Polly ushered the children into the house, followed by Tommy as he carried a tired TJ. Ada was telling me about how excited she was to see Ellanora tomorrow and was so happy to be spending time with the extended family.

"Right, upstairs, wash-up and off to bed," Polly ordered, clapping her hands and helping Edward up the stairs.

"Are you staying the night?" I asked Tommy, following him into the kitchen as Ada followed Polly and the children upstairs.

"Course," he muttered around a cigarette. He looked shattered and I knew his nightmares were keeping him awake. I had an idea. Something I shouldn't really do because it was interfering but I just wanted him to have one night of restful sleep.

"Can you take TJ up?" I asked, running my hand over the boys head. "I'll make us a brew and bring it up."

Tommy gave a nod, pushing his cigarette in the ashtray and taking our boy upstairs. Once I was sure he was gone, I went over to the pantry and pulled out a vial of dreamless sleep potion and added a dash to Tommy's cup.

I didn't want to trick him like that but I wanted him to have what he deserved and that was a peaceful sleep. I'd speak to him tomorrow night about how I could help and try to get him to understand that it was normal to have nightmares after going through traumatic experiences.

Perhaps it would help if he could see my memories?

"You alright, love?" Polly asked, settling her hand on my shoulder as she came up behind me.

"We'll be fine, Pol," I said, taking the cups and joining Tommy in our room. "I know you're not a tea drinker, but it will help clear your mind," I told him, handing him a cup and set mine down on the bedside table. I pulled my wand from my hair and flicked it at the door, smiling in satisfaction as Tommy watched with wide eyes. I'd never really shown him my magic.

"TJ went right down," he said, rubbing his chin as he removed his clothes and climbed into the bed in just his union shorts, taking a long gulp of his tea.

"He's excited." I slipped my dress off and followed him under the covers in just my slip. We wouldn't get too cold in the room, not with the heating charm I'd placed on the house. "We need to be up early tomorrow so we can pop over to Gringotts. That's where you can do the blood contract to make TJ yours," I told him, running my hand up his chest and settling it over his heart. "We don't need him to be there and I thought I could show you something while we're there."

"Hmm, as long as we're back before he wakes," Tommy muttered, sleep already washing over him.

"We will," I promised, leaning over and taking the teacup from his loose grip. I pressed a kiss to his lips before pulling the blankets up and around him.

***

I woke Tommy the next morning, smiling to see he was quite groggy if disturbed from his sleep.

He dressed in one of his suits. One of the many that had mysteriously appeared in my room. I had a feeling Polly or Ada brought them over.

"Take my hand." I offered him my left hand, turning to face him as he looked at me in confusion. "This might make you feel sick," I warned, before apparating.

Tommy was hunched over, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"Never ... do that ... again," he breathed out, glaring up at my smug smile.

"You'll get used to it."

"Don't know if I want to," he grumbled, following me down the road to Gringotts.

"Don't be alarmed when we enter the bank, the err, the helpers are goblins. They'll be funny looking but don't piss them off," I told him, knowing how proud goblins could be.

Tommy didn't reply, just followed me as we climbed the steps to the bank. It was strange being here as the last time I came to the bank was with Merry.

"Mistress Lupin," a croaky voice said as we stepped into the white marble hall. I was surprised that they even remembered me, but I knew they were probably keeping an eye on me due to the fascination with my time travelling and the family tree they had access to. "How can we help?"

"Oh, umm, we're here to get a blood contract signed."

"I'll take you to Rognar, he can help."

I nodded and followed after him, Tommy trailing behind me. It felt like there was a lot of following going on today and we'd only just begun our day.

"Mistress Lupin, Rognar." I was surprised that this Rognar was not a goblin as I expected him to be. Instead, there was a deadly pale man with messy white hair sitting behind a desk.

"Ah, thank you Brodkus." He rose from his seat and waved us in, a small smile on his face. "Miss Lupin, it's a pleasure to have you here."

"Thank you, Rognar?" I really did sound unsure about pronouncing his name. Why did it seem like he had a goblin name?

"I can only assume you're here for a blood contract?"

"That's right," I said, grabbing Tommy's hand and dragging him to sit in the chair next to me.

