Summary:Tom and Y/N attend the Golden Globes, but you don’t expect to be so overwhelmed.
Warnings:panic attack, mental illness, etc.
Word count: 16,000
A/N: It has been so long. I am finally kind of feeling inspired to create again. Depression is a bitch. I love many things. Shawn is just one of them. Please be kind. I love you. I believe in us.
Tell me how to be in this world
Tell me how to breathe in and feel no hurt
Tell me how because I believe in something.
I believe in us. - Us by James Bay
You look at yourself in the mirror, turning slowly, shifting from one foot to the other. The woman in the mirror is someone you barely recognize. You knew you’d need to dress up. Your boyfriend was nominated for a Golden Globe after all, but this.. This was a little excessive. Your Y/H/C hair was made at least a foot longer with extensions, loose curls cascading down your back, framing your face. On your eyes, heavy false eyelashes weigh down your lids, which are dusted with beautiful pigments to match the tight-fitting navy chiffon dress that draped over your body. You’ve never felt less like yourself in your life.
“You about ready, Y/N/N?” Tom asks adjusting the sleeves of his coat as he comes around the corner. You meet his eyes in the mirror in front of you. The smirk that spreads across his face is enough to tell you that he likes the dress. Tom walked up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist.
“What did I do to deserve you?” he whispered into your hair. You looked up at him, hoping your discomfort didn’t shine in your eyes. You glance back at yourself in the mirror. Noticing Tom watching you in the mirror, you fake a small smile.
“You about ready? The car is outside,” Tom whispers, his eyes still on yours in the mirror. You nod, though you were nowhere near ready for this night. “You look beautiful, my love,” he says quietly before giving your waist a squeeze and letting go. You let out a sigh as Tom lets go. You walk over to the bed to grab your clutch, then turn back to him. He holds out his elbow, and you grasp onto it tightly.
The drive to the venue passed in comfortable silence, neither of you needing to say anything. You rested your head on Tom’s shoulder. He quietly kissed the top of your head, before pulling out his phone, which was ringing quietly.
“Hello?” he asked softly. Tom responded to questions with “mhmm,” and “yes,” before hanging up. You glanced up at Tom through your eyelashes, but all he responded with was a reassuring smile. You sighed, before closing your eyes softly. You had almost let yourself think you’d get through the evening unscathed when you pulled up to the Beverly Hills Hotel. You looked out the window at what seemed to be millions of flashing lights and people.
“It’ll be okay, Y/N,” Tom says quietly, kissing your head again. You take a deep breath, but you’re sure it won’t be okay. Tom gets out of the car and walks around to the other side, opening your door. He grabs your hand, squeezing it tightly. You pull yourself out of the car, taking a deep breath. “You look ravishing, Y/N. I love you.” You look up at Tom, eyes wide, and his smile does a little to calm your nerves. He places your hand in the crook of his elbow. You smile at him, but make the very dire mistake of looking out at the people waiting for you. Every step you take makes the pit in your stomach get bigger and bigger. It gets harder to breathe around it and you aren’t sure you’re going to be able to breathe by the time you get to the door.
“Tom! Y/N!” is seemingly shouted from every direction, lights flashing in your eyes. Tom is a natural, of course, waving every so often with a cordial smile on his face. You try to keep your eyes trained on him, on his arm, on his face, on his calm. But, just as you hit the door, you feel a tear slip down your face. You wipe it away quickly, but before you can even get through the door, tears are silently sliding down your face. You squeak out that you need to use the restroom, before letting go on Tom’s arm, disappearing in the sea of faces.
You try to fumble through the people until you find an employee and ask for a restroom. You are directed to a hallway, which was blissfully empty. You slide down the wall, onto the floor, knowing you needed to keep your makeup together, but not really caring in that moment. Tears stream from your eyes, your breathing labored. You aren’t sure how long you sat there, hyperventilating, before Tom was seated beside you, wrapping you in his arms.
“Shhh,” he whispers calmingly. “You’re okay. Just breathe.” You sob into his arms for what seems like forever before the pit in your stomach decides to recede. You finally get yourself pulled together before looking up at Tom, sure you looked like a mess.
“How did you know where I was?”
“Mary told me where to find you,” Tom said quietly. Who Mary was, you weren’t sure, but you didn’t have the energy to ask. You looked at Tom, trying to find the anger. You had ruined his night, the night that should have been something magical.
“I’m so sorry, Tom,” you said quietly, your voice hoarse from crying.
“Shh, it’s okay, Y/N. You didn’t do anything wrong.” You weren’t sure how long you had been sitting there, in the hallway, but a young man dressed in all black rushed up the hallway. You and Tom both looked up at him.
“Uhm, Mr. Hiddleston. You and Ms. Y/L/N need to get to your seats, please.” Tom looked at you.
“Are you ready? We can leave if you need to.” You looked into his eyes, taking a deep breath. You nod softly, blinking. Tom stands up, sticking his hands out for you to grab. You place your hands in his softly, letting him help pull you up.
“Can you give us one minute?” Tom asks the boy quietly, glancing over his shoulder at him. He nodded, saying something into his headphones before scurrying around the corner. “Tell me what’s wrong, Y/N,” Tom said, looking deeply into your eyes. You sigh.
“Tell me how to live in this world,” you say, quietly, “Tell me how to breathe in and not hurt. Tell me how because I believe in us.” You look up at Tom, your eyes full of tears, “Please don’t leave me.” Tom’s eyes filled with tears. He wrapped you in a hug, kissing the top of your head softly.
“Don’t ever worry about that, love. I love you. I believe in us.” You look up at Tom, who leans down to press a chaste kiss on your lips. You smile into the kiss, before pulling away. You sigh, and smooth out your dress.
“How do I look?” you say, twirling slowly. Tom smiles at you, then reaches for your hand.
“You look ravishing, my love. Now, come on. We will stop on the way home for triple chocolate ice cream,” Tom said, lifting his hand into the scouts honor symbol. You giggled, grabbing onto his arm, walking back toward the auditorium. You talked quietly to each other in between Tom getting stopped. He talked to each person as if they were the only person in the room, though he never let go of our hand, squeezing it gently to ensure you knew he still knew you were there. Finally, you made it to your seats, just before the lights dimmed.
The show went off without a hitch, and, finally, it was time to announce the winner of the Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film category. Tom smiled at the camera that was zooming in on his face, holding your hand tight. The nominees were announced, one by one, the tension in your chest building.
“And the winner of the Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film is…” the announcer said, stalling for dramatic effect, “Tom Hiddleston!” You screamed, standing up with Tom, who gave you a huge kiss just as the camera zoomed in on you. He wrapped you in a hug, whispering something in your ear that you couldn’t hear over the applause, before making his way up to the stage. He hugged the announcers, before stepping up to the microphone.
“Thank you all, so much,” Tom said into the microphone, glancing around the room, before resting his eyes on you. “Thank you all, but thank you most of all, Y/N. Your love, your support, your kindness. And most importantly, for believing in us. I love you.” Tom paused before saying, “Thank you all!’ and walking back down the stairs off the stage.
After all the press got through with Tom, the show was over. You had decided it best to stay in your chair and wait for Tom, but you had started regretting that decision when the room was emptying with still no Tom. You looked down at your phone to make sure Tom hadn’t texted up, but you were startled by footsteps. You looked up to see Tom, a huge smile on his face. He leaned down, kissing you on the forehead. You smiled at him, grabbing his outstretched hand to stand up. He pulled you into him, wrapping you in a hug. You buried your face in his chest, reveling in this private moment amidst all the chaos of the night.
“I believe in us,” he said quietly, pulling away from you slightly, just far enough to pull you in for a kiss.
Summary: Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.
Warnings for this chapter:Blood.
A/n: Sorry for the delay, I’m going through stressful stuff, thank you so much for all the support and the likes and the follows, we’re 400 already, I love you all so much!!!
