The next day, the Garrisons was alive and busy. People was chatting loudly and even singing loudly and laughing. Maddie couldn't help but smile at the sight as she refilled drinks, chatting with the customers and laughing with some of the drunk men. What shocked her the most was Tommy Shelby was even smiling, she noticed it straight away when she walked into the private room in the garrisons carrying a bucket of beer.

Her light blue eyes immediately locked onto his ice blue ones. Maddie has never really seen him smile before but couldn't deny it was a sight to see he looked even more handsome. Maddie shook her head getting out her trance as she heard the Shelby's brothers bantering and laughing with one another when John smiled brightly looking at the blonde and teased her, " Alright, blondie. Is it just me or do you get even more beautiful every time I see you"

Maddie couldn't help but laugh as she shook her head in amusement before glancing at Tommy seeing his eyes are already on her before asking, "Did you want whiskey as well?" Tommy shook his head in response and answered, "No, just beer" Arthur shared a look with John before looking at Tommy and asked, " Why no whiskey, Tommy? You expecting trouble?"John couldn't help but snicker in amusement hearing the horrible singing from the main bar as he spoke up and asked , " Jesus Christ, Tommy, what the hell made you let them sing? They sound like they're strangling cats out there"

Maddie who was cleaning the table looked up to see Tommy already staring at her making her give him a small smile and he muttered, " I wonder the same fucking thing" Maddie raised her brows in amusement grabbing the empty glasses and left the private room only for Arthur to chuckle under his breathe as he noticed the look his brother was giving the blonde girl, " Now, what did make you change your mind though, Tommy? Hmm?"

John shared an amused look with his brother knowing what he was implying making him tease his brother," Yeah, I mean it's about time, Tommy." Tommy had a confused look of his face looking between John and Arthur and questioned, "Time for what?" John snickered under his breathe and mumbled, "time you took yourself a women. Hmm, maybe Maddie she is gorgeous" Tommy couldn't help but shake his head ignoring his brothers banter and told them, "Just play the bloody hand" Tommy took a drag of his cigarette but couldn't help but agree with them as ever since he's met Maddie he hasn't been able to get her out of his head.

Tommy glanced towards Maddie who was leaning on the bar talking and laughing with some women. Her laugh was so angelic he couldn't help but stare at her longingly and in adoration.Suddenly, the Garrisons door slammed open making the singing and laughing died down as two men came walking in with their guns out and loaded but what shocked everyone the most was the man that followed in behind them.

"Holy shit! It's Billy Kimber" Harry exclaimed frozen in his place next to the blonde woman as Billy Kimber walked past his two men starting at everyone's terrified faces as he looked around and called out, "Is there any man here named Shelby?" When nobody answered he clenched his jaw together tightly before shooting at the ceiling," I said, is there any man here named Shelby?'"

Suddenly, the door to the private room opened as the three brothers stepped out as Tommy looked at Harry and told him, " Harry, get these men a drink. Everyone else go home"As the men sat at the table in the middle of the room, Maddie was helping Harry prepare a drink but before she could serve them she spotted Grace watching the men from the corner, "Grace, you should go home it's not safe" Maddie told her gesturing her head towards the back door only Grace stood still and curiously asked, " who is that?"

"No idea. But it can't be any good" Maddie told her shrugging her shoulders pushing the older women towards the door and told her, "Now, go home" Maddie made sure that Grace left the pub before she approached the men sat by the table on one side sat the Shelby's and the other side was Kimber and his men. Maddie placed the tray on the table as she leaned over handing the glasses of beer to the men trying to ignore Kimber's lustful states at her.

Tommy looked at Maddie grabbing her hand and told her, "You, go home" Maddie looked at him in confusion and stated, "but Harry said..." Tommy interrupted the blonde women and firmly told her, "I said go home" John placed a hand on her lower back and push her lightly towards the bar as she let out a sigh walking away from the men and behind the bar watching them from afar.

"I've never approved of women in pubs but when they look like that. She's gorgeous" Kimber stated as he looked over at her licking his lips lustfully watching her as she started cleaning the glasses. Tommy clenched his jaw tightly hating the way he was looking at her as he cleared his throat changing the subject said, " you said you wanted men called Shelby. You've got three of them"

"Right, I never heard of you. And then I did hear of you, some little didicoy razor gang. I thought to myself, so what? But then you fucked me over. So now you have my undivided attention. By the way who am I talking to? Who's the boss?" Billy Kimber asked glancing between the three men with a look of annoyance on his face. "Well, I'm the eldest" Arthur spoke up after a moment of silence making Kimber start chuckling in amusement as he looked over at him and muttered, " Clearly"

"are you laughing at my brother?" John threatened glaring at the older man with a look of hate on his face only for Billy's smile to drop from his face as looked at each of the brothers and spoke, " Right, he's the oldest, your the thickest. I'm told the boss is called Tommy and I'm guessing that's you cause your looking me up and down like I'm a fucking tart" Maddie sighed running her hand through her hair as she glanced at the men as Tommy shrugged his shoulders and resorted, "I want to know what you want "

The skinny man sat by Kimber wearing glasses spoke up and told them, "There were suspicious betting partners at kemptom park. A horse called Monaghan boy. He won by a length twice and then finished last with £3,000 bet on him" Tommy looked between the two men and repeated what Billy had asked him a couple of moments ago, "Which one am I talking to? Which one of you is the boss?" Maddie watched Kimber shift in his seat as it was clear he was getting sick with their games.