"Am I correct in assuming it has to do with Thomas Maravolo Riddle?"

"Yes, my err ..." What was I meant to call Tommy? In this time period, if he was to sign Thomas-J's blood contract he'd have to be my husband. "My husband would like to sign my son's blood contract to make him his son legally."

Yep.

I could see the way Tommy was smiling smugly. Like the pratt he is.

"Ah, that's excellent, Mrs ..."

"Shelby," I said, flicking my eyes over to Tommy as he looked smug.

"Alright then, Mr Shelby, I just need you to prick your finger over this contract," Rognar said, pulling out the contract which I had previously signed with Merry.

"Is that all?" Tommy asked as he placed his hand on the desk where Rognar gestured.

"It's quite simple, Mr Shelby," the man said lifting a needle and pricking Tommy's finger.

It was fascinating to watch as a few drops of his blood dripped onto the contract and swirled down the page until they disappeared into the parchment and his name, in his font, appeared under my name.

"All appears to be in order," Rognar said, taking the contract and rolling it back up. "You should expect some changes in young Thomas within the next couple of weeks. He'll take on more of Mr Shelby's traits both personality and appearance."

"Thank, Rognar," I said, setting my hand on Tommy's arm as he looked confused about the whole situation. I guess I should have explained to him how and what was going to take place.

"Is there anything else we can do for you, Mistress Shelby?"

Merlin's beard. I was going to have to get used to that. Especially if Tommy got his way.

"Actually, I was hoping I could take out some money." Rognar nodded and rose from his chair, gesturing for us to leave the office. "I was also hoping to open an account for Thomas-J."

"All will be sorted, let me take you to Bogrod."

Bogrod?

Why was I familiar with that name?

Rognar escorted us over to one of the goblins sitting behind a desk and muttered to him quietly. While they were being quiet they weren't able to keep the looks of surprise from their faces as they discussed something.

It didn't then come to a surprise to me when Rognar came back to us, a startled look on his face.

"Mistress Shelby? Sorry for any inconvenience ma'am, but it seems there's an ancient vault that appears to be in your name."

"What?"

I hope to all that's ... urgh. I hoped to God it wasn't the Black vault. I did not need anyone from the Black family coming to me with demands I hand back entrance to their vault. If that was even possible.

"Err, it seems you and your son, Thomas Marvolo Shelby, are the sole heirs to the Slytherin fortune."

"What the fuck?" I glared at Tommy as he pinched my elbow at the startled look on Rognar's face. I guess I was a bit startling to the poor man.

"Umm, there's proof that you are descended from Salazar Slytherin?" Why did he make it seem like it was a question?

"Of course I'm no—" I paused thinking back to the blood contract in his office. Of course. Due to the blood contract, I shared Thomas-J's blood which meant that his blood was mine. Which meant that I was also descended from the heir of Slytherin like him. "Oh. Well, yes. On my father's side," I said because technically, the blood contract also made me Merry's sister.

Oh, how I hated the complexity of magic.

"Well, would you be interested in seeing the vault?"

***

Tommy was silent. Too silent.

I could almost see the cogs turning in his head as he thought over what he'd just seen.

"Did you know about it?" he asked referring to what had just transpired.

"No." I was being absolutely truthful with him. "I didn't even think it possible."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'm not sure, Tommy," I said, grabbing his hand and leading him out of Diagon Alley. "Can we think about it in the New Year?"

He didn't reply and I had to smile because he had yet to let go of my hand.

"Where are we going?"

Ah.

So here was the thing.

I was going to kill two birds with one stone.

I just thought that while I was in London I might as well drop in on Alfie.

"Umm, well there's someone here I need to see."

"Who?"

Merlin's beard. Would anyone believe that the Thomas Shelby was as jealous as they got?

"Someone I met in France?"

"Who is he?"

"You know, you sound really jealous right now," I told him, sending him a smile as I squeezed his hand and turned on the spot appearing round the corner outside Alfie's establishment.

"I asked you not to do that," Tommy grumbled, leaning against the wall.

"I don't listen to you, Tommy, surely you know that by now." I turned to the door, not surprised to see men walking in and out of the building. "I'll be back in a minute, it's best if you stay here."