“You truly have grown beautiful” the redheaded in the red suit took off your restraints, all with a snake’s smile plastered on his face, matching his mamba.
“Are we going to sit down and talk or are you going to tell me where that vermin is hiding?” the excitement of finally being back with your colleagues would turn into adrenaline, however the bewilderment of having no idea where you were in the world and the post-flight dizziness made you see colored dots, maybe you should have gotten up from the chair more carefuly.
“Come this way, we’ve been waiting for you, agent.” The colorful reptile slid off his shoulders, its head came up and hissed at you, it inched closer until the thick part of its torso moved away from Jasper’s body. You managed to hold it before it hit the ground, the reptile’s body clung to your arm and then when it was safe it moved around your shoulders until it was comfortable.
“I hope my absence hasn’t disrupted the purpose of our mission,” you joked, stroking the animal’s scaly head. “Of course not, we have at least two hundred armed agents ready to take down Alan’s mansion in Costa Brava, agents that I expected you to lead” always expected that of you, even after you graduated from the academy.
“I thought we had this issue clear, I’m not a leader, I plan to get inside, get what I need, and make Alan kiss my ass” he belly laughed, his voice turned raspy and old due to the smoke and the age, but what could you expect from a sixty-year old man with the body health of a ninety-year old?
“I don’t think he’ll put much resistance on the latest thing” he laughed again, it reminded you of the good times, “I’ll blow his head afterwards, at least he’ll have one last good thing” then you saw Smith, the doctor, “Hey! The fucking needle wasn’t necessary, next time I’ll turn you into a pincushion” he showed you his middle finger before entering the med bay.
“Now, now, don’t be mad at good old Smithy, he was just doing what he was told”.
“I’ll shove it up your ass then” the snake hissed at Jasper matching your anger, although most of it was just messing around, “I missed you” he caressed your face lovingly, he trained you, he was your mentor…he sort of raised you in your young adult years.
After a boring meeting, it was time to rest, there were few hours left before you had to hold a weapon again, you almost could feel that familiar weight in your hands.
“Soo, how’s your boyfriend? Does he know of your whereabouts?” you released a deep “ugh” at the sound of his normal voice, sometimes he was just too fruity to stop being a cliché, “No and he won’t know from the lacks of you, I had to spy on your little affair to keep her from uncovering the ruse” Charlie was really a part of all that? Yes, how? You weren’t sure.
“Is he part of this mission?” he suspiciously nudge your arm, “No! And you will not harm him, he’s innocent”.
“Did you fuck him?”.
“He does it better than you”.
“I don’t doubt that, with those hips, mmm~. They had to CGI his cock out of the frame because it was too damn big, if anything, I respect you” you had to admit that you shared his love for his physique, but the way he was referring to Tom, “Don’t talk about him like he was just some whore I fucked, he’s more than that” he made you felt safer than anyone, he was worth it.
“If you say so”.
“I had to team with you, you’re a disgrace” unprofessional, he acts out of order, improvises, and he is not inclined to follow orders, that’s why you hated him.
“We all are, and it’s your fault, all this trouble because you killed the wrong idiot”.
“I know, I won’t miss again”
“Good, now let’s go, we strike tomorrow at dawn”.
“Can’t wait".
Two days passed, a few texts from you got to be sent into Tom’s phone. Those brief lights of hope got him excited and cheerful at work. The feeling of your hands on his forearms going up to his neck, your warm cheeks against his, your lips, your smile ever so lovely, lingered. It made him happy to remember you like that.
It seemed so easy to just go by the day, sharing just a few texts and selfies. It worked for a while, until he saw that you sent a repeated photo.
He tried to overlook that detail, because it seemed like a mistake, anyone could just send the photo where they looked their best a few times, but he didn’t get an appropriate answer from you, so he started to get suspicious.
He showed the conversations to a specialist and she determined that it was a bot programmed for auto-answer in chat, after a few trick questions to fool the system. But why would you put a bot to answer his texts? Could it be that you were still mad about the prank? No, you said that you forgave him.
So then three weeks passed. He came back to London, he didn’t bothered to keep talking with the bot, if you happened to be at your place as he hoped, he was going to have a very serious conversation with you.
He knocked once and twice on your door, but all he heard were grunts and stumps, “Yes? Huh? Tom, I thought you had another week of filming” you seemed surprised to see him, but not in a good way, you held the door too close to your body.
“They let me go early, love. I need to talk to you about something” he seemed hurt, you hated that look because you knew it was because of you, did he found out about you? Who told him? Is he going to leave you because of the horrible things you’ve done?
“Can it wait?… Let’s meet tomorrow, how ‘bout that?” you carried away your words, heck, you could barely concentrate in putting a sentence together. “Y/n, I really need to speak to you right now, would you let me in?” no, you couldn’t, he would see you.
“Now is not a good moment”.
“Y/N, what are you hiding?” was there someone with you? That’s why you were avoiding him? Not that you were his or anything, but he thought he at least had something with you.
“Nothing, can it wait ‘till tomorrow?” you pleaded, you needed him to go, but at the same time you needed him to hold you. You wanted to cry and cling to him, but you couldn’t make him see, he’ll know, and if knows, you’ll lose him.
“Y/n, I’m not going until you open the door” he wasn’t going to push the door, he didn’t wanted to hurt you.
“I don’t want to”.
“Y/n”.
“Tom, seriously I’m busy in something important!” tears threatened your eyes.
“What? What exactly are you so busy on?” he raised his voice, making you shiver. “I don’t want you to panic” the words were true, but your voice, so small and pathetic, you were once a soldier.
“Panic? Y/N stop being so cryptic, tell me what the hell is going-” you opened the door before he could yell, stopping him dead in his tracks, “I’m stitching this wound” the cut was on your right calf, it was dripping blood, and you also had another on your stomach but that was stitched shut.
You were already struggling to stand up as it is, you though that he was going to help you right away, instead he scoffed, “Very funny, is this your way to get back at me? I already apologized!” you groaned and as about to explain but then Oscar spoke behind you.
“Y/n please come back, if you move it’s going to get worse-, oh! Your boyfriend, hi handsome! Would you mind telling her stubborn ass to come back? I’m not done dealing with that cut” whiney good Oscar, yes you loathed him, but he’s good with needles.
“Who the fuck is he?” Tom’s jealousy got the best of him, but that was within his right, “Just come in” you pulled him in and closed the door, well let yourself fall onto the door and pushed it until it closed.
“Tom, this is Oscar, he’s the ex I told you about but before you roll up your sleeves and hit him, he and I were never a couple. For starters he’s very gay, and we were cops in an undercover investigation, that, as you can see, went really bad!” you walked to the bathroom and slammed the door behind you, your screams of pain and wailing echoed in the room.
Tom tried to follow but Oscar blocked his way, “Honey, I wouldn’t advise you to go in there, as I said I’m not finished, she could die for real” Oscar did know you, and Tom watching you in pain was not something you needed at the time.
“How did that-”.
“No questions while I’m working, even though you’re handsome, she’ll explain it later, don’t push her, it’s hard to be oneself when you return from a mission, she’s been under a big rock” deep down Oscar would kill Tom if he hurt you, at the moment he was limiting himself to be real to him, which prove to be fruitful, “What can I do?”.
“Wait in the living room, the last thing she needs is her love seeing her at her lowest, she’s frustrated, afraid, and angry, she’ll explain in time, give her a chance” Tom nodded at Oscar’s words and took seat in the couch.
“Okay Tom, I’m going to explain, but it’s not going to be pretty, are you sure you want to hear it?” Oscar brought you to the living room once he was done patching you up. Only then he got to see more of your bruises and cuts, it broke his heart to say the least.
“It has to do with our first meeting, my first failure as part of the special forces. I was undercover working at that restaurant, everything was going fine, my target was just a few tables away. But that asshole, a nobody who wanted a free meal planted broken glass in a cake and I was publicly fired, completely screwing up my plan.
