**Author's Note: I've been fascinated by John Shelby since Peaky Blinders started, clearly he married early and seemed to be in love with his first wife, Martha. I've always wondered what their relationship was like, and so this how I imagine it. Also, I don't think Mrs. Shelby's name has ever been mentioned in the show, but if it has and someone remembers it, please let me know! I like to keep things fairly accurate. **

John Shelby was five when Martha Connolly moved in with her Aunt Celia down the block.

"You lot be extra nice to her," his mum, Peggy, had told them at supper that evening. "Her ma has just passed and she's only a wee one, Ada's age. She'll be coming here on the days Celia works, I expect you all to look out for her like she's one of ours, you hear me?"

They had all nodded silently and returned to eating. Just what we need, another girl, John had thought to himself, knowing full well that Ada was a terrible playmate with her dolls and ribbons and wanting to play house.

A few mornings later, he made his way down the stairs, Ada close behind him, and stopped short on the last step. A tiny blonde girl sat in his usual chair, propped on her knees, looking hungrily at the pot of porridge his mum was stirring on the stove. She was small, even smaller than Ada, and she looked up at him with big green eyes. Looking back, that was the moment she had him wrapped around her finger, though he didn't know yet.

"Oh good, you two are up. Martha, this is John and Ada. John is five and Ada is four, like you. Everyone sit, porridge is ready."

John sat across from Martha, wondering vaguely why he wasn't mad that she was in his seat, and Ada sat to her right, chattering about the new doll she had gotten last week. Peggy passed around bowls of porridge and put a jar of honey in the middle of the table. John dipped a spoon in and drizzled it over his porridge, always intrigued by how slow the honey would drip down. He looked up to see Martha staring at him.

"Want some?" He asked, pushing the jar closer to her.

"Honey on porridge?" She questioned, her small voice light and pretty.

"You've never had honey on porridge?" He asked, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

She shook her head, embarrassed, and he scooted off his chair and came around to her side of the table.

"Here, I'll put some on for you, just a bit, see if you like it."

He caught another spoonful of honey and slowly drizzled it over her bowl. He watched the honey, and she watched him, seemingly fascinated by it all. Peggy stood by the stove, her hand over her mouth, hiding a huge smile.

John put the spoon back on the dish near the honey jar and gestured for Martha to try it. She took a small spoonful and her eyes lit up at the sweet taste. She quickly ate another spoonful and he laughed, pleased that she liked it. He pulled his dish across the table and sat in the chair next to her. From then on, whenever Martha was there for a meal, she sat in his chair, and he sat to her left.

They spent the day tagging along with Peggy as she ran her usual errands, picking up supplies for supper that evening and dropping off some clothing items she had repaired for a neighbor. John held each girl by the hand, taking his job of protecting the girls seriously. Ada had run off the year before at the market, and he had been tasked by Tommy to watch her whenever they were away from their block. Martha seemed content to follow him around and her little hand felt perfectly matched for his big five year old hand. Ada, true to most days, was dragging him this way and that, wanting to see and touch everything.

They waited to the side at the grocer's while Peggy purchased some more embroidery thread and other notions. The grocer's wife, Mrs. Averill, always gave John and Ada a treat when they came in, and he hoped she would see them in the crowd.

"John Shelby! You've got a new little friend there, don't you?" Mrs. Averill said, her voice booming over the din.

"Yes, m'am. This is Martha, moved in down the street and I'm supposed to watch her and Ada while we are out." He replied importantly, standing as tall as he could. Ada giggled but Martha just smiled up at him in awe.

"Well then, let's get you all some candy. Make sure to share fairly now. Here you go." Mrs. Averill replied, after filling a small bag with penny candy from the jars on the counter.

John led the girls to the bench outside and sat between them, holding the bag. Ada had a habit of putting her sticky hands in and John wanted the candy to stay nice for Martha. He doled out a piece each to start with, and watched as Martha's face lit up.

"Never had candy either?" He asked, wondering where this girl had lived.

She shook her head and laughed as he handed her and Ada another piece before carefully putting the bag in his pocket. He'd make it last all day, just to see Martha that happy.

"Your John seems smitten with that little one, Mrs. Shelby. I don't think I've ever seen anything so adorable." Mrs. Averill commented, watching from the window.

"And she for him, Mrs. Averill. He put honey on her porridge this morning and that was all it took. Terrible, of course, about Celia's sister, but better for the girl to be out of that workhouse and in a proper home." Peggy replied, watching for another moment before exiting the store.

That night at supper, both Tommy and Arthur had to change seats at the table, and they quietly gave each other a look before sitting down. Martha seemed to charm everyone by the end of the meal. It was nearing dark and time for Martha to go home, a task that Peggy gave over to Tommy, much to John's dismay.

"Its just down the block, Tommy, I'll walk her." He argued, as Tommy picked up Martha and headed for the front door.

"You think you're man enough to walk a lady home?" Tommy asked, tickling Martha, who laughed in his arms and then hugged him tightly. His heart broke a little for the poor girl, and he held her close, feeling protective of her, like he would his own kin.

"I am, Tom. I watched her and Ada all day and nothing happened. Did it, Martha?"

Martha looked down and John and shook her head no.

"Do you want John to walk you home then, little one?" Tommy asked her, laughing when she nodded her head yes.

"Alright then. I'll watch from the door and you go there and straight back, John. It is your job to get her home safe." Tommy said seriously, as he put Martha down, sensing this was important to John.

John reached out for Martha's hand and led her slowly down the street, pointing to different doors along the way and telling her who lived where. It seemed meant to be, in Tommy's eyes, and he watched as John knocked on Martha's front door.

Celia opened the front door and smiled down at the two.

"Hello, John, thanks for bringing Martha home. Did you have a good day?" She asked.

"Oh yes, Aunt Celia. We went to the shops, and we got candy, and we had porridge with honey!" Martha stated excitedly and Celia laughed.

"Well that sounds like a grand day then. Say goodnight to John, you'll see him tomorrow. Its bedtime now."

"Goodnight, Johnny." Martha said, turning to hug John.

"My name is John." He said, feeling like an idiot.

"I'm calling you Johnny." Martha said, grinning at him and he couldn't help but grin back as she threw her little arms around his neck and hugged him.

John waved goodbye as Celia closed the door, and walked quickly back to the house, embarrassed that Tommy had probably seen the whole thing.

"Only Martha can call me Johnny." He huffed as he entered the house, and Tommy laughed quietly to himself. His little brother was in big trouble with this one.

Later that night, as he lay on his cot, listening to Ada prattle on sleepily to her doll, John thought that being called Johnny wasn't all that bad. At least not by Martha anyway. He was already figuring out how many days a week they could go to the grocer's to get candy from Mrs. Averill before she would get mad. He wanted to make Martha laugh like that again.