"What? Romy?"

"Just wait here," I told him as I rushed towards the entrance and glared back at him as he tried to take a step towards me. "Stay!"

I wasn't surprised to see people working. Just as Tommy had gotten the Peaky Blinders back on their feet since coming home from the war, Alfie seemed to have done the same thing.

Those that were loyal would always have a job.

"Excuse me, miss, you can't be in here."

I smiled at the young man, happy to see him alive and kicking.

"Hello, Ollie," I said watching his eyes grow wide as he stared at me.

"Nurse Lupin," he spluttered, fiddling with the papers in his hands.

"Is Alfie here?"

"He's in his office," he muttered looking up at the room that stood above the distillery.

"Don't mind me," I said, giving a small wave and marching up the stairs and flinging the door open. "Watcha, Alfie."

"Ya know," he said, looking up from his book and frowning at me. "I don't remember giving you my address."

"I have my ways." I closed the door behind me and dropped into the chair opposite him. "I've just popped in to invite you round for–"

"I don't do Christmas."

"Well, it's a good thing I wasn't inviting you to that." I rolled my eyes at the frown on his face. "New Year's Day we're having a little family get together. I expect to see you there."

"I'm not coming."

"Newt will be round to pick you up."

"Don't expect me there!"

"See you in a week, Alfie!" I called giving him a smile as I left.

Tommy, as was to be expected, was hanging around the front of the distillery trying to convince Ollie to let him in.

"Calm down, Mr Shelby," I teased, resting my hand on his shoulder as he glared at Ollie. "Ollie's just doing his job. Oh, he's in a bad mood, completely my fault."

"When is he not in a bad mood?" Ollie grumbled giving me a small wave as he went back to work.

"Come along, dear, TJ should be up by now."

***

As expected, TJ was up and bouncing around the house.

He was not so surprisingly clinging to Tommy's leg and demanding all the attention to be on him. Of course, also not so surprisingly, Tommy was giving him everything he wanted.

"You're spoiling him," I whispered into his ear as Tommy brushed his hand through the boy's hair as he rested on his lap, ripping open one of his presents.

"Hmm," Tommy replied, leaning over and pressing a kiss to my head. I frowned at him, wondering why he thought buttering me up would let me give in.

"What you got, TJ?" Arthur asked, gaining the boy's attention as he held a toy train in his hand.

"Choo, choo," he said, holding up the scarlet train and I couldn't help but smile at the Hogwarts Express. "New, New," he muttered, pointing at Newt, telling Arthur who got it for him.

"You wizard lot are strange," he grumbled, rubbing at his moustache as he watched Finn and Newt interacting with the Jarveys.

"Arthur," Tommy warned, his hand settling on my leg as I shifted in my seat. Arthur looked sheepish at the warning but I didn't mind it too much. It was fine for him to think of our magic as strange, he was yet to get accustomed to it as everyone else had.

"Sorry, Romy," he muttered, glancing over to Polly as she gave him a warning look.

"It's alright, Arthur, I know it can be a bit overwhelming at first." And as if to prove my point, Phineas came bustling out of the fireplace startling Arthur.

I felt Tommy tense at my side, his hand squeezing my leg as he tightened his grip on TJ as the boy tried to jump down.

"Inny!" he shouted, scrambling in his dad's arms before turning and glaring at him. "Down!" It wasn't a request, more like a demand.

"TJ," Tommy warned, moving both hands to settle on the boy.

"Down!" he shouted, crossing his arms as he frowned at his dad, his blue eyes watering. Oh, Merlin's beard, the boy was trying to play his own father. "Down! Down! Down!"

"No," Tommy replied, shifting TJ so he turned around and facing him.

"Uck!" TJ shouted very clearly.

"It wasn't me!" shouted three men, all looking at me with wide eyes. I glanced between John, Arthur and Phineas before turning to Tommy who had tensed as the words slipped out of TJ's mouths.

"I believe you," I said, glaring at Tommy as he tried to avoid my eyes. "Thomas, would you like to explain why your son knows that word?"

"No."

