband, who nodded.

"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," He confirmed, and I grinned.

"You're so romantic," I teased, and looked back at the figurines.

The girl was wearing a yellow dress, and the boy was wearing a peaky cap. I snorted.

"Are these meant to be us?" I asked jokingly, and watched as Finn blushed.

"Oh, it is!" I crowed, throwing my head back and clapping my hands, "Finn, you're such a romantic, it's adorable."

"Shut up," Finn mumbled, red in the face as he noticed the cards on the stairs above us.

"This mine?" He asked, reaching for them.

"Yeah," I replied, watching him as he grabbed the pack of cards and flipped them over in his hands, inspecting them.

"52 things I love about you," He read the packet, then opened it.

They were normal playing cards, but had blank backs. I wrote the '52 Things' on the backs. I watched as he looked through all of them, chuckling at some.

1. Your looks (I didn't marry you for anything else, Shelby)

2. You help me reach things on the top shelf

3. You're always there for Saoirse (as well as your own nieces and nephews)

4. You brush the cat when I don't feel like doing it

5. You help me think positive when I feel negative

6. You helped me build up my self confidence

7. Your laugh

8. Your cuddles

9. Your kisses

10. You're not afraid to be silly

11. You help make our house a home

12. You make a good pillow

13. You clean the hair clogs from drains so Saoirse and I don't have to

14. You treat our animals like human babies

15. You try to maintain good relationships with my family and friends

16. You use sound effects when telling a story

17. You always touch door jambs when you walk through doors

18. You run through the alphabet when alphabetising anything

19. You keep a photo of Saoirse and I tucked into your cap (yes, I've seen it, sentimental bastard)

20. You always flip things around in your hands

21. You're an early morning person like me

22. You like climbing things (like me)

23. You put up with Finn Junior when the pair of you didn't like each other

24. You got me Christmas and birthday presents from our pets and signed the cards 'To Mum, from your loving sons'

25. You put your family first

26. You attend Saoirse and I's many activities without any complaints

27. You spoil us

28. Your voice

29. Your sense of humour

30. Your ability to keep our inside jokes running

31. You are considerate

32. Your personality

33. You learned how to do hair just so you could do mine when I don't feel like it

34. You always catch my attention just as I'm about to walk out the door so you can get one last look at me

35. You're a good cook

36. You accept me for who I am

37. You offer to wash up because you know I don't like floaties in dishwater

38. You know how I take my tea

39. You always make sure there's biscuits in the cupboard

40. You always give Saoirse another sweet whenever you think I'm not looking

41. You trust me, and I know I can trust you

42. You got your ears pierced with me and Saoirse on New Years Eve (the gold cuffs look nice, by the way)

43. Your freckles (and the way you let me play connect the dots with them sometimes)

44. Your hand fits perfectly around mine

45. You laugh at your own jokes

46. You taught me how to skip stones

47. You won me Pip (I am still disappointed that you did not take the opportunity to name your bear Squeak so we matched names)

48. The first thing you do when you walk in the door is seek out Saoirse and I

49. You learned the languages of our people

50. You buy me yellow things and Saoirse blue things whenever you see fit

51. The way that you are unapologetically you

52. You said 'I do' on the 10th of January, 1926.

"It's not much because I forgot it was our anniversary until you reminded me the other day," I admitted, and watched as he gently ran his fingertips over the writing on the cards.

"They're amazing, (Y/N), honest. I love them, they're thoughtful as," Finn replied, his voice soft and eyes glistening.

I was happy to sit there in silence with him until he felt better, but Tuck decided to come in through the dog door and track mud behind him. He shook himself, sending mud flying everywhere, some even going as far to hit the couches around the rug.

"Oh — You could've used the mat, now I've got to bath you! You naughty, naughty boy!" I complained as I used the banister to help myself stand up, Finn sniggering behind me.

Tuck just flipped over, ready for belly rubs as I approached him.

"No," I told the dog, wagging my finger at him, making him whine as I walked past him and into the hallway.

I walked down to the bathroom and grabbed Tuck's tub from in the cupboard under the sink. It held his brushes, nail clippers, and shampoo in it. I sat it on the sink, ready for when the mud dried and I could brush it out, then give him a shower.

I headed back out to the living room, where Finn was towelling the wet mud off of Tuck with one of the towels from the mud room. Tuck was gnawing on a bone, looking quite content. Finn threw me another towel, and I wiped the mud off of the floor and couch with it, not wanting to grab the cleaning supplies from the basement. I'd wipe it down when I vacuumed and mopped next.

Finn threw his towel back into the mudroom, and I followed suit, Tuck running over and laying on the floor in front of the window as soon as he was free.

I 'awwed' at the sight. I knew he'd probably fall asleep in the sun. My big boy.

"I love you," Finn said as I moved and grabbed our gifts, wanting to put them up so the dogs didn't chew them.

"I love you too," I replied, then hummed as I headed over and put them on the bookshelf, not wanting to walk up the stairs just yet.

Finn pulled a smoke and his lighter out of his pocket, placing the smoke between his lips then lighting it. I screwed my nose up and opened the window.

"You never used to hate the smell that much," Finn complained, lit cigarette still dangling between his lips as he came and sat on the window seat.

It was true. The smell of cigarette smoke always stunk to me, but it had become proper rank to me as of late.

"Well it turns my stomach now, you remember this morning," I huffed, going and grabbing a book off of the bookshelf.

Finn nodded in agreement as he leaned out of the window and exhaled.

Finn lit up a smoke in the bedroom this morning while we were laid in bed, and it smelled so bad that I threw up.

"You know, Saoirse won't arrive for a bit, we've got the house to ourselves for a while," Finn said suggestively, making me snort.

"You should've thought about that before you lit up that smoke, you'll stink of it," I pointed out, making Finn quickly put the smoke out on the window frame.

"I can go have a shower so I don't stink, wanna join?" Finn asked, a smug grin on his face.

"You can go shower, I'll be here when you get out," I answered as I settled down across from him, opening up the book.

Finn groaned, leaning against the window dramatically.

"We can christen the couch in front of the fire," I said, not looking up from my book, knowing that if I looked at Finn I'd probably drag him over to the couch myself.

Finn whooped and headed upstairs, nearly tripping up them, making me snort and grin.

"I'm okay!" He called out back down the stairs.

I sighed and put my book down, knowing damn well I wouldn't get any reading done as I waited for my husband.

•••

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You packed the last of the dishes away, and wiped down the sinks. You had a picnic dinner in the garden, you and your little family (plus the animals). You found out that the smell of coffee turned your stomach as well.

The phone rang, and you hurried over it, picking it up with a "Hello?"

"Bee! It's Bonnie," Bonnie greeted, giggling as he sat on the floor next to the kitchen bench in his own apartment.

"Hello, Bonnie," You replied, rolling your eyes and feeling yourself smile at how happy your brother sounded, "What's got you so happy?"

"I met a boy and went on a date today," Bonnie replied lowly even though it was only you two in the phone.

"Oh, that's great! What's his name? And how was the date?" You asked as you jumped up onto your kitchen bench, knowing you might be on the phone for a while.

"His name is Oscar, and the date went grand. He bought me beer when we met up because he thought that I wouldn't like flowers, y'know, because flowers are too girl-like," Bonnie said, twirling the cord around his pointer finger. "He's really nice, I like him. I could've cried when he dropped me home."

"That's cute," You said, swinging your legs as you drummed your fingers against the countertop, your nails clicking as you did so.

"Shut up," Bonnie spoke, and you just knew that his entire face would be red, right to the tips of his ears.

"He's coming to my next fight, do you think he can sit next to you in the front row? I would've asked Ez but she's scary sometimes," Bonnie stated, and you 'awwed', resulting in him telling you to shut up again.

"He can sit next to me," You confirmed, wanting to meet the boy who managed to make your Bonnie so giggly.

"And don't be mean or tell him anything about me from when I was little, or I'll smother you with your pillow as you sleep," Bonnie threatened, and you agreed that you wouldn't, even though you knew that he wouldn't smother you.

Bonnie loved you too much to hurt you on purpose.

As you continued talking to your brother, watching the hand on the clock go round and round, you felt closer than ever to your brother, and you were glad. You felt yourself growing apart from your siblings after you moved in with Finn, but now, as you giggled with Bonnie over the way he and Oscar managed to get lost on their way to the place they were having dinner, you knew that you were overthinking.

You were fine, your siblings were fine, and you all couldn't grow apart if you tried.

§§§

Another filler chapter, I apologise if it doesn't flow as well as my chapters usually do

This chapter was surprisingly hard to write and I have no idea why lol I was stuck for agesss but I managed to finish it for you guys

Also: voting for the names has closed!

The baby names that got the most votes were 🥁🥁🥁

Finley & Isaac!!!