I ran into the asshole outside the restaurant and almost kicked him to death, rendering the bastard unrecognizable, which I shouldn’t have done because he was my target’s little brother and the street cameras didn’t help me, I had to hide until that the agency erased my tracks.
But that doesn’t end there.
What was going to happen to the plan? I had to wait a lot, until recently I was called back. Alan Star’s company had recently received a large payment, this being the reward for an alliance between Star Oil and McKee Senors, a company that designs cell phones. However the name turned out to be an anagram, “smoke screen” being the name, what a funny sense of humor the son of a bitch has. Instead of cell phones, they specialized in creating and modifying cures for the most complex of diseases.
And why would an oil tycoon and a bastard get together? Easy, money, power and legacies. The celebration you were going to infiltrate was a wedding between the children of both families, which impressed you in a good way, their families were mostly elderly, the ones you could bet were old enough to have witnessed what the ignorant did to the witches in Salem.
Still doesn’t sound diabolical? To create a cure you need to have the disease, and to get it someone has to have contracted it. Talking about a massive missing persons and medical records case.
Lion Samuels, CEO of McKee Senors was my objective, he’s gone but…” you couldn’t hold your tears anymore, as soon as Tom opened his arms to you, your body pushed itself from Oscar and fell into Tom’s embrace.
Unable to keep explaining, Oscar finished your you. “Y/n found out there was someone else there, not being their prisoner, as we thought, but working with them”.
“Who?” Tom was soon going to regret asking, “My mother” you spoke through your sniffling, it hurt too much.
Summary:Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.
The doctor left, you didn’t rested correctly until you were sure he was out of the house.
“Here love, open wide” Tom was trying his best to not look guilty, although he still felt that way, “I can do it myself Tom, I’m sick not paralyzed” you meant it as a joke, but he looked so hurt, so you just gave up, “Fine” you let him feed you the soup.
“Something hurting love? I can see something is bothering you” how were you going to tell him?
“All of it, but Tom you don’t have to take care of me” he gently pushed you back to the pillows, “I know I don’t, but I want to”.
“Why?”.
“Partly because I feel guilty, and secondly because you look cute when you’re stubborn” a kiss on your forehead with his soft lips made you feel even more worried, “Guilty?” He looked hurt, you could say, “Yesterday, I really screwed up, I want to make it up to you” and here came your revenge, “What did you screw up, specifically?”.
At that moment you felt gigantic, as if you could only push him to the ground with one breath, you had all the power over him. For his part, he couldn’t deny that he was drawn to it, the feeling that you were in control had him drowning in his own thoughts.
“I tricked you into thinking I was really hurt, that was horrible of me, out of line, and I’ll never do it to anyone again, because it’s not a joke, please forgive me my sweetest” he almost blurted out ‘I’ll do it that you want’ due to his desperation, he managed to control himself but thought that he would end up begging you since you took a few tortuous seconds of absolute silence, while he felt that you scanned his soul with your eyes.
Unexpectedly, you pulled him by the collar of his vest and gave him a kiss, sucking on his lips passionately.
“Very good, you’re forgiven, now gimme more soup, your cooking skills are amazing” you whispered very close to his lips, “Mm, I want to keep kissing you” his whining was adorable, his crystalline eyes shone against the light of the streetlight, although half-closed they still looked like moon crystals.
“But you’ll catch it” he didn’t stopped kissing you, from your lips, to your neck and then he set the tray away from the bed, took your hands between his, and on his knees he kissed your fingers.
“Gives me an excuse for you to nurse me back to health” he winked, you imagined him on the bed, not being able to stop himself from being sick and flirty at the same time.
“Not worth it, because you’ll end up fat, I like to pamper with food, 'n kisses, and lots of hugs and cuddles” you said while kissing his face, running you fingers through his curls.
“So be it, I’ll spend more time in the gym once I recover” his words were merely a whisper as your lips were still over his forehead, but it was loud enough for you to smile against his skin.
The soup ran cold.
Three days later the cold went away, the house was warm again. He never left your side, he actually spent more time on your bed than on his, afraid that the sickness would take you away from him. Exaggerated? Maybe, but it was what took his grandfather from him.
Tom fell asleep beside him and woke up the next morning with tears on his eyes, his grandfather was as cold as snow, it brought him great sorrow, and a scar that still feeds his worse fears.
He was static when you got better, he cuddled you in every chance he got, hardly keeping his hands off of you, all because you had to go back to London.
“Do you have to go?” He held you closer, you were sitting across his lap, his arms were tightly around your waist, “I would love to stay, you know that, but I really need the job” he whined and protested, eyeing your suitcase next to the couch across the living room.
“I could give you money” you gave him a look, “Thomas, don’t be ridiculous” you laughed and squirmed on his arms, “I mean it, I could provide for you” 'too fast’ you would think, but at your age, and his, he wanted children, you wanted to be married. It made you consider stuff.
“I would love to be your house lover, but I’m afraid I am too fond of my independence” you have him two pats to this shoulder, you didn’t wanted to owe him someday.
“It wouldn’t be like that, you work for the minimum and they will still pay you less, all I’m saying is that I would love to be your sponsor, you still have that bakery home business?”.
You nodded.
“Well, I would like to invest, maybe open a formal shop” it made you smile, but it seemed too god to be selfless.
“What’s in it for you? Perhaps eating the deform batch?” you joked, making him kiss your cheek between chuckles as he watched you with tender eyes, “Tempting, but also supporting something you love, like you have this past few weeks”.
“I adore the arts, also your acting skills, although sometimes I find them rather gruesome” he pretended to be hurt and that something had pierced through his heart.
“I will never be truly pardoned” he was such a dramatic actor.
“You are, but forgiven doesn’t mean forgotten, and I have a pretty good memory” he gasped, “Ouch, my queen, fiercer words ever spoken” you kissed him, “It was your fault to recite all that Shakespeare stuff, I’ve learnt”.
“I enjoy it actually, maybe you could read me a little sometime" In his free time, when he wasn’t hugging you or reading the script, he would read you a bit of his favorite works, his voice so smooth and silky sliding through the words in old English that it was sometimes hard for you to understand, however, it was not necessary. Ignoring the content, you just delighted in his voice and the vibrations it made in his chest, “I like it more when you do”.
“Stay” he pleaded.
“I promise I will, once you return to London” you straddled him on his lap, running your hands through his neck to his hair, “I’ll take your word for it my dearest, otherwise I will have you tied to me if I have to” he lowered his head to your collarbones, inhaling the scent of your skin, “No need, I’ll miss you enough”.
“Stay” he begged, “Tom” to which you called on his name with a serious tone. “Last one, I swear” he kissed right above your left breast.
“Will you see me off at the airport?” he raised his head from your skin and pretended to be wounded as you spoke, “Yes, even though it hurts" that afternoon was all kisses and hugs. You had no idea why he had refrained from touching you past the limits, not even once, but you were grateful, your body didn’t recover from that experience, not that it was his fault though.
The next day he accompanied you to the airport, he gave you a sad smile and a chaste kiss, knowing if he kissed you furthermore he wouldn’t be able to let you go.
“See you soon” you said as you walked away, “My love” whispered to yourself, it was a harsh thing to do, not cry. Since unfortunately, that plane did landed in London, but not with you in it, you were set for another destination.
“I see that you said your goodbyes, smart girl” the same man smiled next to you, “Even if I was brave enough to try to escape, you would use him against me. The safest thing was to leave” 'again’ you thought feeling a sting in your stomach.
“Rest assure, he will not be harmed, but I can’t say the same of your friend, the boss…was rather ruthless” You knew you couldn’t trust him, but he was always noble enough to keep his promises and his threats. “Where are we going?” When asking the question, you already imagined what was going to happen, “It’s best if you don’t know” same words of the last time, you prepared yourself for the sting of the needle.
