C14 - Only Road I Know

*the gif i wanted to use was too large :'(*

This event was one for the books.

Absolutely beautiful, Grace really outdid herself. There were at least 150 people here, men and women in uniform giving out champagne that tastes like heaven. There was a live and small orchestra playing music that was lovely. Thomas's house was open to the public, and all I could allow myself to think about was the fact that Grace was going to die here tonight.

She wore that necklace, she looked stunning. Her hair done up, her skin glowing. She had on a perfect slip dress, a pale white, and a mink shawl over her arms. The saffire glows against her skin. It's a shame tonight will be the night. The night she leaves this Earth.

"Bria, I'm so glad you could make it!" She sounds sour as she talks. All I can think about is how much of a bad liar she is. And how Thomas was able to love her. For God sake, yesterday she saw me kissing her husband! And, and, oh wait for this, and she saw her husband kissing me back.

I stood with my little purse in my hands. My mouth pinched shut, innocent as ever. I wanted a drink desperately, "This is a lovely event."

I looked off into the crowd, where are the damn waitresses and waiters baring glasses of champagne? Jesus, I know I've been in this house before but, Tommy really did move from the slums to this incredible mansion/castle. It's incredible, the way the ceiling nearly touches the sky, the fact that he's got enough rooms in this house to serve everyone here. I remember when his family was struggling to put food on the table, and now he's got enough food, I'm sure, to feed all of Birmingham. At least a thousand times.

I see Polly, Arthur, I see Linda, and I also see a man who seems to be quite infatuated with Polly. I sense a sexual tension between the two, I wish I could relate to that. Hah! People are dancing, people are having fun. I want to have fun, damn it. Finally, I spot a woman holding glasses of champagne on a round platform thing and quickly grab two glasses.

"Tell me, are you searching for my husband, you disgusting slut." She asks, her eyes locked on mine.

"What?" I snap, meeting her gaze. I take a step towards her, glasses in hand. "What did you just say to me?" I whisper, my eyes venomous.

I watch as Grace doesn't hesitate to keep that gaze. She's a strong woman, one who doesn't coy away with nervousness. "You heard me." She grits her teeth.

I realize then that Thomas's told her the truth. About him, about I. About us. I can see the tiredness in her eyes, noting that it stems from a true hatred towards me. Thomas's not only revealed our affair, but he's told her that he wishes to leave her. I could still hear their screams in the walls, I can still smell the emotions that pushed through her veins last night when he told her the news over dinner.

I breathe, in the softest way, "You know. Don't you?"

"Grace," Thomas stands right in between us. He grabs the back of her arm, pulling her from me. I wish he hadn't, and by the looks of it, she does too.

"Don't fucking touch me." She snaps, ripping her arm away. She raises her hands up defensively, I notice the ring in her finger. It's still there. "You know what, I'll just leave you two alone." She finishes by walking away.

"Grace!" Thomas moans, I watch as she walks away. To my dismay, Thomas doesn't follow after her. "Christ."

"She's upset, you should go to her." I mumble, taking a sip of my drink.

"She'll always be upset with me." He states, his eyes lock on mine. "Can we go upstairs? We need to talk private..."

"About what?" I ask, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

Thomas swallows. His heart is jumping out his chest, "I told Grace about us."

I nod. "I know."

"How?" His eyebrows pull together, confused.

"I guess I just had a hunch."

"What?" Thomas asks, grabbing the full glass of champagne from me, he beings to drink it. Little turd.

"Nothing, Thomas." I down the rest of the champagne in one gulp, waving the empty glass at him. "Delicious champagne by the way." I take a step away from him, the music around us getting more and more upbeat. I want to dance.

"Where are you going?" He trails after me.

"To find your champagne stash." I tell him as a matter of factly. "It's good champagne!" I shout.

He smiles, and my insides warm up at the fact that I made him smile. While waking to the bar, I get so excited and nervous and childish because of the fact that Tommy broke things off with Grace. I mean, he's finally told her! Jesus, I didn't think the day would come and yet, here he is, telling me he's back to being mine again.

When I lay my eyes on the woman who ages like fine wine, Polly Gray, I instantly break into a smile. She hugs me tight.

"I've heard you got the wicked witch to divorce Thomas!" She says into my hair, pulling away. "I owe you a big thank you."

"I feel terrible." I sigh but I also giggle.

She laughs, this time looping her arm with mine. I watch as Tommy speaks to a woman with beautiful black hair and gorgeous eyes. She's Russian, my heart thumps so loudly in my chest, I nearly spill my drink. The Russian woman who gave Tommy the sapphire, I can still hear her voice.

"Who is that woman?" I ask, leaning against the bar. What was her name? Think, Bria, think. I need to stop drinking, it's beginning to alter my thoughts.

Polly follows my eyes, she narrows her gaze. "Some Russian, Tommy's doing business with them now."

Her name is Tatiana, a voice in my ear whispers. "What's her name?" I whisper, my eyes getting wide.