For those of you who wanted Elijah, I was always planning on making Elijah a middle name if it didn't get picked as a first name anyway lol

Hope you all are well :)))

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

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NEXT PART

Part 38

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 33

PUBLISHED: 05/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

READER'S POV

Saoirse trotted downstairs, and came to a stop in front of the roaring fireplace, between Finn and I in our armchairs. She shifted restlessly from foot to foot. Finn Junior came up and rubbed against her legs.

"What's up?" Finn asked her tenderly, setting down his newspaper and watching as she fiddled with the hem of her dress.

"Well — I've been to sleepovers at all of my friends houses, but none of them have been to a sleepover here. Can I have one here, for my birthday next week?" Saoirse asked, swaying from side to side.

Birthday. She was turning eight. My little sister, the one who's nappies I used to change, was turning eight. Part of me refused to believe it.

"Sure." I replied unsurely, side-eyeing Finn, hoping he would catch the hesitation in my tone.

"I can't see why not." He added, which made Saoirse grin and run back upstairs.

"Finn you bastard, you should've said no!" I hissed quietly as I went and sat on the arm of his chair so I could speak softly, without fear of Saoirse hearing me.

"Why? Surely kids'll be able to come." He reasoned, placing his free hand on the small of my back, making me sigh.

"Finn, you're the brother of the most feared men in Birmingham. And I'm your wife." I said matter-of-factly, "Surely you see why people would be hesitant to let their kids come here, especially overnight."

"I know they'd be hesitant. We'd be able to get some of her friends to come here somehow." Finn replied, taking a sip of his whiskey.

"How? Rocking up at their houses and saying 'Your child is coming to Saoirse's sleepover by order of the Peaky fucking Blinders!'" I snapped, and Finn made a face that told me he agreed entirely with my stupid suggestion.

"No, Finn, we're not going to order kids to come have a sleepover! Use your common sense!" I barked then pinched his ear, making him yelp.

Serves him right for being an idiot.

"Well what about Lynn and the rest of the girls? They can put in good words for us, can't they?" He pointed out, and I suddenly felt bad for thinking of him as an idiot.

"Let's have a piss up with them and their blokes, at the Garrison or somewhere else, and everyone can see it. They'll ask about us, and they'll tell them good things. Hopefully." Finn said, and I nodded.

"Hilda can probably put in good word too, she has influence. I'll ask if I can help her with a bake sale, sell some of my stuff at her stall." I added, knowing the power her baking skills held over the women of Small Heath.

Along with having bake sales every Thursday afternoon, she also ran a book club which met every Tuesday afternoon, and went to Church every Sunday, as well as playing netball every Saturday and attending netball practice on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. How she found the time to do all that with her job at the factory and with her rambunctious daughter, I'd never know.

•••

I put the finishing touches on the icing on top of Saoirse's cake as Finn finished organising the last lolly platter. Today was the day. My baby sister turned eight.

We woke her up with breakfast in bed, and a decorated house. We put streamers damn near everywhere, balloons everywhere, and a banner along the wall of the living room that said 'Happy Birthday Saoirse'. She loved it all, nearly too excited to open her presents.

Saoirse's big present from us was in the back yard, meaning that we had to keep her towards the front of the house so she didn't see it.

Her little presents we allowed her to open. I had gotten her netball shoes (she played in the junior games, alongside Daisy, who she had become fast friends with), new clothes and hair ribbons, and new books. Finn had also gotten her new clothes (we went shopping together so we weren't doubling up on anything), a new bracelet, a pair of (faux) pearl earrings because she was forever asking to wear mine, and some new toys. Together, along with her big gift, we got her a new silver heart locket with a picture of our Shelby-Gold-Jesus family on one side, and her mother on the other.

Other people had been dropping off their presents for her all throughout the day.

We weren't going to have a party, decided by Saoirse, only a dinner with family and friends, then a sleepover. Rose made a tradition that started with Ezzie and kept it going with the rest of us that we never entertained other people on our birthday, only having parties and sleepovers and other things if we wanted to. Our birthdays were our days, no one else's. We could do whatever we wanted, on our birthdays.

I loved that rule, because Marian had always forced me to have a party every year that I lived with her. I hated every single one of them.

I was slightly happy that Saoirse didn't want a party, because there would be a lot of people there. My family always had a lot of people at the birthday parties, and that amount would only grow with the gaggle of friends Saoirse had made.

If Saoirse was going to be like the rest of us, she would only have an eighteenth. I was yet to have mine. Ezzie had an eighteenth, but she was asleep by midnight, everyone else still partying on. Bonnie's eighteenth carried on for a week, and it was only at the end of that week long bender that we were all sober enough to realise that Bonnie was MIA. It turns out that he ended up halfway across the country with a few mates.

I snorted at the memory, making Finn look at me in confusion, momentarily stopping his walk over to the table with the lollies.

I waved for him to keep going, then placed the cake in the fridge.

The dogs started barking, making me look out of the kitchen window. Ada and Karl had just arrived in Ada's car. The first of Saoirse's guests for the sleepover. She only had Daisy left to come, but her and Hilda lived only a five minute drive up the road, it wasn't like they were going to be late.

"It's Ada," I announced, heading out of the kitchen, through the living room and mudroom, opening the front door.

"Aunt (Y/N)!" Karl said happily, racing up the path to meet me, hugging me.

I returned the hug, then he wiggled out of my grip and ran to Finn, then inside to Saoirse, who was doing a puzzle on the floor in front of the bay window.

Ada came up the walkway, a present under each arm.

"The boy's bag is in the backseat of the car, I'll grab it after Saoirse opens our presents," Ada said, making me nod.

"I'll grab it," Finn offered, passing her on the stairs and jogging down to the car.

"One present from each of us," She told me, adjusting them under her arms as we headed inside, Daisy, Duke, and Tuck following us.

I heard Finn come back inside, the door shutting behind him. He went and placed Karl's bag on the couch, then came back over to me, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist, laying his cheek on top of my head. My hands came up and rested on top of his.

"Happy birthday, little miss!" Ada greeted Saoirse, and Karl hopped up, coming over to grab his present from under his mum's right arm, then turned and faced Saoirse.

"From me," He declared as she came over and grabbed the present, which was a long, rectangular shaped box.

I could hear something rattle softly when she took the present from Karl. She looked at me, and I nodded, then she gently undid the white bow, then carefully stripped the box of the blue wrapping paper. She was one of those people who hated ripping wrapping paper, because people took so long and put so much care into wrapping stuff, a trait she got from Dad. Under the wrapping paper was a cardboard box. She took the lid off to reveal a sky blue soprano ukulele with a black outline of a butterfly on the front, under the bridge and to the right.

"Oh, thank you!" She squealed, putting the box on the floor then pulling Karl into a tight hug.

The boy hugged her back, laughing. My heart melted at the pair.

"Look on the back of it," Ada advised, and Saoirse quickly stepped away from Karl and grabbed her ukulele by the neck, gently lifting it out of the box.

She flipped it so the back was facing up, and ran her finger along it. I could see some gold wording glint under the light.

"To my best friend Saoirse, from Karl, with love," She read, and looked at Karl.

"Thank you. Truly," She said softly, and you could tell she meant it.

Karl just replied with 'S'Alright'.

"Aren't they the cutest," I mused, and Ada nodded, Finn humming in agreement.

"They make me want to have another one," Ada admitted, watching as Saoirse tuned her ukulele.

"One couldn't hurt us, aye (Y/N)?" Finn asked, making Ada look at us in surprise.

I knew he was joking. We didn't feel ready for a baby yet, although I doubt we ever would. No one truly feels ready for a baby.

"You have one before you turn eighteen and I'll strangle you and my brother with the umbilical cord," Ada threatened, but there was no malice behind her words, just worry.

"I don't plan on having one anytime soon," I reassured her, and she relaxed her posture, nodding.

"Here, Sersh, come look at what Ada's got for you," I called out, and Saoirse bounded over, handing her ukulele Karl to hold.

She took the very medium sized box from Ada, and her eyebrows scrunched together.

"It's — heavy," Saoirse said, sounding surprised.

Karl bounced on his heels, waiting for her to open it.

Saoirse painstakingly unwrapped this present, and gasped. It was a light blue jewellery box, painted to look like a cloudy blue sky, a butterfly on the top of the lid. She opens it, and it immediately started chiming, playing a tinkly tune.

"Oh, it has a butterfly and it spins!" Saoirse gasped, flipping the box around to show us.

"Finn told me that he was going to get you jewellery, so I decided to get you something to put it in," Ada explained, and Karl tapped the back of it.

Saoirse tilted the box so she could see what he was tapping it for.

"To darling Saoirse. The sky is the limit. From Ada dearest," Saoirse recited the words on the back, and grinned at Ada.

"Thanks, A," Saoirse said, then started fiddling around with the key on the back as the song stopped.

"Why don't you go put your jewellery box upstairs, then we can go and look at your new present in the backyard?" Finn suggested as he stepped away from me, and Saoirse nodded, running upstairs.