"You didn't?" Ada laughed as she took in the stern face of her brother. "Oh, my God you did!"

"Shut up, Ada," Tommy muttered, letting go of TJ and frowning as he flung himself at Phineas, running his hands through his long curled hair.

"You don't have to be jealous, Tommy," I whispered, pressing closer to him so no one could hear. "He grew up with Phineas and Newt but you're his father. No one could ever replace you in his heart."

"I wasn't here," he muttered, his eyes flickering to me before looking back at the way TJ interacted with Phineas.

"It doesn't matter because you were here," I told him tapping on his chest where his heart was. "TJ knew you were in his heart. You always will be."

"Right, shut up, all of you," Polly declared, rising from the chair she was sat on and lifting up the camera. "I want you all smiling."

True to Polly's word, she did manage to get us all smiling for the photo's. I was surprised that they were all willing to have their photos taken, but I guess there was an even greater fear of Polly.

John took one with his brood and then they turned to Tommy and me. Apparently, it was expected for us to have our picture taken with TJ and I could understand that. Holding TJ in my arms, I smiled as Tommy wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side.

"Smile," Polly said, her eyes on Tommy as she gave him a pointed look. I glanced up at him and smiled at the small tug of his lips, quickly turning to face Polly as she muttered under her breath.

"Aunt Pol?" Finn called out, his eyes bursting with excitement as he glanced at Phineas and Newt. "Can we go play in the cupboard?" It might have sounded strange, hell, Arthur tilted his head in confusion at the words, but almost everyone besides him and Tommy knew what he meant.

"Right, off you go then," she said, waving them off to the cupboard under the stairs, grabbing their coats and gloves as she followed after them.

"Come on, Arthur," John called, ruffling TJ's head as he passed us. "You'll wanna see this."

"Phineas," I called, grabbing hold of his arm before he could follow the others. "I want you to meet Tommy." I turned to Tommy, handing TJ over to Ada as she reached out for him. "Tommy, this is Phineas Black. He's my long distant cousin but everyone is convinced that I'm secretly his father's bastard daughter."

"Well, that's one way to introduce me," Phineas said, as he shook Tommy's hand, a smile on his face. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tommy."

"Romy's told me a lot about you," Tommy replied, giving Phineas' hand a slight squeeze before letting go.

"Look, I've gotta do my brotherly duty and warn you that if you ever hurt her, I will hunt you down and kill you." We both stared at Phineas and blinked. Did he really think he was scary? "I'm a wizard, I know how to get away with murder."

"Alright, Phin, piss off," I said, pushing his shoulder and shaking my head. Phineas gave a laugh and with a flick of his wand he had his coat in his hand and he followed the others into the cupboard. "Do you wanna see it?" I asked, nodding toward the door that Phin had left open. Even from here, you could see the snow-covered floor.

Tommy gave a nod and I led him over to the door, grabbing our coats from the hanger and handed him his. I stepped into the cupboard, smiling as the large room didn't even look like a room anymore.

"The fuck?" Tommy muttered as his eyes took in the large snow-covered meadow, the frozen pond and the forest in the background.

"This is some powerful and hard magic. Newt helped with it too, but it was needed when we couldn't leave the house," I told him as I led him over to TJ where he was throwing snowballs at Arthur with the help of Finn and Ada. "It's nice to have our own little escape."

"This is your magic?"

"And Newt's," I said, not wanting him to think this was all me. "Newt's remarkable when it comes to charms, even if he wouldn't want to admit it."

"It's impressive," Tommy muttered, his eyes taking in the birds that flew above us. Another little charm to make everything realistic. The snow was something Newt insisted we have, especially considering it would be snowing at Hogwarts this time of year and he wanted to represent that.

The little - I don't know why I kept calling it little, it wasn't little at all - outside space was a replica of the grounds at Hogwarts, but with a smaller lake and no Giant Squid.

"This is what the Hogwarts grounds look like," I told him, a small smile resting on my lips as I thought about my school. "It's the wizarding school of the UK," I added upon seeing the questioning look on his face. "Maybe I'll take you there one day."

"Oi," Arthur called out, his hands cupped over his face as he tried to gain our attention. "Polly said food's ready!"