And then, everything turned black.
“Well, well, hello little rattlesnake” that voice, the tidy red suit, that fucking yellow mamba on his arm, “Hello, Jasper, Manuel, Oscar” the roses on their arms visible enough made you realize, you were in the worst place possible.
Summary: Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.
*Sorry it took too long, but I’m back in the game! hope you enjoy this one, let me know*
Warnings for this chapter: Angst, mentions of blood, traumatic memories, threatening.
It crawled up your spine like an insect, your heart contracting violently causing your heartbeat to begin to grow soft and barely audible as you scanned the room. Your whole body went cold, as if your blood was frozen inside your veins.
There were no thoughts, no words, just giggling in the background and Tom’s blue eyes widening normally, along with his charming smile.
“I’m sorry about this dear, we were preparing for the scene and started messing around with some of the staff, it was just a little scare,” he said very lightly.
It felt unnatural, but a smile found its way across your lips, you laughed along with the others, “What a joke, you little… see you at the house, Tom” you nudged him on the shoulder. That smile, it was exactly the same, the burning field, the sound of the bullets, everything came back to your mind.
Despite how many times he told you could stay, you just kept walking, wearing that smile in your face that just felt like a mask.
“You’re so dead” Sam pointed as something obvious rather than just mock him, while looking up from his magazine. “What do you mean?” Tom whipped off a few drops fake blood he had falling off his chin, feeling a familiar uncomfortable sting in his chest.
“This? Heh! You’ll never going to see her again if you don’t apologize, poor girl, she turned white as a ghost when she saw you” he laughed, setting the magazine on a table.
“I just did, she even laughed” Sam just gave him a look, “You really don’t know women” and rolled his eyes.
When Tom got to the house he felt paralyzing fear, he could barely put his hands on the doorknob, much less insert the key. Upon entering, the room was empty, during the last weeks you had always received him with your warm being, but he only found the cold of your absence and the anxiety that it caused him.
He calmed down when he saw that your things were still in your room, however he couldn’t sleep knowing that you weren’t there.
He fell asleep after one in the morning, still in his casual clothes and on the covers.
—
You refused the ride in the car that brought you there, you had a hard time not taking your anger out on the man. Now, the room was useful, or so you thought as you looked towards the house, however you didn’t go inside.
A walk seemed like a good idea, the cold was bearable because you were numb, a normal person would wear a coat at that time of year, especially at night.
It didn’t really matter, you needed a drink, something you knew would get you through the rest of the night light and easy. To your discomfort, it was margaritas, specifically 3.
You weren’t sure why tequila alone made you feel needy and anxious, but combined with sugary juice it brought you so much peace and clarity.
In your head obviously.
On the outside you looked as drunk as anyone, walking like a newborn deer. Which is why, after the drinks, you came home at three in the morning, your eyes cloudy and your brain almost off.
Fingers barely grazing Tom’s bedroom handle, the image of his bloodied face flashed into your mind.
You retracted your fingers and went to your room instead, it felt so cold crawling on the covers alone, but you just didn’t have the heart to face it again.
You needed to hug him, but how do you do that after he humiliated you and then called it a joke? but on the other hand you needed to know that he was okay.
How could you open the door to his room and it was enough for you to see his chest rise and fall for a sob to escape.
You stomach just felt so uneasy at the thought of the recent events, why he would do something so unethical and just stupid? You appreciated a good joke as anyone else, but that just wasn’t a joke, and you had the awful feeling that it may not have been his idea to begin with.
If it was, you had no idea what your reaction would be, to be honest. It already has been twice that he had mistreated you, and you let it slide far too easily for your taste.
Why?
Could you let this one go without fighting? He would probably call you dramatic, or that you’re overreacting over a situation that was merely thought as a harmless joke. But it wasn’t, right?
It made you feel just like that day. It came with a horrible realization, that you really care about him. It was the same sensation you had the night that your partner was held at gunpoint, a glock 17 covered in rose gold that still haunted your dreams.
You lost two things that night, a loved one, and a particular body function.
The next morning you woke up not hungry, only four hours of sleep was affecting you too much, but the need for coffee changed your priorities so you dozed a little while the water boiled.
You didn’t even want to share an instance with him, and he was running late in fact, you just made him a sandwich and put some coffee in a thermos.
"Where were you last night?!” His eyes looked dark and red, did he slept last night? “Bar, I drank a little too much so I stayed until I sobered up enough to come back” ‘Avoid eye contact, he has a clean face now, but last night…’ you thought, eyes glued to the cabinet up front.
He hummed in response, “You could’ve told me” he was worried, “It was far too early” he approached you but maintained a good and safe distance, ““Y/n, I…” he was interrupted by a sudden cough, the events of last night finally caught up on you. “Y/n, are you alright?” he looked concerned, but still kept himself far, it hurt, but he was an actor after all, he couldn’t take the risk.
“I’m fine, I just need some rest is all, you’re going to be late” he wanted to stay, but it was true, so he left, that’s when you finally gave up.
Coffee didn’t really did much to keep you awake, neither did the little sleep you had last night. The coughs started to get worse as time went by, you had to order takeout pizza because moving from the couch was rather challenging.
But even when it did arrived, you took two bites out of a single slice and threw it to the garbage, the rest of the pizza went back to the box, along with a note “Heat it up if you’re hungry”, you could’ve been more lovely, but with him? You weren’t going to even bother.
“How is she?” Sam asked Tom as soon as he walked inside the trailer, “She was feeling a little off, but alright” the stylist started working on his face when Sam cleared his throat, “Something wrong?” Tom opened one eye to look at his publicist’s disapproval face. “No, I just have an allergy to blind idiots” his bluntness made Tom angry.
"Pardon?” he sounded offended, though hiding much of his real weariness.
“I don’t see why you get mad about that, or did the boot fit you?” Tom began to get tired of his passive aggressiveness, “Explain yourself Sam” he spoke clearly and forcefully, even the makeup artist had the instinct to step aside, but he had to continue with his work.
“If I had scared my darling almost to death and she got pneumonia due to my lack of brains, I would finish the job in no time and run to her, even beg for her forgiveness on my knees” the pang in his stomach returned, you were coughing in the morning, but you didn’t drive to the bar?
“But I’m single, and I don’t do stupid things like pretend to be dead to scare someone and then have the audacity to call it a joke” Sam finished and was about to leave, when in his mental turmoil Tom asked what he should do about it., “Tom, I’m your publicist, not your guru” Sam responded with pity and mockery.
“But you understand women better than me, so” that came out far too defensive for Tom, so Sam thought it was the best for him to find a solution on his own. In the end, he was left alone with the make up crew and his thoughts.
He didn’t have many scenes to shoot that day, so he finished early and followed his publicist’s advice. He bought some ingredients to make you a stew and some cough syrups, chocolates and a hot compress, all to be able to take care of you in case you were in a very bad state.
“Y/n?” he called you but you didn’t answer, he left the purchases in the kitchen and went up to your room, he relaxed immensely after seeing your shape under the covers, “My sweetest, how are you feeling?” he gently caressed your shoulder, "Bad” your tone was nasal and congested, you were shivering with cold, your skin was pale and your nose was slightly red.
“My darling, I’ll make a stew that will take away all the pain, how’s that?” you shook your head, “I tried eating pizza and I couldn’t take more than a few bites” now the box made sense to him, “This is different, and you need to eat something, it’s not good for your body if you don’t eat” you whined as you turned around, his bloody face flashed over his clean one, which made you tear up and open your arms to him.
He took you in his arms and joined you in bed, he gave an absolute fuck getting sick, you needed him. “Does it hurt too much?” he placed your body on top of his, so you would be sitting on his legs and your side would be pressed onto his chest, he pulled the blankets on top of you to shield you from the cold while he hugged you.