"Don't run on those stairs!" I hollered after them, even though it would have fallen on deaf ears.

"Have you made dinner yet?" Ada asked as I lead her and Finn outside.

"No, starting it as soon as Saoirse sees her present," Finn replied, then turned back down the hallway, "Karl, you cover her eyes, this is going to be a great fucking surprise!"

"Stop swearing at the kids," I chastised Finn, swatting him on the arm.

He just chuckled in response as the kids came down the hallway, Karl obeying Finn's orders, his hands securely over Saoirse's eyes, the pair giggling as they walked.

Karl's jaw dropped as he saw Saoirse's present.

"She can look now," Finn told his nephew, and he quickly let his arms hang by his side, uncovering Saoirse's eyes.

Her brown eyes went wide with shock as she laid her gaze on her new, baby blue playhouse, and play equipment. The playhouse itself was two story, with a cute little picket fence front yard, with a toy kitchen and dining room down the bottom, and a bedroom up the top. The bedroom itself held a daybed with a metal frame that made it look like a couch, a privacy screen, a full body mirror, and a trunk full of dress up clothes.

The play equipment was brown, the wood unpainted, but the accessories were dark blue. On the left side of the sky loft was monkey bars, which connected up with the sky loft, so you could land on the floor of the loft. The sky fort had a bench underneath, and a patch of grass next to it. The sky loft itself was empty. A set of steep stairs was connected to the back of it, with blue railings to help climb up it. At the front of the sky loft, connected to it, was a climbing wall and a slide. Then, to the right of the sky loft was a lookout (which was accessible from the inside of the loft). The bottom of the lookout was attached to the beam that held the swings. We had two slings swings, one horse gilder swing, and one nest swing. The beam holding up the swings was metal, painted to look like wood, so I didn't have to worry about the beam collapsing.

We decided to get her play equipment because she only had 'inside ' stuff, no outside stuff. The house was big enough for her to have play dates inside but it got stale eventually.

"That's the best present a big brother and a big sister could ever give!" Saoirse screeched, coming over and hugging Finn and I quickly.

"I love it! Karl, come down the slide with me!" Saoirse demanded, grabbing the boys hand and leading him to the play equipment, making us laugh.

I heard a sniffle to my left, and looked over at Finn, who was rubbing his eyes.

"You okay, darling?" I asked, feeling concerned for my husband.

"She called me her brother," Finn mumbled, cheeks going red, and I gave him a soft smile, reaching up and brushing away a stray tear on his cheek.

"She loves you, you know," I replied softly, turning back to the kids and placing my head on his shoulder.

"We both do," I added, moving my head to look up at him, just in time to catch the ends of his lips quirk up.

•••

THIRD PERSON'S POV

The Golds (bar you and Saoirse), the Shelbys (bar Finn and Karl), The Jesuses, Johnny Doggs and his brood, Charlie Strong, Curly, and Hilda had not long ago finished dinner, then the rest of the guests went back to their houses, having spent the afternoon with Saoirse.

You sat in Finn's rocking chair, watching as Daisy, Karl, and Saoirse played with Saoirse's new toys, now dressed up with outfits from the dress up chest. They had dressed up the cat and the dogs too. You had also been roped into dressing up, putting your wedding dress on, as well as a pair of wings from Saoirse's dress up chest, borrowing a stick from the garden outside and wrapping some streamers around it. You made a damn good faerie if you did say so yourself.

Finn was currently in the office, doing something for Tommy, which annoyed you slightly. Tommy couldn't even respect the fact that it was Saoirse's birthday.

"Faerie godmother (Y/N)! Make Finn come out here and play dress up with us," Saoirse demanded, making you snort.

"Oh, my dearest goddaughter, princess Saoirse, I don't believe I'll be able to pull the noble Mr Shelby from his work," You sighed theatrically, throwing the back of your palm onto your forehead to add a dramatic effect.

The children giggled at your antics.

"Well, if you can't pull him away from work, maybe we should," Daisy suggested, fiddling with the tail on the dinosaur one piece she was wearing, making the rest of the kids cheer.

"Chivalrous knight Karl, lead us on this journey!" Saoirse commanded, and Karl hopped up from his spot on the floor, then helped the girls up, leading them to the office.

You followed them, intrigued about what was going to happen.

Karl knocked on the door, and Finn called out 'come in'. Karl swung the door open, and the trio entered the office. You came to stand in the doorway, leaning against the door jamb with your arms crossed.

"Finn, you've got to come play dress up with us." Saoirse ordered, looking at the man sat at the table.

Finn sighed, rubbing his temples. You frowned at the sight of your obviously stressed husband.

"Sersh, he's busy, come on," You said, getting ready to usher the kids from the room.

"No, no. I'll come out and play, just give me a few seconds to pack up," Finn reassured your sister, finally looking up from the papers that littered his desk.

He walked around his desk, and rubbed his knuckles against her cheek affectionately.

The children cheered and ran past you, back down the hall to the living room. Your husband came over to you, leaning down and planting a kiss on your lips.

"You sure you're okay to play dress ups? There's cupcakes in the oven, I'll remind them of those, they'll forget all about it," You told your husband, who shook his head, walking back over to his desk.

"I'll be fine," He replied, gathering all of the papers and putting them into the file they belonged in, then placing that file into the bottom drawer and locking the drawer.

He looked back over at you, taking in the sight of you in your wedding dress, hair loose and over your shoulder. You looked gorgeous. An absolute vision.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," You teased your husband, gave a boyish grin in reply.

"A picture wouldn't be able to hold a candle to the real deal," Finn said cheekily, making your cheeks flush.

"Finn! Hurry up!" Saoirse commanded from the living room, and you and your husband headed down the hallway to them.

"I'm here," Finn announced as he stepped through the doorway, and immediately got a clown costume thrown his way.

"Go put that on, then we're going to paint nails," Saoirse informed him.

"Yes boss," Finn replied with a grin, then headed back down the hallway to the bathroom.

"(Y/N), come sit. Karl's got to do your nails, then you do Daisy's, then she does Finn's, and Finn does mine. I've already done Karl's nails," Saoirse explained, and Karl showed you his orange nails.

"They look very nice," You complimented as you went and sat in front of Karl, who was already opening a yellow bottle of nail polish.

Smart boy.

Finn entered the living room, his curly hair ruffled by the clothes he had taken off and the costume he had put on. You bit back a laugh as you looked at your husband.

Saoirse explained the nail polish order to him, and he sat in front of Daisy, who gave him a set of immaculately painted hot pink nails.

As Finn blew on his nails to dry them quicker, you couldn't resist a laugh at your husband. Daisy then scolded you for not paying attention to her nails, and you hurriedly went back to painting her nails red. Once you had finished her nails, you got up to check on the cupcakes.

As soon as you walked through the doorway to the kitchen you heard the timer you set go off with a 'ding!'

You got the cupcakes out of the oven, and placed them onto a cooling rack. You placed three cupcakes onto a tea towel, then hid the bundle in the pantry, and headed back to the living room, cooling rack in your hands.

"Alright, you lot, let's head up to Saoirse's room and settle down. We can eat the cupcakes once they've cooled down." You announced, and the kids started to move upstairs.

You noticed how sluggish they seemed, but you knew they'd get second wind once they ate the cupcakes.

"I'll start popping balloons," Finn told you, and you nodded, then headed upstairs, being careful not to drop any cupcakes.

"Hey, (Y/N), can you braid our hair?" Saoirse asked as you sat the cupcakes on the foot end of her bed.

You heard Finn popping a balloon already.

"Yeah, I can," You answered, kicking a balloon out of your way.

Daisy and Duke didn't seem bothered by the balloons, to your surprise.

"Want Finn to pop these balloons or leave them?" You questioned, gathering all of the balloons on her floor near the door.

"Pop those ones," Saoirse decided, and you kicked them out into the hallway and shut the door.

Karl handed you the brush, comb, and hair ribbons. You thanked the boy, and started with Saoirse's hair first, doing twin French braids.

"Want the same ones as her?" You asked Daisy, and she shrugged.

You decided to go the same as Saoirse's. Once she was done, you told the kids they could have their cupcakes. They all got three each. They ate their cupcakes in silence as they struggled to stay sitting upright. You chuckled at the trio. Once they were done, you tucked them into Saoirse's bed, then turned on her nightlight, and left the room, cooling rack in hand.

You shuffled along the hall, kicking all of the balloons in the upstairs hall down the stairs, where your husband was having a spot of fun stabbing them to pop them. You grabbed all of the streamers that were in the upstairs hallway, and ambled downstairs and into the kitchen, washing everything up, then sitting them on the drying rack. By the time you were done, Finn had started pulling the streamers down. You pulled down the ones in the kitchen and the downstairs hallway, then placed them on your armchair, Finn doing the same. Once you were done the streamers, you pulled down the banner, carefully folding it up.

