by order of the fucking peaky blinders

7

"Charlie, wake up. John wants to talk to you and Tommy wants to see you before he leaves." Finn says jumping onto his sister, "Finn, you fat ass." she groans, "get up, get up, get up" he says tickling her as she starts thrashing underneath him. "I'm up, fucking hell finn, I'm up" Charlie breathes finally catching his hands, to stop him tickling her, flashing her a cheeky smile he replies "good" before bouncing off her bed and out her room. "Close the door!" she calls after him. "No!" he replies running down the stairs.

Getting out of bed she closes her door, cursing herself for drinking so much, as the headache kicks in. Trudging over to her wardrobe, she picks out her clothes for today, putting them on, as well as her knife in her shoe, her gun in her holster and another knife in the strap of her gun holster, chucking her jacket on, she heads downstairs.

"Char, Tommy wants to see you in his office" Arthur grunts as she comes downstairs, she nods, making her way to her brothers office, ignoring all the stares she was getting from people in the betting shop. Obviously they'd heard of the previous days events. "Oi, all of you, back to work." Tommy snaps seeing the looks his sister was getting. He should've known this would happen, people who had heard she'd had sex, now thought she was open for business. He'd just have to show them that, that was not the case. "Come on Lotts" Tommy says putting an arm over shoulder glaring at the guys and leading her to his office.

"Sit down" Tommy says taking a seat in his chair. "Do you remember any of what you said to me last night?" He asks. "I spoke to you last night?.." Charlie replies eyes wide as he nods. "What- what did I say?" Charlie questions. "It wasn't your fault- what did you mean by that?" Tommy answers, "Umm- Ada telling everyone?" She replies questioning and he shakes his head chuckling, "you told me it wasn't that- so what did you mean?" Tommy replies. "I was drunk Tom- it didn't mean anything" Charlie replies hoping he'd buy it. "I don't believe you.. but I have business to attend to. Go find John." Tommy replies getting his jacket, throwing it over his shoulder and leaving as she sighs.

"Common Charlie girl, lets us have a little chat, ey?" John says poking his head round the door.

Arriving at Johns office, he lights a cigar, offering her one, which she takes thanking him.
"John-" Charlie starts but gets cut off by him, "nothing to be nervous about Charlie, just a chat, don't have to answer nothing you don't want to. Just got a few questions."

"How old was he?" John asks, "at the time or now?" Charlie replies and he shoots her a look, "he was 22" Charlie sighs. "How old were you." John questions. "I'm not answering that." She says, if he knew then he could just go round asking guys that were that age. This way it gave a 4 year gap. Harder to find out the truth "did you know this guy?" John questions and she nods in response. "Do we know this guy?" John then asks. "Maybe. Maybe not." Charlie replies, "Charlie.." John warns, "I mean I don't know. You might. I think Tommy does." Charlie says taking a puff. "How many guys have you slept with?" John asks reluctantly. "Just him and just the once." Charlotte answers. "Any reason for that?" John inquires. "Scared" she replies bluntly. "...Scared? Did he hurt you?" John questions angrily, crouching infront of his sisters chair taking a hand in his. "I don't want to answer that." she says. "Does anyone know what happened between you and this guy?" John asks softly, she shakes her head. "Last major question, did he use protection?" John questions and she shakes her head. "Your choice or his." John continues, "his" she croaks. "Did- were you... you know.. with child?" John murmurs and she nods. "Did anyone know? How did you get rid of it?" John asks. "No... apart from from the father." She replies. "Come here Lotts" John says standing up, taking her into his eyes, dropping a kiss to her forehead. "It's over now. No more questions." John says. "You gonna tell Arthur, Tommo, Poll and Finn." She states, "I am" John confirms. "I don't want to be here for that" Charlie tells him pulling away, "I didn't think you would want to be." He replies. "I'm going to the Garrison, when everyone arrives. When is that?" Lottie asks. "Around 7 probably" "I'll be out at 6:30" she says and he nods in understanding. "Can I leave?" She asks, "yeah. But Lotts, we ain't mad alright" John says, and she looks at him, "alright maybe we are mad, but we ain't mad at you." John tells her. "Who you mad at then?" She questions. "I don't know... ourselves? The guy? The world?" He sighs with a chuckle, when he sees a small smile come onto her face.