"Tatiana," She says before tugging on my arm, my attention is brought to Polly. "Oi, the only one Tommy's got his eyes set on is you." She pulls me away from his gaze, pulling me again. "I knew it was going to be you. And so did your mum. She used to tell me to prepare for yours and Tom's weddin', she used to tell me I'll wear a green dress. Well guess what I've been shoppin' for, Bria." Her finger pushes my hair from my face. "A green dress."

I smile, getting lost in her words. I quickly give her a hug, ones that meaningful, one that is rich in true and adornment. "Thank you." I mumble in her hair. "Truly, thank you." I add pulling away.

"You're welcome." She grins, "And congratulations!"

I tilt my head, studying her. "On what? He hasn't proposed or anything."

She has a huge grin on her face, one that glows with utter joy. "The baby! Well, Grace's pregnant with Tommy's child and she said she'll give him or her up to youse when the divorce goes through-"

"What?" I ask, "Does Thomas know?"

"No, practically no one knows but me! But you'll be a mum! And it'll be—"

A baby. A baby. A baby. Jesus christ, Tommy's having a baby. Holy shit, that's when I realize that if Grace dies tonight, so will this baby. And inside, I know the bloody truth is I cannot let a baby die because of my selfishness.

I turn my head to see Thomas clearly alarmed by something the Russian woman said, he rushes to Grace. He tries to be as subtle as possible, it doesn't work very well. Still, he grabs her arms and tells her something, she doesn't listen. Then, he kisses her, and she smiles small thinking that maybe he's having doubts. The saffire begins to glow, and my heart sinks to my stomach. My mouth drops, I can sense Polly shaking me, asking me what's wrong. I've spilt my drink on the floor, my toes begin to get wet with the warm champagne.

I see something so vivid at that moment, time slows down. I see an Italian man coming at Grace, just as Tommy turns around with Grace. Thomas has a fear unknown to me on his face, his eyes frozen wide, his mouth parted. He looks petrified, I only notice then, that I am seeing the death of Grace, and I am seconds away from protecting her and that baby.

I begin to run, noticing a man, storming up to Grace. My eyes water, as I imagine her dying and her baby dying. It's unfair, no, it's true misuse of my power if I do not stop this man. I hurry as fast as I can, running hard, running with purpose. I hit a lot of people pushing through them.

The man now has a gun, he approaches Grace and Tommy, he screams, "For Angel!"

I don't know how, but I manage to take the bullet to the left side of my chest. At first, I don't know I'm shot, but once I smell my skin burning as the bullet penetrates me, I know something is terribly wrong. I instantly fall backwards, one that makes my heart ache with pain. The pain is insurmountable, it's a burning sensation that just doesn't seem to want to leave me. I can hear Arthur, as he begins to fight with the man who shot me.

I can hear Polly, her scream. I can hear people gasping, I think of Grace, who I know is safe. My eyes roll back, just as a warm liquid oozes from my body and onto the floor. I get a good, swift kick of fatigue, and just like that, I shut my eyes and see Thomas. He begs me to stay awake, he begs me to stay with him.

"Tommy?" I swallow, pressing my eyes open. Where are you? "-Tom?" My voice is a whisper, pleading for him.

"Bria!" He screams, and my eyes shut. I can feel him as he lifts me into his lap, holding me so tightly. Only then do I feel his tears wet my face, I realize I'm dying by the panic in his voice as he presses his hand against my wound. "Bria!"

He pushes my hair from my face and kisses me softly. Tenderly, apologetically. "Bria, why? Love, why?"

Why. "The baby." My breathing falls short, I can taste my throat filling with blood. My hands touch my wound, and I pull my palm back to see the dark red surrounding my skin. I want to weep in his arms, no, I want to spend more time with him. "The baby,"

"Fuck!" He cries, shaking me, I'm lifted and my lips are pressed against his. My eyes shut, tears rolling down my face. "Please, please, please." He sobs, "please, don't let this be the end. Please. Please." He rocks us back and forth, it makes me feel so incomplete. I don't want to die.

I whisper. "Promise me, you'll love her. Thomas, you'll-" I gasp, just as I see her. She looks like him, she's beautiful. She'll be named Alexis Shelby. A tear rolls my face, Thomas will have enough children to be happy. Even if it's with multiple women. "P-Promise me you'll love all of them."

It's an a feeling I will never miss, dying. Losing each breath, thinking the next one won't come. Thinking of the past, the future, and how much you'll miss this damned earth. It's a feeling that makes me want to cry, because I'll never kiss his lips again. I'll never be with Tommy again.

Without thinking, I look at him and slowly raise my fingers up to his lips. My breaths are shorter, as I can feel the blood begin to pour into my organs. "I don't want to die," I tell him truthfully, "Thomas, I-I-I-"

"You're not going to die!" He tells me with a good shake, "I love you so much. Please stay awake. Please for me."

"I-" I have to say this. Damn it! Let me say it. "I love you so much, you-" my breathes become shaky, like. I need to cry, "You, you've made me so happy." I stop crying, I stop sobbing, and that pain inside of me stops. I know it's time, and I know I need to go, but I need him one more thing.

"You were the one for me, Tommy. Always and forever."

The End.