Finn felt slightly disappointed that there were no more cupcakes left, but no matter. Saoirse had a good day and that was all that mattered.

"We've three cupcakes to share," You informed your husband, making him grin as you lead him into the kitchen and into the pantry.

You grabbed the tea towel and unfolded it, giving your husband a cupcake and devouring your own. Finn wasted no time eating his. When you reached for the last one, you heard the kitchen door swung open, making you freeze.

"I'm not sharing a cupcake with a child half my size," Your husband whispered as you stood up, handing him the tea towel and cupcake.

"Shut up," You hissed, but he words held no malice.

You exited the pantry, and found Daisy there, looking very tired.

"Thirsty," She mumbled, and you got her a bottle of milk from the fridge, telling her to take it up to Saoirse's room so none of them had to come back downstairs.

She did what you asked, and you headed back into the pantry, where Finn was in the process of splitting the cupcake in half.

"You can have the big half if you give me a kiss," Finn offered with a smirked.

You rolled your eyes, smiling softly, and placed a chaste kiss on your husband's lips.

"I would have kissed you anyway," You told your husband, who grinned.

"I would have given you the big half anyway," He replied, making you smile at him.

"To a successful sleepover!" You declared quietly, holding your cupcake half in the air.

Finn did the same, and you started giggling again.

As you sat in the pantry in your wedding dress, your husband in a clown outfit, the pair of you giggling into the night you decided that life, as this very moment, was good.

§§§

Not proofread because I am tired Oof

Also you guys aren't ready for chapter 43; I've got the biggest surprise AHHH

Also sometimes the published date can be earlier than the date I published it here because I use the date that I published the chapter on Wattpad :))

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

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@toothlessmcleod

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NEXT PART

Part 34

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 20

PUBLISHED: 11/06/2022

!!FIRST PART HERE!!

Part 1

MASTERLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You woke up in the comfort of your vardo, looking up at the star covered roof, and hissed, feeling your head pound. You were grateful Finn slept in your bed, because it made you cover all of the windows for his comfort.

You had stayed the night at your family's camp, not wanting to stay around the family that made Finn believe that his brother was dead, not for longer than you needed.

It was unnecessary and cruel to him, and to you. You actually took a liking to Arthur, and that's saying something. You didn't like very many people, but Arthur, with his crude jokes and claps on the shoulder and always making someone move out of their seat so you, the wife of his kid brother, could sit down, had weaselled his way into your heart.

You'd have to admit that you also admired him for stepping up, and becoming a father figure to the younger Shelby siblings after their actual father had left them.

To your surprise, Finn begged to come with you, even after you asked him to stay so he could be with Arthur when Arthur woke up. Finn said that he'd just wake up early and take the car back to Tommy's. You ended up giving in, and letting him come, telling him you'd both take your wagon back to Tommy's in the morning, as Tommy had agreed to let your family camp there, as long as there was no conflict between yours and the Lee family.

You sat up and fumbled around for the canteen you had filled with water last night, finding it just above the cat and dog. Tuck and Finn Junior had gotten along well, which was another thing you were grateful for. You had a lot to be grateful for these days.

You uncapped the canteen, putting it to your lips and taking big gulps of the water inside, then closing it and laying back down, not feeling up to moving yet.

Finn shifted beside you and groaned, bringing a hand up to massage his temples. You wordlessly handed him the canteen, and he leaned up, then took a drink like you had just done, but managed to spill some, the drops rolling down his chest.

If you had looked a little longer than necessary at the droplets and the trails that they left along his sharp jawline and broad chest, maybe Finn was too hungover to notice. Or maybe he didn't care.

A knock in a particular pattern sounded upon the door of the vardo. You recognised the knock as Saoirse's. You looked at Finn, raising your eyebrows, and he nodded.

"Come in," You called out, and the door creaked open.

Footsteps padded along the floor, then the curtain separating your bed from the rest of the caravan was pulled back. Finn helped your little sister clamber up and over him, to go snuggle into your side. You jolted as her cold feet touched your legs.

"Hungry," She said simply, and you sat up, grabbing the biscuits that you stored in a blue tin on a shelf above your window, and sat them next to her.

"I don't want to eat your biscuits," Saoirse whined — she knew you loved them.

"I love you, I want you to eat well. Have these while I go cook," You commanded your sister, rubbing her messy hair.

"Is that why you cook for us all sometimes? Cause you love us?" Saoirse asked as she attempted to pry the lid off of the biscuits.

Finn wordlessly leaned over and did it for her.

"Yes," You replied truthfully, then prodded Saoirse's side.

"Thank you, Finn." Saoirse said, then bit into a biscuit as she sat up.

"It's alright," Finn replied, leaning out of the curtain and  scrabbling around, then produced a throw blanket, wrapping it around Saoirse.

"We gonna warm up the stew from last night?" Finn asked you, knowing it would still be out on the fire in the big cast iron camp oven.

"Yes — I'll grab the ferrets, there's rabbit holes around here, as you'd already know." You said, your lips turning up at the sides.

Finn groaned at the memory of him stepping in a hole last night, "It's not funny, I could've done my ankle!"

"Poor bitty baby," You pouted, then felt your own stomach grumble.

"You can take Daisy and Duke, they're under here," Saoirse offered, and you wiped the crumbs from the corners of her mouth, thanking her.

"I'll grab Daisy and Duke," Finn announced, sliding out of bed and standing up, waiting for a bit until he felt steady on his feet.

He loved those basset hounds. He pulled on his clothes, then his boots. You clambered out of bed, stretched, then put your own clothes on.

If Finn stared at you a bit too hard as you stretched, your nightgown clinging to your curves perfectly as you did so, maybe you were too hungover to notice. Or maybe you didn't care.

"You want to come with us or you want to stay here in the warm?" Finn asked your sister as you brushed your hair and pulled it back into a plait.

"Stay here in the warm." Saoirse decided, shooing Finn Junior away as the cat tried to eat a biscuit she was holding in her hand.

Finn handed her the water filled canteen and moved Tuck up next to her, where he promptly laid down and went back to sleep. You watched as he made your little sister comfortable, straightening up the blankets so she, and the dog, and the cat, was fully covered.

Even in the cold of your caravan, you felt a warmth spread through your chest as Finn asked your little sister if she needed anything more. After watching your sister shake her head, Finn pinched her toes through the blankets, making her squeal and roll around, messing up the perfect pile that Finn had just painstakingly crafted. You gasped, and, to your surprise, instead of getting mad, Finn just grinned down at her, chuckling as he pinned the curtains back.

You stood up and dusted yourself off, shaking your head to rid yourself of your last thought. Finn wasn't the type to get mad at little kids for being kids, you knew that. Kind. That's what he was. You were sure you'd never be able to say it to his face. You weren't very good with words.

"You're not to move from here while we're gone, until someone comes and gets you," You told your younger sister sternly as you and Finn exited your vardo.

She said something in reply, muffled by the biscuits, and you shut the door.

"Not allowed to move?" Finn asked as you headed over to Bonnie's vardo.

Bonnie owned the ferrets that you and your family hunted with, winning them in his very first scrap in a fairground.

"Dad used to scare us with stories of children stolen from fairgrounds because they left their caravans — children turned into pickpockets and whores. I still get scared, even when we're only camping with family." You admitted, and a shiver went up Finn's spine as you knocked on the door of your brother's vardo.

He had been told the stories too, by Aunt Poll and Uncle Charlie, then Arthur, to stay away from certain streets as the sun went down, because that's where kids from Watery Lane went missing. Maybe you two weren't as different as he thought.

•••

Saoirse danced happily around the fire as you finished skinning the last rabbit you had caught. Finn had ended up going back to get Saoirse as you two were the only two adults awake.

"Can you go and light the fires under the tubs?" You asked your husband, lighting the fire under the stew then starting another to cook the rabbits on.

Finn shifted his weight from foot to foot, "I forgot my lighter."

"Just use sticks," Saoirse supplied, now picking a bur out of Finn Junior's fur.

"I don't know how," Finn admitted, cheeks red.

You looked up at him, then stood up, telling your sister to watch the stew and the rabbits and warning her to not play in the fire or you would stew her dogs next.

"Cruel," Finn mused as you led him to the washtubs.

"It works," You muttered, then knelt down, a pile of kindling already under each of the two tubs.

Finn had fetched the water whilst you had skinned the rabbits, thankfully. He also put the curtains up around the tubs, for privacy.

"I'll show you how to light a fire with sticks, come here," You mumbled, grabbing Finn's hand and leading him to sit down next to you.

You demonstrated it for him, then watched as he attempted to do it under another. He sighed when his stick broke, and you silently produced another from your pocket.

"Try again," You encouraged, and Finn could hear the motherly lilt to your voice.