You didn’t responded, just nuzzled against his neck, your embrace felt limp and loose, yet you were holding him with every bit of strength you had. “My dearest, I need to know where it hurts, would you show me?” with the cold increasing your sensitivity, his touch felt like ants walking on your skin, moving was not an option, and the exhaustion caused by the alcohol had your mind occupied in not passing out before giving him an answer.
“Everything” your eyes closed, that being his signal to call the paramedics. The doctor arrived earlier than he anticipated, it seemed strange to him, but due to the urgency he let that detail pass.
“Fever, malaise, muscle and joint pain, tiredness and fatigue, headache, dry cough without expectoration, chest pain, everything indicates pneumonia, it also explains the excessive cold sweat and loss of skin color, I will prescribe antibiotics and cough syrup, make sure she doesn’t try to exert herself unnecessarily, if she has difficulty breathing you should take her to a hospital immediately” his tone was severe, so it made his instructions stick within Tom’s brain, he had to change from stew to chicken soup.
When he was off to the kitchen, the doctor bent over and hovering over your ear he whispered, “Should your boyfriend know what you’ve done?” he got a brief response of struggle from you, indicating that you were listening, “He has her, next time we rendezvous, you will come with us without a single peep, do you understand?” he grabbed hold of your hand and you squeezed it, making him know that you got it clear.
Summary: Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.
Warnings for this chapter: Blood.
*Sorry, short chapter, but I needed to get to the point*
“You ready?” Charlie helped you carry out your bags to the sidewalk, both waiting for his Jaguar to show up, “Are you sure you want to go with him after, you know?” you were asking yourself that same question, “I’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t drink” you half-joked, “Besides, he was probably on ecstasy or some weird shit, because I know alcohol, and he wasn’t just on that” she hummed in response, lifting her sight from you to the fancy car approaching, “Here comes Alan form The Hangover” you laughed as you elbowed her on the side, “Easy”.
“Hello ladies” he walked first to you, almost because of gravity you fell into his embrace, he smelled so good.
“Hello handsome” he smiled, giving you a light squeeze. “This is my friend Charlie, we live together” your friend gave you a look then shook Tom’s hand, “Pleasure to meet you Charlie” she just smiled and hummed, trying to keep her thoughts out of her mouth.
“Well, see you in a few weeks” You tried to ignore the thousand and one warning signs in her body language, but Charlie was perceptive, “Be careful” she whispered to you, not like a mother warning her son to a knowing that he is going to do something wrong, no, but that there was only pure and absolute affection in her intention.
“I will” you promised.
Tom took your suitcase and squeezed it in between his own luggage, he wanted to seem cool but you ended up helping him in between giggles because of his struggle to get it in.
It felt incredible, just you and him and the endless road painted in the sky, the plane easily cut through the air, the trip was going to be short, but anyway, it seemed like they would be on the plane for a whole day. And it was warm, feeling his arm draped around your waist, his steady breath sounding against your ear, which was almost glued to his chest. It was as if you were alone. You feeling him, and him almost denying that the moment was real.
When the plane landed, Tom scrambled to grab your hand and sneak you away from the normal entrance, knowing there would be some paparazzi waiting for the next gossip.
The airport staff guided you to a van with black windows, a knot formed in your stomach, not knowing if it was really coming from the agency to pick them up or if it was something else.
“Are you alright love? Maybe I pulled you too harshly?” you shook your head, but it was pretty dark inside the van so he couldn’t really see you, “No, I’m okay, you’re shaking” you took his trembling hands and tried your best to cover them with yours, but his were bigger than yours.
The man who sat in the front seat of the car was slightly taller than you, had short blond hair, and was dressed in colorful clothing, like a tourist lost in Hawaii.
“Hi Tom, ready to go?” He seemed so full of life, he made you feel like a rotting corpse. Sam! Y/n this is Sammy Woods” he settled himself in his seat so he could shake your hand, “I’m the guy who makes sure he gets there on time, and sometimes this guy’s image consultant and publicist” he joked while going back to the front.
“How was the flight?” he asked with an air of insinuation, looking at Tom more than at you. “Honestly, I wish I had slept more, I was so comfortable” with you on top, how could he say that? you asked yourself, but the smile you caught on his face didn’t lie at all.
Thankfully because of the darkness he didn’t saw the scarlet blush you had over your cheeks.
“Well, you better take advantage of the moment, because it’s a good three hour trip to even get to the sector where you’re going to film, so, I would recommend you to take a nap” Sam eyed you through the rearview, winking. You couldn’t understand why exactly had he intended with it, until Tom hummed in response and accommodated himself so his head fell on your lap and his body would fit comfortably in the spot, although his legs kind of hanged from the seat.
"Don’t let me sleep too long, my sweet, please?” you leaned in to place a kiss on his forehead and whispered ‘it’s ok’, he quickly fell asleep when he felt your fingers on his scalp. “And we lost him,” you laughed at Sam’s humor, “Who are you to him exactly?” his eyes fixed on you, suspiciously awaiting your answer, “For him? no idea, but I consider myself his friend” you said 'friend’ with too much affection, he didn’t continue with the subject, in your eyes he could see something, and he knew it was better shut up and watch it grow.
“I am thankful, despite the incident with the bar and all, you’re here with him” you heard his voice as you kept your eyes on your fingers tangling on Tom’s curls, “Do you happen to know if he was with someone else, that night?” he took a moment, he looked deep in thought as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Honestly, that night is a blur for me, I only remember going to the bathroom and right after that Tom was unhinged” you hummed in acknowledge.
“Why do you ask?” it seemed as a normal question, but the way his eyes moved on the mirror, “Just asking, it seemed off that he would’ve gone to a bar to drink until oblivion alone” you laughed absently, “Oh yeah, he’s not like that, you’re absolutely right”.
Tom stirred in his place after a couple of hours, he slept peacefully most of the trip. His eyes opened and saw how your face was far from relaxed, you were sleeping, but not comfortable. The absence of the weight in your lap and the sound of your belt unbuckling woke you up, as soon as you were awake he hugged you close to his chest, and as if you were connected to him, you snuggled into his chest, you moved just the way he wanted.
That connection, you felt it, it was as if you just knew what he was getting at, it was either that or just exhaustion and jet lag taking over you.
–
The place they were going to film was super nice, a beautiful hotel, and Tom was going to be a night manager, so he was probably going to wear a suit. After receiving some instructions about the process, the same driver will take you and Tom to the residence where you will be staying.
It was modest, with only one level. It consisted of a well equipped kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Although you wished you didn’t have to use the second bedroom, it made sense to have your own space, just in case. Tom had no objections to this, in fact he even encouraged you to take it; It’s not like it was a problem, either way he intended for you not to spend a single night in that room.
A couple days of filming went by, life inside that house has got more domestic each day. You loved to fix his shirt and his tie before he left, he had to shoot in between periods of time, so sometimes he lunched with you, and sometimes he asked you to go out with him to treat you with dinner.
It was so intimate, sometimes it worn you out. As an introvert, too much energy spent on an action or something you’re not used to do regularly, takes too much energy from you, being with Tom was new and unexplored.
He did not even make fun of your OCD, nor did he complain about the cleanliness or the strict order that you had imposed in the house, he helped you sweep, vacuum, take out the garbage, cook. There really was nothing more sensual than a man who could be responsible of household chores. It was hard for you to keep your hands off him even, not that he complained much either.
It was one night, Tom was out filming, you were cooking dinner, when an angry series of knocks on the door made you turn off the stove and rush to the door, “Y/N, Y/N, Come quick! He might not make it” it was one of the extras, he was shaking and looked agitated to say the least, “What is going on!? Where’s Tom?” he took you by the arm and pulled you to the car. He drove like a maniac to the set, and just in the same way you ran out of the vehicle, quickly leaded by the extra towards the group of people.
“TOM!?” you yelled, the staff members and cast moved aside to let you in.