" I am Mr Kimber advisor and accountant " the man started to explain only for Billy to cut him off as he stood up from his chair and shouted, "And I'm the fucking boss, okay? Right, end of parley, you fixed a race without my permission. You fucking gypsy scum what live off the war pensions of these poor old garrisons lane windows! That's your level! I am billy Kimber, I run the races and you fixed one of them so I'm going to have you shot against a post!"

Billy Kimber was about to leave the pub only for Tommy to call after him, "Mr Kimber " Kimber turned around as Tommy reached into his pocket making the men aim their guns at him as Tommy threw a bullet at Kimber making him catch it, "look at it. That's my name on it, it's from the Lee family. You are also at war with the Lee's Mr Kimber, am I right? The Lee's are attacking your bookies and taking your money. Your men can't control them. You need help"

" perhaps we should listen to what Mr Shelby has to say before we make our decision" Mr Kimber's accountant spoke up only for Tommy to roll his eyes in frustration and pointed out, "Right, the Lee's are doing a lot of talking at the fairs. They have a lot of kin. There saying the racetracks are easy meat because the police are busy with the strikes. Now, we have connections. We know how they operate. You have muscle. Together we can beat them. Divided, maybe not "

"Mr Kimber, perhaps we should take some time for reflection." The accountant advised as Billy was stood silently narrowing his eyes at the Shelby brothers, "Possibly make arrangements for a second meeting " Billy hummed as he was about to say something that was until Tommy interrupted him, "I admire you Mr Kimber. You started with nothing and built a legitimate business. It would be an honour to work with you Mr Kimber" Tommy praised making Maddie immediately roll her eyes knowing he was kissing Mr kimber's ass.

"Nobody works with me. People work for me" Billy told him before he chucked a coin at Tommy's feet, " pick it up, picky"  Everyone watched as the two men stared at each other before Tommy slowly crouched down to pick up the coin only for John to stand up as Tommy lifted his arm to stop his brother  "Sit, sit down" Tommy warned him as John hesitated before slowly sitting back in his seat as Tommy picked up the coin. 

"It's for your ceiling" Billy told them, before leaving the pub only for Tommy to call out after him, "Thank you Mr Kimber " Mr Kimber accountant looked between the brothers and informed, "We will be at the Cheltenham " Tommy nodded his head in response looking at the accountant and told him , " As will i " Arthur waited until Kimber and all his men left the pub before he spoke up, "So, you picked a fight with the lees on purpose? Tommy, we can't mess with billy fucking Kimber"

" get yourself a damn haircut, man. We're going to the races" Tommy said to his brothers before looking at the blonde beauty who was behind the bar as he walked over towards her looking at her up and down and asked, "are you okay?" Maddie sent him a small smile nodding her head, " I'm fine. I'm gonna go home you can lock up before you leave" Tommy watched as Maddie grabbed her coat and bag before leaving the pub it didn't take her long to walk home as she lived down watery lane.

Maddie let out a sigh closing the door behind her, taking off her coat and shoes walking into the living room where her sister was already sat on the couch reading a book looking up when she heard footsteps only to see the expression on her sisters face, " you okay?" Maddie nodded her head placing a smile on her face, " Yeah, just had a rough night. I'm gonna say good night to Peyton and Elizabeth" Maddie walked up the stairs leaning against the doorframe watching her daughters playing with their toys on the bed, " well, well, don't you think it's a little past your bedtime girls"

"I think so" Elizabeth and Peyton spoke in unison looking up at their mom with their eyes dropping with sleep causing Maddie to smile as she climbed into Peyton bed as her daughters immediately snuggled into her arms, "momma, when are we gonna see daddy again" Maddie sighed running her fingers through Elizabeth hair and softly told them, "um, it's just a really tough time right now, girls. You may not understand everything yet, but... your father wasn't always the nicest. Even though things didn't work out between us, I need you to know that he loves you very much."

"You love us" Peyton muttered looking up at her mother whose heart ached at their innocence she pressed another kiss on their heads, "of course I love you. there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you both" Elizabeth let out a small breath as she snuggled in closer, resting her head against her chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, "Will you stay until we fall asleep?" Maddie smiled tightening her arms around her daughters, " sure"