He tried it again, and he did it. You quietly cheered and clapped for him, mindful of everyone still sleeping. According to your watch, gifted to you by Bonnie with the winnings from his very first professional boxing match, it was only seven am.

Saoirse must have woken up early. You wondered who she slept with, because Ezzie wasn't home, probably with Isiah, Bonnie stayed at Tommy's, bedding one of the maids, and your Father followed Polly Gray home. Maybe one of your extended family looked after her.

"Sersh, who did you sleep with?" You asked your sister after you and Finn had trotted back over to the fire.

Finn rotated the rabbits on the spit. You'd probably end up eating it for lunch, on the road.

"I slept with Daisy and Duke in Dad's vardo." Your sister answered, making you look at Finn, who looked surprised as you, then at your younger sister, "What?"

"No one else had any room for me and Oscar has the flu so I couldn't sleep with him and Aunt Molly!" Saoirse defended, and you exhaled through your nose, and nodded.

Usually, she slept with you in your vardo, not wanting to sleep in Aberama's vardo now that she was 'bigger', but you supposed that she wouldn't want to sleep next to Finn.

"We would've had room for you," You insisted, and Finn agreed, making Saoirse look at him in surprise.

"The next time I'm here and there's no other place to sleep except for (Y/N)'s caravan, you come tell us. I'll sleep on the couch, and you can sleep with your sister, yeah?" Finn explained, and Saoirse gave a quiet 'yeah' in reply, bouncing on her heels.

You felt the warm feeling in your chest again as Saoirse sat down next to Finn, talking to him and asking him about his life as a non-traveller.

Finn was pleased too, that he was getting through to your sister. The last thing he wanted was another child like him, scrabbling around for a place to sleep that they didn't really want to sleep in. Scrabbling around to sleep in places that wasn't with their family, where little children belonged. Yes, your extended family was still family, but it wasn't the same. Finn knew it from the bottom of his heart, and was confident that you did too.

•••

After travelling back to Tommy's house in your vardo, Finn, your sister, your dog, and your cat sat in the seat of your wagon with you, you had one of your moments, ignoring Finn once more. That's how he ended up at the house, sat at Arthur's feet, sucking on a bottle of whiskey, while you were with your family down at the river setting up camp.

"Lady troubles?" Arthur asked gruffly, nudging Finn with his boot.

He always did know Finn the best.

"Yeah," Finn mumbled as Polly went and sat herself back in the chair across from Arthur's, her tea now made.

"Tell old Arthur what's happening. Maybe I can help," Arthur offered, and Finn sighed, taking a big swig of his whiskey then wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"(Y/N)'s cross, but I don't know what for, because she doesn't tell me!" Finn complained, throwing the hand that wasn't wrapped around the neck of the whiskey bottle up in annoyance.

"Do you ask her what's wrong?" Arthur prodded, and Finn suddenly felt stupid.

"No — But she's fine one minute then funny the next!" Finn added, "I don't know why she does it, and she always pushes me away from her and I don't like it. We're never going to get on well if this keeps on happening, honest."

"Well, next time you should ask her if she's mad at you or not," Polly said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Does she get violent with you?"

"She doesn't throw anything at me, but she does throw things around." Finn answered — He was confident that you wouldn't actually hurt him, you weren't that ill-natured.

"Well stay with her, son, how are you going to get it across that you like her otherwise?" Arthur questioned, making Finn roll his eyes.

"I do stay with her, I'm with her most of the day!" Finn exclaimed, and it was Polly's turn to roll her eyes.

"That's not when it counts. A fool could do that. You're not a fool, you're a Shelby. You stay with her when she's cross until she feels better or until she tells you to get your freckled face away from her, are we clear?" Polly instructed the boy, who swallowed and nodded.

"Good lad," Arthur quipped, clapping Finn's shoulder.

Finn leant into Arthur's hand.

"You remember your wedding?" Polly prompted.

Finn grimaced. How couldn't he? Polly asked some fucking stupid questions sometimes.

"You remember how her mother cornered her in that bathroom, Finn? What if she did that day in and day out to that poor girl, telling her she's unlovable and that's why she pushes you away?" Polly asked, taking a sip of her tea.

Finn didn't question her know all tone. If Polly said it like that, it was a fact.

He then thought for a few moments. It did make sense. But you should know that you weren't unlovable. Everyone loved you. You were even starting to grow on Finn.

"She'll know that you're not like Marian. She knows it in her heart, just like I know that I'm not in the tunnels anymore. But, like I do, she might get funny sometimes." Arthur said knowingly, making Finn think and nod at the pair's words.

He wouldn't leave you next time. Leaving was a horrible act, one that he didn't want to do to you anymore.

He stood up, leaning on Arthur's leg as he did so, and pulled on his coat, making his way to the door with the intention of going to you and staying with you if you wished it.

§§§

You guysss I'm sorry for the long wait lol — I've been really really busy

Thank you all for the likes on this series, for the new followers, and for the reviews that you guys give me!

Also I am once again begging for a beta reader lol if you're interested in becoming my beta reader for new chapters of Contrary please let me know!! I can send them to you via email (I have all of my work on a Google Doc), discord, screenshots through social media, whatever works lol

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 21

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 6

PUBLISHED: 17/05/2022

!!FIRST PART HERE!!

Part 1

MASTERLIST

READER'S POV

(A/N: I have absolutely no idea what wedding dress shopping is like lmao bear with me here pls)

I paced back and forth, waiting for Polly and the rest of the girls to arrive.

"Keep on going and you'll tear a hole in the carpet." Finn said, lighting up a cigarette.

"Shut up! I'm going shopping for a dress everyone will see me in, it's stressful!" I snapped, turning around to face him.

He shrugged, "I'm going shopping for a suit today and I'm not walking a quarter mile."

I rolled my eyes as I unwrapped a piece of gum, "The suits are all the same, no one ever looks at suits, it's the bride's dress they all look at."

Finn hummed in agreement, and placed his hands on his stomach as he bounced his leg.

"I've been thinking," He began as I threw the gum into my mouth, "We agreed to be civil, so we called a truce but we don't have terms for the truce. We should make some."

"How smart, do you want a medal?" I snarked, sitting on the coffee table in front of him, crossing one leg over the other, trying to be mindful of the fact I had a dress on for once.

"I'm just saying, it would make stuff a lot easier if we knew what to expect from each other," Finn pointed out.

"That does make sense," I admitted, tucking my hair behind my ears and smoothing it down.

Finn produced a comb from his inner coat pocket and offered it to me. I took it wordlessly, and used it to tame my hair somewhat.

"Maybe you should tie it up?" Finn offered, making me scowl.

"No!" I snapped loudly, making him jump.

"I wasn't gonna fight you over it," Finn grumbled, making me throw the comb at him.

"So, say we do call an official truce, what happens if one of us breaks it?" I asked curiously, leaning forward, placing my forearms across my legs to support my weight.

"Whatever the other says — If I broke the truce you could tell me to run down Watery Lane wearing nothing but a smile, and the other way round," Finn decided, making me smirk.

"That sounds like a spot of fun — let's start making the rules, then," I agreed, and he got up, grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil off of the top of the fireplace, and sat back down, leaning on the coffee table.

"I'll write it up and stick it on top of the mantle so we can always see it, and so you can read it later on," Finn explained, already writing the number one.

I giggled as I realised I read the number — I learned my numbers from one to ten last night, as well as all my letters — Jeremiah called me a fast learner, a praise that kept me in a good mood all last night, even after Finn started on me because I dropped a plate.

"Okay, number one, no stirring each other up," Finn announced, writing it down.

"Number two, no touching me unless I say so," I supplied, leaning back onto my palms.

"I'll make it no touching each other unless the other says so. Number three, don't let the other get insulted in our presence, it will save a lot of fighting." Finn said, writing it down.

I frowned as I thought about how Finn didn't say anything to Linda yesterday.

"Number four, we have the right to walk away during an argument and the other person can't follow us," I added, watching the pencil glide gracefully across the page.

"Number five, look out for and protect each other — we're in the middle of a vendetta, the Italians probably know your family is working with mine, so they could target you too." Finn explained, making me purse my lips and nod.

As Finn put a full stop a knock sounded on the front door, along with Polly calling out. I got off the table, and walked over to the door, opening it.

Ezzie, Saoirse, and Lizzy were all standing there. Saoirse ran forward and cuddled me tightly.

"Are you off then?" Finn asked from behind me, coming to stand next to me.

"Yeah, busy day." Lizzie replied, "We'll see you after, come on (Y/N)."

"See you later," I said to Finn as I linked arms with Ezzie and grabbed Saoirse's hand.

"Miss Polly is driving us and Ezzie's getting in with Miss Ada and Miss Lizzie," Saoirse babbled, walking me over to Polly's car.

"Hey, Poll," I greeted, letting Saoirse slide across the brown seat before hopping into the vehicle.

"Morning," Polly replied, sending me a small smile and setting off, "I heard from a little birdie that you wanted a yellow dress?"