Your heart stopped at the sight of him. His face was covered in cuts and bruises, his blood was on the ground and it absolutely covered his face. You fell to your knees, shaking you put your finger under his nose, to your horror, he wasn’t breathing.
“No, please, wait, someone call an ambulance!” nobody moved, “What are you all doing? Help him!!” tears already streamed down your eyes, your voice held so much urgence and terror, it was impossible not to tear up at it, somehow everyone remained pretty calmed.
It was all silent rage and panic, thundering sobs and cries, until everyone started laughing.
Now Briefly Instant (Tom Hiddleston x Reader) is on Wattpad!!
Summary: “Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.”
All situations all fictional. Credits to @hiddleshinee for the cover!
…I’ve been pondering over this idea for another project, and I know I have to finish first the two I already have and all, but…
Ok, hear me out, one couple, a straight man and a pansexual woman, are indeed feeling that their relationship could use something new, something unexplored.
Then, a new girl comes to join their team to work with them and the crew, and she’s so perfect. The girl turns out to live across the street, where the couple’s window literally has a perfect view of her bedroom window.
So they discover some awful things about her and decide to open their relationship to her, so it becomes a threesome.
But, she wants her to be hers, and he wants her as well….
Ok, so take that in…and think it with Tom x girlfriend x reader…
Anyone up to a collab with me?
continue the series I already have? NO, create a new project with an entire different and complicated plot at three A.M post party XD
Summary: Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.
Warnings for this chapter: Angst, Use of a dead name, mentions of self inflicted injuries, mentions of attempted suicide, questionable mental health, depression, mentions of child abuse.
Note: D/N means Dead Name, like when you change your name given your change of gender, or legal change or whatever reason you may have to change your given name. Well the mention of D/N is mainly someone not accepting your choice and just sticking with the name you hate, with the pretext that “That’s who you are” n shit.
Shit! What the fuck were you thinking? You were going to use your authority to get your mother out of the prison where Jasper locked her up for a day! All for what? for a man, your man. “The things I do for love” you murmured as soon as your mother appeared in the door dressed in orange and black, “Hello mother” she smiled at me as if she already knew you were going to break her out.
“I knew you would change your mind” she shifted her hips to the side, as if accentuating her know-it-all attitude, “This isn’t about me, my boyfriend wants to talk to you, I’m here to ‘take you to tea with us’ as he calls it” she laughed It was a small, modest laugh, but you knew her, at least well enough to know she’d laugh.
“Is he a Brit or something?” she said it like it was something bad, that made you angry “He is, and look, I have the legal right to use my taser on you” you slightly lifted your coat to show the taser, but that didn’t even scare her.
“HA! We both know you wouldn’t be able to do it” maybe not, for mere manners and for the minimum respect you have for being your mother, but you didn’t lack the desire to do it.
“Yes I am, but I won’t, because-” you had to shut up because he started talking over you, “she knew, but how could you, if you can’t even aim properly?” anger began to bubble fiercely inside you, but for Tom you did it, then you could kick her out of her house.
“Because my sister is invited too, and I would really hate if I had to electrify you for your bad attitude” she snorted and clicked her tongue, “I never said I wouldn’t behave, this is the first boyfriend of yours I’m going to meet in a long time, you were prettier back then, of course” she already started criticizing you, like always.
“Stop”.
“By the way, why are you wearing a shirt covered in lint? Is that how you present yourself to others? like a disdainful and disheveled girl who doesn’t know how to dress well? And that hair, ugh, remember I said your hair is greasy, honey, you can’t just wash your head with soap.“
"I do not-!”
“You can’t lie to me, I’m your mother”.
“If you continue I will leave you in the middle of the road” you threatened her, and as soon as you got her inside the car you put on music so you didn’t had to hear it.
The ride was horrible, but at least it was only half an hour of her incessant chattering, mostly about how she found the criminal she worked with quite attractive, it made you sick.
“My love, we’re here” you sounded tired, and how could you not be? You were in a bad mood all morning and reminded her that she will regret being near your mother, and that you, above all, would be miserable if she were near you. That nothing good happens with her near her. He, in his tender nature, convinced you by telling you that he would be yours all week and that day he would make pasta with alfredo sauce so that you would at least eat something that would make you feel better.
He really loves you.
“Hello, I’m Tom Hiddleston, it’s so nice to meet you ma’am” he grabbed your mother’s hand and placed a kiss to her knuckles, making her giggle and flush, “Oh my, you really are a gentleman, huh?” she pulled him down gently and squeezed his cheeks a bit, “Handsome as well” she hummed in delight as she moved past him towards the living room.
“She seems nice” he chuckled as he leaned down to kiss your temple, but you moved your head so he was kissing your lips instead, “For now, is my sister here?” he nodded, “She needed the bathroom, she’ll be here in a sec” he took your hand and placed a little kiss to your palm, just like in ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’, just because he knew you liked him in that movie.
“What a nice home you have here Tom, it’s really cozy, just like D/n here said on the way here” it was just like a huge boot just kicked you in your stomach, the acid crawled up inside your throat but you were able to swallow it back.
“Uhm, pardon me but who’s D/n?” that name felt disgusting leaving his lips, soon you were going to have him swear never to say it again. “My, my, you’re my daughter’s boyfriend and you don’t even know her name?” Tom glanced at your calmed face, yet your eyes were way more honest, the phrase “if looks could kill” was seemed an understatement.
“It’s Y/n, mother, it has been since I’m nineteen and you know it” you changed your name at such young age, what reason you could have to do such a thing? “Oh silly me” your mother giggled, pretending to not know what she was doing, like Tom was stupid enough to not notice.
“Y/N!!” It was like a dream, like opening a birthday present, your sister was in front of you after so many years of not seeing her in person. You didn’t hold back and hugged her tight against you, remembering the countless pranks and adventures you had together.
“Violet! Oh I missed you so much! You’re so big and beautiful!! You must catch all the eyes” you winked playfully, how you missed her laugh, “You too!! Omg, your boyfriend is a real hottie” she spoke not too loud but it’s not like Tom didn’t hear her, “I know” you laughed making him blush while setting the kettle.
“I can’t believe you can go to bed with Loki, I’m so jealous” Violet hit your shoulder stealing a few glances towards Tom’s backside, “He’s the best, so loving and caring” she had heart eyes already, but then your mother spoke, “What are you talking about?” she sounded so high handed without even trying, “Hello mommy, we were just talking about how lovely is to see each other again”.
It hurt your soul to recognize your sister’s attitude, apparently the double-faced lady has not yet shown her true facet, why?
Tea turned into dinner, Tom’s conversation with your mother couldn’t be more pedantic, on your mother’s part obviously. Your boyfriend was just being nice while he was trying to unmask the witch, to no avail, since your mother has been doing this to hide her true personality for quite some time now.
“Do you want more noodles, love?” Tom asked you, knowing that you loved scraping the pot looking for the sauce that remained in the bottom, you nodded and he plated them for you, not a big ration because you don’t eat that much after a proper meal, but it had all the sauce.
You were about to delight in it, but just as always, your mother stopped you by going with “Are you sure you should eat that honey?”, which made you look up to her in pure raw anger, “I want to” you used a stern tone to subtly inquire her to fuck off.
“But you shouldn’t, you know how easy it is for you to gain weight” you had had it, “Tom could you bring some more ice from the back freezer? I want to witness my sister’s first margarita” it was a code for him to leave the room because you were going to stop your mother from further bitching, you haven’t had discussed that with him before, but he read the room good enough to know what you intended with it.
“Can you stop the attitude?” you started as soon as he was out of the room.
“I’m not doing anything” she tried, that’s the funny thing, “Mom, I know you, let it all out before he comes back” she shifted on her seat, it was as if she let down the veil of fake kindness and all the shit just showed up on display afterwards.