"Yeah, it's my favourite colour," I admitted, "But if I can't find one it's not the end of the world, I don't think we'll find one anyway."

"We'll do our best, my girl," Polly reassured me, making me grin.

"Saoirse, guess what I did last night?" I said to my little sister, watching her fiddle with the end of her coat.

"What?" She replied curiously, looking up at me.

"I learned how to read and write the alphabet, and my numbers up to ten," I said, watching her eyes widen and her jaw drop slightly.

"Can you teach me?" She asked excitedly, bouncing up and down.

"I can try," I replied, turning my eyes onto the road.

Within a few minutes we were outside a boutique named 'Susanna's Seams'. It looked nice enough. Polly stopped the car, and we all hopped out.

"Yellow dresses aren't common, so don't get your hopes up," Polly informed me, and I nodded.

The woman fixing up a mannequin in the window looked like she was going to faint when she saw us all. Polly strutted up to the door and opened it, Saoirse right behind her. I followed the pair, holding the door open for Lizzie, Ada, and Ezzie.

I shut the door behind Ezzie, and looked around. The older, frumpy woman behind the counter looked bewildered.

"(Y/N), flip that sign on the door to closed," Polly instructed, and I did as I was told.

"But we're open!" The woman in the window protested.

"Not until we leave, by order of the Peaky fuckin' Blinders." Polly said, pulling a flask out of her fur coat and taking a swig from it, then pointing the sliver object in my direction, "This young lady needs a wedding dress, something in a yellow shade."

The older woman rushed to the other side of the store, grabbing some dresses off of the rack.

"Sophie, come help," The older woman hissed, making the younger woman dart over and grab another, empty rack and wheel it over to the older woman, who started placing the dresses she gathered onto it.

I sat on a seat next to Polly, watching them scramble around for us. Once that rack was full, Sophie wheeled it over to us, the dresses ranging from a bright, eye catching yellow to a toned down, barely there yellow.

"Here you are," Sophie said, sounding breathless.

I stood up and started looking at the dresses, arranging the ones I liked to one side and the ones I didn't to the other side. I only liked three dresses.

"There's a fitting room over there near Susanna," Sophie pointed over to where the frumpy woman was, and I nodded, dragging the rack over there.

"Ezzie, get up and come help me with the zips." I commanded, and Esmeralda didn't hesitate to jump up and come over.

I grabbed the first dress and headed inside the room, Ezzie hot on my tail. I gave the dress to her, and she hung it behind the door. It was a nice dress, very much like a ball gown, with no straps and a big tulle skirt.

I started getting undressed, and, once I was in my under layers, Ezzie handed me the dress, and I undid the zip, then stepped into it, then she did it up.

"Oh, God, the material's not right, get me out," I urged, and Ezzie leaned over and undid the dress with ease.

I stepped out of it, and Ezzie hung it back up, and opened the door, grabbing the next dress. I tried it on, and the material felt fine, but it was unflattering.

"You look like a half plucked chicken," Ezzie snorted.

"Shut up," I grumbled as she undid me.

She passed the last dress, and I stepped into it, then looked at myself in the mirror in front of us, and I gasped.

It fit me like a glove, and wasn't unflattering in the slightest. It was an off shoulder gown with sheer sleeves ending at my wrists, and a tulle skirt, but it wasn't too big, just right. It had gold detailing on the bodice, which trailed down the dress.

(A/N: This is just the dress that came closest to what I imagined, you can envision your own)

"I feel like that fairy princess in the bedtime story your Mum used to tell us," I murmured, as if being loud would break the magic and the dress would turn into something horrid.

"You look gorgeous, (N/N)," Ezzie whispered as she did up the zip, "Let's go show everyone else."

She led me to where the other women were sitting, and Saoirse squealed.

"(N/N), (N/N), you look — you look so pretty!" She gushed, bouncing in her spot next to Lizzie.

"Gorgeous," Lizzie said sincerely, giving me a small smile.

"You look a vision," Ada confirmed, "If my brother seeing you like that doesn't make him want to skip the ceremony and consummate the marriage I don't know what will."

I blushed and looked away, not used to being complimented.

"Give us a spin, love," Polly encouraged.

"Yes, spin!" Saoirse shouted, clapping her hands.

I spun on the spot, giggling at how the skirt billowed around me.

"I never want to take it off," I told the girls, making Ada ‘aww’.

I felt truely and utterly gorgeous in this yellow wedding dress.

"It doesn't look very yellow," Sophie stated, making me scowl.

"It'll look yellow in the light of the sun, so shut your mouth you ignorant fucking cunt!" I snapped at her, Ezzie placing a hand on my shoulder.

"On the house," Susanna said as I stormed back to the fitting room to get dressed.

"We're Peaky Blinders, it's never any other way." Polly said flatly as Ezzie closed the door behind us, making me snicker, "And that girl there, Sophie, she needs to go — permanently."

Ezzie unzipped the dress, and I stepped out of it, pulling my other dress back on and slipping my feet into my shoes, and we walked back out to the women, Ezzie holding the dress. Sophie came over and Ezzie handed it to her to be bagged.

"Now, I don't want to have all the same style dresses, because what will suit one of you mightn't suit the other — Just pick whatever dress you want, preferably in your favourite colour," I informed the group, "The men can match a tie to a dress."

That had been a detail Finn and I had discussed last night after coming home from Jeremiah's. I didn't want everyone looking the same, we're not fucking blades of grass.

Everyone started getting off the seats and looking for dresses. Ezzie set off towards the green dresses.

I lead Saoirse over to the kids dresses, looking for a white one — Another detail we had agreed upon, the kids wearing plain white and black instead of colours. Saoirse was going to wear a dress that was white with a black sash around it, and Karl was going to wear a plain black suit with a black bow tie. I had no doubt they would have everyone clucky.

•••

We managed to get everyone the dress they wanted. Polly had picked a gorgeous purple dress, Ada snagged a dark blue, Lizzie grabbed a deep red, and Ezzie picked a bold green. The best part was that everyone looked absolutely, effortlessly beautiful in their dresses. That and the fact that we got all of the dresses for free.

I decided to keep my dress up in Polly's spare room. She didn't want me keeping it at the house in case Finn saw it.

The girls and I discussed my somethings; something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, and I had picked them out successfully, except for my something new, because apparently Finn was covering that for the pair of us.

The something old was going to be Birdie Boswell's pearl earrings. I was hesitant to wear them, but Polly said that they were passed down to her and she could therefore pass it down to whoever she damn well pleased. My something borrowed was going to be the tie from Dad's own wedding suit that he wore when he got married to Ezzie, Bonnie, and Saoirse's mother, Rose. I was going to wrap it around my bouquet. My something blue was going to be my undergarments.

On the way home, Saoirse jumped in with Ada, and the rest of us women went to go get my something blue — nice looking undergarments, with a matching garter set. I was planning on burning them as soon as I got home.

I could just wear a blue ribbon on my wrist. What the girls didn't knew wouldn't hurt them.

§§§

I couldn't find any nice obviously yellow dresses 💔💔 buttt champagne is still technically yellow lol

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 7

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 9

PUBLISHED: 22/05/2022

!!FIRST PART HERE!!

Part 1

MASTERLIST

READER'S POV

We arrived at the inn. Finn shut the car off, and took a deep breath.

"Do we have to stay for long?" I inquired, looking at him.

"If Tommy wants us to," Finn replied, making me scowl, "And we've got wedding photos before we eat, so you might want to wipe that ugly look off of your face."

"Shut up before I take off one of my garters and strangle you with it," I threatened, using the rear view mirror to make sure I looked halfway decent.

"How sadistic," Finn commented, making me roll my eyes and get out of the car.

"You'd love every minute of it," I snarked, then hissed at the feel of the street on my bare feet.

I should've went home and grabbed my boots. You wouldn't have even seen them due to my gown.

Finn got out, and we walked into the inn together. He put a hand on the small of my back as a staff member came over and guided us to the area that Tommy had rented out for the reception. Half of the room had tables that were lined with all sorts of food, and circular tables for us to sit at whilst eating. The other half of the room was cleared, most likely being our dance floor. The staff member lead us to a little room past that, where a camera and backdrop was set up.

"Linda's gonna take the photos, then Jeremiah's gonna help us sign the paperwork to make it official," Finn informed me, then the devil herself entered the room.

"Oh, don't you two look lovely," She said in what sounded like a mocking tone.

"Linda, shut the fuck up and don't antagonise my wife." Finn told her abruptly, which made me start sniggering then full on cackling.

She looked at us like Finn had just pulled out his revolver and shot her with it. She huffed, then stomped off, her heels muffled by the carpet floor.

"Right, where's the happy couple?" I heard a voice call out from behind us, making us turn around.

Arthur strutted over, and clapped Finn on the back, and nodded at me.