“So this is what you’re doing after leaving the force? Having sex with a man like him? How lovely it is that you’re here too Violet. D/n, don’t you think you have more important things to do? You should do more for your sister, you won’t even answer her texts, or call or even come back home, you even renegade from your name, but then again, those were all your choices” oh he went with that.
“I have a life, you know?”
“And with us you didn’t?”
“Mom I can’t even… you are such a hypocrite, of course I didn’t! All those years you’ve hurt me and treated my sister with the love I also deserved, but look at this irony. I have a business, a life. Are you seriously so envious that you have to shit on it every time we talk? Like, every fucking time mom, we always end up with you judging my decisions” once again your sister was witness of your fights, you didn’t wanted this, but that’s how she was going to have to learn.
“You left us, you left your sister behind, you were and still are selfish! I didn’t raised you like this!” that made you laugh, “No, I certainly didn't”, you glanced at your sister. “Watch your tone, what are you talking about?” She tried to make you respect her, but then Tom’s words from that morning echoed in your head, ‘This is your house too my love, remember that’ so you chinned up and didn’t softened your tone one bit.
“I didn’t raised my sister to behave like a useless child, for fucks sake she’s 31 YEARS OLD! She has to grow up already, she’s lazy, egoistical, individualist, and only calls herself an adult when it’s convenient. She’s not made of glass, mom, you have to be tough and strict with her like you were with me, why don’t you beat her up like me? Oh, because you already lost a daughter”.
Her furious eyes, you used to be terrified of her, somehow you were stronger, confident…maybe it was the taser in your pocket.
“Also, you love to call yourself the best mom, I appreciate you working yourself out to feed us when we were young, but you can’t keep rubbing that on our faces anymore because, and this is your favorite phrase when I was in school, it was your obligation!” you continued.
“I didn’t HAD to feed you two, I did it because I love you” she could’ve gone to jail earlier if she had done that though. “Mom, if you didn’t wanted to have children you should’ve closed your legs when you could” she gasped, even she knocked the chair down when she stood up, “You’re being unfair, I am your mother!”.
“You have to earn that title”.
“I haven’t?”.
“NO! You abandoned us, I left you because you poisoned me! My insecurities grew because of you, I can’t love normally because you made me feel fat and unwanted! I flinch each time someone raises their hand or yells at me because of your abuses! And you handed me a job that wasn’t mine, you were the one that was supposed to shape my sister into a woman, and you didn’t do even the minimum” she slapped you, you sister flinched at the sound but didn’t even moved.
“I’m tired of holding this family together, I’m tired of being always the one to blame, I have no fault in this because I didn’t asked to be born mother! This is your fault only!” you looked at her dead in the eye, “I changed; I am better for you now!” she tried again.
“That’s not true, you’re still the same, you just hide it better. And you did it for her, because you didn’t wanted my sister to leave you as well. You have a problem with abandonment and so do I, it was grandma’s fault with you and it’s yours with me!” she shut up at the mention of her mother, generational issued were the main reason why your family was so broken.
“I love you, both of you, and this is so hard for me to do, but if you two don’t get your shit together I don’t want either of you to be part of my life” Violet started sobbing, “I am selfish because I deserve to be, I deserve to be happy and take care of my own wounds… I deserve a better mother”, your sister tried to make your mother sit down again, failed.
“And if you don’t like Tom, fuck you, he is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time, I love him” she laughed.
“He’s going to leave you as soon as he knows how much blood you have on your hands, of your habits” she signaled her wrists, “Or did you forgot who mended your wounds after you tried to kill yourself?” only to open them again and again.
“Joke’s on you, he already knows” he didn’t, he wasn’t supposed to know, and he would never!
“Why did he called us here? To fight?” you shook your head, “He wanted to know me better, to know the person who raised me, and correction I invited my sister, the one who actually deserves to have a place in my life”.
“What do you want from me?”.
“Admit it, admit that you hurt me, that all my issues are because of your beatings, your insults, your bad parenting. Admit that you are a bad mother!” she mocked you again, “All I did brought you here, if you want to look at it that way, it’s your problem”.
“Just admit it, you are already going back to jail, what else you have to lose?” this time your sister stood up angrily, “She’s going to jail?” it was your turn to teach her one last thing, “Yes Violet, you’re gonna start working because mommy won’t be able to pay your bills anymore” 31 years old and she still lived in your mother’s house, unbelievable.
“Why would you do this to us?!” she yelled, “Sis, your mother was in cahoots with illegal human trafficking, are you kidding me?” your mother didn’t even tried to deny it, “So what?” was your sister’s response to that. “SO WHAT?!”.
“I had a life, a plan, now because of this I won’t be able to make it” she had to be fucking kidding right? “Bad luck sis, you’re gonna have to work your ass off to get it now, as you should” she threw her water at you, “I hate you” and then she took her purse and took off, you heard her clacking shoes get lost at the front door.
“I told you you’d lose her” she had a fucking smile plastered on her face, one that you wish you were strong enough to slap off.
“So, whose going to bring me back to my cell?” you sent off a message on your phone, “They’re already here, waiting for you outside”, Oscar came in and took her away, “Give my goodbyes to Tom, D/n, he clearly doesn’t deserve a wreck like you” Oscar gave her a hit to her knees to make her shut up, “Thank you agent” he smiled at you, “Whenever you want dear”.
She was gone, she was finally gone.. both of them, all over again. Just like the day you ran away.
“My love I’m so sorry, I left you alone with them” he came back, slowly appearing from up the stairs. “You were listening” your voice was cold and low, it felt like a knife pressing against his throat, “I needed to know the side of her that you know” he made sense, at least enough for you to understand his motives, “I know” now he was aware of the person you grew up with, all your difficulties to open up and trust came with your mother abuses, you were broken deep.
“We still have cake, want to cuddle on the sofa while eating it?” he tried to bright up your mood, but your mother’s words regarding your weight took away your love for food at the moment, “I’m not hungry”.
He put you through a much horrible situation than he anticipated, he should’ve just trusted your judgement. “Hey, look at me Y/n” he cupped your cheek and turned you around so you could look at him, “I love you too” those four words did the difference, you realized that you had said that you loved him for the first time since you know him, a huge furious red blush caught up to your cheeks while he chuckled, seeing how cute you looked flustered.
“I just realized I didn’t apologize properly for all the secrets and disappearing, I doubt they’ll call me back now that I’m retired, but if it does happen, rest assured you’ll be the first to know, and we’ll talk it over and I will be there for whatever you need, I will always come back to you Tom” he leaned down to trap your lips into a kiss, it wasn’t sexually hungry, it was soft and full of adoration.
“Come on, I’m going to change your bandage, how about a bath with one of those fizzy bombs you like so much first?” your eyes lit up as you watched him lowering himself down to take you up in his arms. “Could it be the lemon one?” his heart fluttered at the sound of your small voice, “Yes my love, and I can let you wash my hair if you want” you loved the purring sounds he made every time you massaged his scalp, he even leaned into your touch, it was very cute!
“Thank you Tom”.
Oh right, you needed to tell him, the drug thing, the pictures, his ex Willow being alive. Oh shit.
Summary: Life is complicated, always moving and working in ways we can’t comprehend. Between the bubbles and the heartache, an unfortunate encounter left a half-broken heart and a strong connection which separated this soulmates for a long time. Two sides of the story, two hearts that longed for each other painfully. One brief instant was enough to know.
Warnings for this chapter: Angst soft, painful memories, mental issues.
Tom: “You’re not going anywhere, darling, you have to answer for this, I’m going to punish you for leaving again, you fucked me and leave” he yanked on your hand to cup his erection, “I’m going to fuck you, and kick you out like the slut you are, because you’re evil, you left me twice you slag!” His grip on your thigh tightened, you whined and closed your eyes, keeping your tears inside.
(…)
His hand left your leg to caress your cheek, he kept an eye on his own movements as his fingers reached your neck. “Y/n, don’t leave, please don’t leave” with your leg now free you kicked his knee to push him out of balance and then threw a punch to his stomach.