"Groomsmen first!" Ezzie called out, and Finn moved to go stand in front of the backdrop.

"Finn," I grabbed his arm.

He turned to me, and I quickly looked over him, making sure he was decent.

His tie was askew, so I adjusted it.

"There, now you're okay," I said, making him nod and walk off.

•••

FINN'S POV

I hated this. You and I had to sit at a table all by ourselves whilst we ate. I checked my pocket watch. Exactly half an hour ago we signed the papers to make it official. You were now (Y/N) Shelby. You argued with Tommy for about ten minutes over having to change your name, your brother had to come in and settle you down.

"Can't you eat something instead of pushing it around on your plate?" I scolded you, sick of watching you play around, "My people worked hard to get this food ready."

Johnny Dogs, Curly, and Uncle Charlie had led a team of people to cook for us. I had already finished my food, and was now waiting for you to eat something so you wouldn't be hungry all night.

You rolled your eyes, "I'm not hungry."

"Eat at least the pasta so you have some lining on your stomach for later on," I reasoned, being very familiar with the horrible feeling of drinking on an empty stomach.

You stabbed your fork into your pasta angrily, and ate it. I moved my chair closer to yours, grabbing my own knife and fork to cut up your pork, knowing the pasta alone wouldn't be enough to fill you up.

"I talked to Tommy when we were getting photos done, after we make our rounds we have to stay for at least half an hour, after that we can go home. Everyone will be too plastered to notice." I notified you, making you nod.

People were already up and milling about, drinking. Tommy got the band to start playing music about five minutes ago. You were taking too long for us to walk around to peoples' tables. You finished the pasta, and  put your fork down.

"Now some meat." I urged, making you scowl.

"Uncle Charlie went through the trouble of slaughtering a pig just for this, now give it a rest and finish the meat so we can hurry up and start doing our rounds," I said through gritted teeth.

You didn't move to pick up your fork, so I stabbed my own into the pork and manoeuvred it to your mouth, holding my other hand under the food in case the gravy dripped.

"Tommy and Aberama are watching us, come on," I grunted, making you lean forward and bite the pork.

"Now was that so hard?" I asked, stabbing another piece of meat and eating it myself.

"I'll eat at home, can't we just do our rounds now?" You pleaded.

I let out a deep breath through my nose, but got out of my chair, and pulled out yours.

"Let's go thank Charlie and the boys for cooking before we make any rounds." I said as you stood up and took my arm.

I spotted the men we were looking for in a corner. I led you over to them, grabbing a flute of champagne on the way. Charlie spotted us first, and said something which made Curly and Johnny Dogs spin around.

"Here he is; the man, the myth, the legend." Johnny greeted with a grin, then looked at you and frowned.

"Behave!" Charlie hissed as Curly greeted us.

I introduced you to the three men, and you made polite conversation with Charlie and Curly, Johnny flat out ignoring you.

I'd have to speak to Tommy about it.

"We've got to go make our rounds and see everyone else, thank you for cooking," I said as I started leading you away from the trio.

You and I were already having a shit day, you definitely didn't need Johnny Dogs being a cunt on top of it all.

"I'm finding Ezzie and heading to the bathroom," You muttered, handing me your flute of champagne and walking off.

I headed over to Arthur, and listened mindlessly to the conversation between him, Aunt Polly, and Ada, sipping my drink every now and again.

After a bit, Tommy came over.

"Finn, where's your wife?" He asked shortly, making me shrug.

"She's with her sister," I answered, and Tommy shook his head impatiently.

"Look over there, boy." Tommy instructed, gesturing in a certain direction.

I complied, and your sister was there, but you were nowhere to be seen.

I scanned the room, "Maybe she's in the bathroom still."

"Go find her," Tommy commanded, and I placed my now empty champagne flute and your still full one on the table next to us.

"Aunt Poll, can you come for a walk?" I asked, making her nod and give her alcohol to Ada.

I figured that if you were crying Polly could comfort you. I wasn't the best with crying people.

"I'll come too," Arthur announced, downing the rest of his drink.

We walked hurriedly to the nearest bathroom. Through the closed door, we could hear a woman yelling at someone. I furrowed my brows and put my ear up to the door, Polly doing the same. Arthur pushed me down so he had room to put his ear to the door.

"I don't know why they brought you here, because now you're tangled up in their fucking business! You're untrustworthy and you're too angry to do anything right!" The woman shouted, then a sharp thwack sounded through the air, indicating that someone had been slapped.

"And you've got yourself mixed up with a man! How stupid can you be, you're going to end up fucking pregnant at sixteen. I pity the poor chap because you're ugly and unloveable, and that's why I never ever told anyone new that you were my daughter." The woman hissed.

"Poor bird," Polly murmured as I began to stand back up.

The next thing we heard was a barely audible 'I'm sorry mummy', and I felt my heart drop.

"Oh God, that's my bird," I panicked, trying the door handle but finding it locked.

"Move, boy," Polly snapped, pulling a revolver from her handbag and shooting handle off of the door.

I pushed the door open, and you were knelt on the floor, your face in your hands, blood seeping through your fingers. Your shoulders were shuddering as you sobbed and spoke in unintelligible Shelta.

"Marian Jones," Polly hissed, as if the very words tasted sour on her tongue, "How dare you show your face here again."

You looked up, and I could see that one cheek was redder than the other, and that your lip was busted. Blood was pouring from your nose. You didn't waste any time getting up from the floor and running to me. You body collided with mine, and I let out an 'oof' as I put my arms around you.

"Arty, go get Tommy and Aberama," I said, and I heard Arthur turn on his heel and start jogging.

You were holding onto me for dear life. I could feel your tears wetting my shirt.

"You've got some fucking nerve coming here and starting on my wife," I seethed, "You're lucky that I don't take your eyes out here and now."

Marian scoffed, rolling her eyes. She looked drunk.

"If it were up to me, I'd take out your tongue and your eyes so you could never have the honour of speaking or seeing to this poor girl ever again." Polly spat as Aberama, Bonnie, and Tommy approached us.

"Your lovely ex flame came to visit," Polly commented dryly as I rubbed your back.

"I'll take her home," I announced, making Bonnie nod as Aberama walked in and grabbed Marian roughly.

I took off my suit coat and wrapped it around you, leading you to my car. I put you into the passengers seat, then slid over the hood with ease and hopped into the drivers seat, starting the car and beginning the short drive back to Watery Lane. You were reduced to sniffles.

•••

You and I had been laying in your bed for a bit, still in our wedding clothes. You were curled up at my side, head on my shoulder. Every time I tried to move you’d whine. I hated you clinging to me like this. You weren’t supposed to be like this, ever. You were meant to be fire and passion and witty remarks that made me wish I had come up with them. Not the pitiful girl that laid beside me now, eating her cold pancakes.

You shifted your head, and I could feel a something stiff. A bobby pin.

“Want me to undo your hair?” I asked softly, making you nod.

“I trust you,” You mumbled.

I ignored the odd remark and started carefully undoing your hair, placing the flowers and pins on the bedside table.

“Thank you, for upholding the truce — Linda.” You explained after I gave you an odd look.

I hummed in reply, but then realised; we had both stirred each other up today.

“We both broke the truce, we stirred each other up today.” I pointed out, making your eyebrows shoot up.

“Does that mean we both have to do something that the other comes up with?” You queried.

I shrugged, “Yeah, them’s the rules.”

You nodded, hard in thought. I already knew what I wanted you to do.

“I want you to apologise to Arthur for the way you kicked that jug at the Garrison.” I informed you, and you nodded.

No frown, no scowl, no protesting and swearing at me, just nodding. It made me feel horrible.

“You’re getting me a cat. I won’t be able to make this place my home without an animal,” You said, “And we’re adopting. I won’t buy any animal.”

I didn’t have the heart to protest, so I nodded. I’d suck it up for a bit. I didn’t like cats, but if it annoyed me too much we could always give it to someone else or it could ‘run away’.

“Feeling up for a trip to Charlie’s Yard?” I asked, knowing there was a ratty grey cat there that was pretty tame.

You nodded, stumbling out of bed and over to your wardrobe. I walked over to you, and unzipped your dress. You quickly stepped out of it and took off your slip, revealing bright blue lingerie, and a belly button piercing. I noticed that it was the same colour as your eyes. You looked stunning, and effortlessly so. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t want to see you like this again.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” You huffed as you rummaged around, finding a pair of pants and a shirt, “And stop staring at my arse.”

I quickly looked out the window. I glanced back at you, and felt disappointed now that you were fully clothed. You pulled on some socks and your boots, not bothering to tie the laces, then we went downstairs. You grabbed some cooked chicken from our lunch yesterday, then wrapped it in a napkin, and off we went, getting into my car and driving us to Charlie’s Yard.

We got out and I led you to the building the cat liked hanging around. It was there, laying in the sun in front of the door.

“Oh, it’s a Maine Coon!” You squealed excitedly as you crouched and offered it some of the chicken.

It came right up to you, and ate the chicken out of your hand.

“It looks big enough to eat us,” I commented as you started stroking it.

“It — He’s gorgeous,” You defended the cat, and picked him up with ease.

He started purring, and didn’t try to get out of your arms at all. I walked up to the pair of you and tried to pet the cat, but he hissed and tried to bite me. Fucking bastard. I’ll make sure to babysit Charles sometime soon so he can terrorise the cat.

“We’re definitely taking this one home.” You announced, and started walking back to the car.

“I’m not going to take care of it, it’s your pet!” I called out as I followed you.

“Fine by me!” You replied, putting the cat into the backseat of the car.

“What are you going to name it?” I asked as I got into the car and started it, curious.

You looked over at the cat as I started driving.

“Hmm, Finn Junior.” You decided, making me scoff.

“That’s a stupid idea,” I told you, making you scowl.

“How?” You demanded, glaring at me.

“Well, if we ever have a kid and it’s a boy, we should name it Finn Junior, and it will be confusing if we also have a cat named Finn Junior.” I explained, making you laugh.

“You think I’d ever let you fuck me? Oh, you’re a funny one,” You sighed, and the cat meowed, as if agreeing, “Finn Junior is a stupid name for a kid, if I ever named a kid after you, it would be your name as a middle name, or a variant of your name for the first name — like Finneas.”

I scrunched my brows together in confusion, but nodded, letting you have it. Why is it that girls always seem to have a list of baby names picked out? Are they born with the list?

“Anyway, he likes Finn Junior, don’t you little Finn?” You asked, and the cat purred.

“You’re only naming him after me to spite me,” I complained as we reached home.

“Obviously,” You agreed, getting out and grabbing the cat out from the back, “If you didn’t say anything about how stupid the name was I would’ve named him something like Thunder, or Binky, or Ted. But, you objected, so now he’s your namesake. He even looks like you, honestly.”

I glanced at the cat’s squashed up face.

“He looks like he ran face first into a wall.” I said dryly, and you gasped, scooping him up and telling him to ignore the mean, ugly man driving the car.

You stepped away from the car, shutting the door. I made sure you were inside before glancing at the rear view mirror. I absolutely did not look like that bastard.

I’m sure you were only put on God’s green Earth to irritate me.

§§§

Another chapter done!! Marian does have a bigger hand in the plot, I’m not just bringing her back for this one scene lol.

Love y’all ❤️

- Sunflower x

NEXT PART

Part 10

CONTRARY - FINN SHELBY X READER; PART 39

PUBLISHED: 15/07/2022

Part 1

MASTERLIST

TAGLIST

THIRD PERSON'S POV

You sat at your dining table, listening to the noise coming from inside as Finn, Saoirse, Daisy, Karl, Aberama, Bonnie, Isiah, and Oscar all worked together to cook breakfast — brunch, now, you mused as you looked at your watch.

It was Mother's Day today, and Finn and Saoirse were originally going to cook just you breakfast, but then Saoirse wanted to cook something for Ezzie, and Polly, and Ada, and Hilda. Jeremiah, who Isiah always celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day with, was also invited. That was how that lot, as well as Isiah, Aberama, Karl, and Daisy ended up here. Saoirse then called Bonnie and demanded that he come and help cook or he wouldn't be a part of the family anymore (an empty threat, of course, but the cooking would feel incomplete without him). He ended up bringing Oscar, who was a welcomed addition.

You ended up taking the table outside so you could enjoy the weather, which wasn't all that bad at the moment.

You could hear your father instructing Saoirse on how to scramble the eggs properly. The smell drifted down to you and made you feel queasy, so you drank some of your ginger beer to fight it. This didn't go unnoticed by Polly, who poured you a cup of tea.

"Try some tea, love. Maybe it'll settle your stomach," She suggested, pushing the cup towards you.

You took it gratefully, sipping away.

"You're not reading my leaves, though," You warned the woman, seeing right through her antics.

She sighed, then looked at Esmeralda, who cocked an eyebrow as if to say 'I told you so'.

"What are you two on about?" You demanded, feeling terribly left out.

"Nothing," The two replied quickly, making it know that they were very much on about something.

"Oh, god, what's wrong with (Y/N)?" Ada questioned, knowing that the only time Polly read leaves was when someone had something big happening to them.

"Something's wrong with (Y/N)?" Hilda asked hurriedly, eyeing you worriedly.

"She looks fine," Jeremiah commented, sipping on his coffee as he read the newspaper, not even bothering to look at you or entertain the women's antics.

"Nothing's wrong with me!" You snapped, a bit louder than you should've, waking Finn Junior from his nap at your feet.

He yowled in protest, swiping at your ankles, making you yelp.

"Tell me what you two are going on about before I take your eyes out with a spoon," You threatened, narrowing your eyes at the pair sitting across from you.

Ezzie and Polly looked at each other, then back at you.

"I had a dream that you gave birth," Ezzie admitted, making you scoff.

"Your dreams are always hit-and-miss," You pointed out, she didn't always have dreams that came to be like you did.

You conveniently left out the fact that you also had a dream that you went into labour. It didn't feel like a prophetic dream. Just a normal dream. Wishful thinking. You knew the difference.

"And that is why I want to read your leaves," Polly added, making you huff as you tipped the remains of the cup out onto the ground, leaves and all, then slammed the cup back down onto the table, hard.

You were surprised that the cup didn't break.

The pair took that as a sign to take a step back. Hilda placed a hand on yours, and squeezed it comfortingly.

"If she was having a baby she would've told you all," Jeremiah pointed out, placing his newspaper down, not seeing any point to the women's nonsense.

You all sat tensely, waiting for brunch to be cooked and brought out.

"Is something burning?" Ada broke the thick silence, and you went to snap at her for saying something so ridiculous, but you soon smelled the scent yourself.

You all quickly looked back over at the house, and through the window you could see Finn, now rushing around with a smoking frying pan, everyone else in the kitchen laughing at him.

He left through the kitchen door, and after a few beats he appeared through the side door, rushing to the railing and throwing the burnt stuff onto the ground.

"What did you manage to burn, Finny boy?" Jeremiah called out to the boy, and Finn rolled his eyes.

"He burnt the onion!" Saoirse yelled out of the window, giggling.

"You shush, little miss," Finn commanded, pointing the frying pan at her, but grinned as she still giggled away.

"Finn, I was looking forward to having onion on my hamburger. Bee, divorce your husband," Ezzie joked, and you chuckled.

"I shall have to, the smell of burnt stuff stinks," You complained, screwing up your nose as you took a sip of your ginger beer.

"You know, they sort of look like you, (Y/N)," Finn said as he looked down at the burnt mess, then up at you.

"Finn Theo Shelby, stop comparing me to fucking onions! Push my buttons again and you're sleeping on the couch tonight," You said to your husband, narrowing your eyes at him, and the people around you started cackling.

"Love you," Finn threw over his shoulder before walking back inside.

•••

You all had a good brunch. Oscar and the kids had washed up and put away, and now you were all scattered around the house, either napping or relaxing. The kids were out on the play equipment with the cat and dogs.

You were stood in the kitchen with Ada, eating some leftover muffins, pencilling in Saoirse's next dentist appointment on the calendar. Ada came over and bumped you to the side, then started flipping around the calendar herself.

"What in the fuck are you looking for?" You asked her as she counted days, flipping back and forth between the pages.

"Couldn't find it, doesn't matter," She replied, and you rolled your eyes, downing the last of your drink.

"You right watching the kids? I feel tired," You said, and she nodded telling you to go and sleep and that she'd get the kids inside to colour so she could nap too.

You walked out to the hallway, and stuck your head through the doorway of the living room, where all of the couches were taken. Oscar and Bonnie were asleep on the couches in front of the fire. Hilda and Jeremiah were asleep on the couches surrounding the green rug.

You headed down the hallway to the smaller guest room, and stuck your head in the doorway there. Isiah and your sister were sound asleep, your sister snoring softly. You looked across the hall. Polly and Aberama.

You walked back down the hallway, into the living room and up the stairs, going down to your own room.

Finn was making himself comfortable in the bed, eyes half closed as he did so. You wasted no time kicking off your shoes and crawling into bed with him.

Finn quickly moved so he was flush against you, humming contentedly as you drifted off to dreamland, your husband not far behind you.

§§§

Chapter forty is next — it feels surreal to have a fanfic with such a high chapter count lmao

Also, honest question to you readers; Would you prefer me to follow the plot of the show and kill off Bonnie, or leave him alive?

Love y'all ❤️

- Sunflower x

TAGLIST

@meadownicolee

@toothlessmcleod

@im-your-possession

@bethabear12

@paisley-37

@shelundeadxxxx

@bluehairdie

@krillfromsky

@cucumberfingefsandwiches

NEXT PART

Part 40