(…)
Y/n: “All I’ll ask of you it’s patience. I have a thick skin, a wall I have to break down, it’s been so long” so long since someone treated you like a human worthy of affection? Yes, years, even long before Oscar. So all your life experiences were summed up in the thickness of the Chinese wall and the Berlin wall if you put them next to each other.
(…)
Oscar: “We all are, and it’s your fault, all this trouble because you killed the wrong idiot”.
Y/n: “I know, I won’t miss again”
Oscar: “Good, now let’s go, we strike tomorrow at dawn”.
Y/n: “Can’t wait".
(…)
Y/N: “Tom, this is Oscar, he’s the ex I told you about but before you roll up your sleeves and hit him, he and I were never a couple. For starters he’s very gay, and we were cops in an undercover investigation, that, as you can see, went really bad!” you walked to the bathroom and slammed the door behind you, your screams of pain and wailing echoed in the room.
(…)
Y/N: Lion Samuels, CEO of McKee Senors was my objective, he’s gone but…” you couldn’t hold your tears anymore, as soon as Tom opened his arms to you, your body pushed itself from Oscar and fell into Tom’s embrace.
Unable to keep explaining, Oscar finished your you. “Y/n found out there was someone else there, not being their prisoner, as we thought, but working with them”.
“Who?” Tom was soon going to regret asking, “My mother”.
The rest of what happened that day was horrible and cruel, but you were convinced that you were part of the good side. The team had the decency to interrupt when the bride and groom had already said yes and were about to sign the alliance papers.
The perfect time to point a gun at that moment, causing every person in that room to bring out a gun of their own.
It was a massacre; 200 agents entered the mansion and only 95 left. Alan and Lion escaped to the study together, you followed them and approached to lock yourself in with both men, and your mother tied to a chair in the middle of the room.
Lion took a piece of what appeared to be cyanide, broke it in two, and handed it to Alan, who hesitantly brought it to his lips. With an accurate shot you managed to break the fingers that held the poison in both of them, “It’s over, if you come with me in peace maybe we’ll have mercy” Lion took out a revolver and killed himself, while Alan knelt down and put his hands on the back of his head.
“Are you okay?” you rushed to untie her, “It’s about time you showed up” as soon as she felt the ropes slack she jerked free of them, hitting you in the process, “Don’t start, or I’ll leave you here” you said more sternly, “Lovely family reunion” you heard Alan sneer, “Yeah, it is always like this” because of the attitude, you gave him a good hit in the back of his head, not to knock him out, but to warn him.
“Sadly mom, you’re not getting away this time, this is a big one” She had already committed crimes before? minor crimes, nothing of major importance, so it was easy for you to just say that your mother is a senile lady who has no idea what she was doing.
“Y/n, if you put away your own mother you will regret it, you will lose your sister!” you remembered that you had more family in distant places. Your sister hadn’t spoken to you in months, perhaps because she was tired of you not answering her. The past turned out to be too heavy for you to deal with without first healing.
But would they understand? no, they would laugh in your face or call you ridiculous, selfish. All for prioritizing your mental health over the horrible environment you grew up in.
Could you tell that to Tom?
It sounded easy, of course, and you could make a mental map, or better yet, a script, to prepare what you were going to say to him. Yeah right, your head was already a mess anyways, you surely were going to fuck it up worse if you tried.
Then how? That question ate your sleep and thought, while Tom silently pondered everything that had happened.
How does he feel about you? You confuse him a lot, sometimes you are close and gentle, but then you shut yourself completely from him, as if you saw him as a threat, a danger. When you get closer again you have those eyes, your smile doesn’t reach them, it’s as if someone has broken you so deeply that you try to convince yourself that you are happy by just trying to make your smile seem genuine.
He likes it when you get close to him, just looking for his company and affection. When you were cooking together, you even taught him how to make croissants from scratch, with all your patience because Tom had a hard time keeping up with you.
You were gentle, loving, as soft as whipped cream, in his arms you just could dissolve and he noticed. How your hands slid over his head, tangling your fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp, he loved it so much that just thinking about it made him sigh and want to look for your hands in the sheets.
He gets sad when you are not there, with you by his side it is as if the world lights up, he feels optimistic, light, he even sleeps better when you are next to him, knowing that if he stretches his hand enough you will move towards his embrace.
Yes, he came to the conclusion that he’s absolutely in love with you, maybe that’s why it hurt him all the secrets that you kept from him, but…could he ask you? Or rather, would you answer him?
“I’m sorry” you whispered, hugging his waist with one arm, “It pained me to be away, even more that I couldn’t tell you” he felt your body against his back, you were so small compared to him, “But it would’ve killed me if you gotten hurt because of me, I already lost someone because of this life, that’s why I was so hurt by the prank, I thought someone from my past got to you and hurt you” now that made sense, why even though you knew he was fine still looked at him like he was hurt.
“I want you to know, that even if most of me seems fake because of work, you are the only one that makes me want to be better. You are real, I am real with you. I fought them and came back because I wanted to return to you”.
There was silence, you knew he was awake, his breathing was steady, but his muscles tensed every time you spoke.
“I thought I had one more week to heal before you got back, by that time I was going to have all the details of the case so I could explain all of this to you” you wanted to tell him, the why you didn’t sooner? If you had this job going on for a while now, why couldn’t you confide in him?
“I want you in my life, I don’t want to lose you” he placed his hand on top of the hand you had flat on his torso, “But also I’m scared of you” he froze, “The night Jess called me over, you were drunk and drugged out of your mind, you said things that hurt me, and… you tried to force me into sex”.
Now what he remembered made sense. You crying, yelling at him, he thought it was just a nightmare,
“I asked you if I had hurt you that night, why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was scared, you said that you were going to fuck me and then kick me out, you called me a slut and evil because I left you twice, but then you begged me not to leave you, I was confused and scared, I thought if I had mentioned it, you would repeat those words”.
Now what he remembered made sense. You crying, yelling at him, he thought it was just a nightmare. He turned around to hug you, passing his arm under your back, pressing your body to his.
“Did we-”.
“No, I knocked you out before you took it further” you cut him off, pressing your nose to his neck, feeling his warm skin and hearing the faint sound of his heartbeat.
“Why is it so hard for you to open up to me? Is it…is it that I’m the only one that feels different?” he muttered as if it were a prayer, a tear rolled down his eye onto your cheek, “No! I’ve been like this since I was very young, I joined the force when I was a teenager, I want to be better…normal, but I can’t do it alone” you sniffled, your heart pending on the edge of a line.
“Ask, my love” he kissed your head, cupping your cheek, “Would you help me…to be better?” he didn’t wanted you to change, “I just want you, my love, but we can’t be on this disappearing thing all over again, I need to trust you, and I want you to feel free to trust me” it was theoretically impossible, but he felt your heart closer to his for a moment.
“I will try” he leaned to kiss your lips lightly, “I would never say something like that and mean it darling, I’m very sorry for what you had to see, I didn’t meant it” he spoke with his lips near yours, so it was easy for you to shush him with kisses, “You weren’t yourself, I love you despite that” he smiled in the kiss again, and asked one more time…
“Will you stay?”.
“I did promised that”.
“Then we’re in this together”.
Once second was perfect, and then he asked: “My love, I wish to have a conversation with your mother” you agreed to it, but with one condition, “If she starts being the hateful bitch she is, it’s over and she leaves” he wanted to see the origins of why you are how you are, and he needed to go to the source.
Coming soon on chapter Twenty:
M: So this is what you’re doing after leaving the force? Also, you should do more for your sister, you won’t even answer her texts, or call or even come back home, you even renegade from your name, but then again, those were all your choices.
Whisper in the Shadows ➳ Tom Hiddleston [chapter two]
➳summary: Behind the silver screen, he seized the world by storm with his crystalline blue orbs and adoring accent, his acting abilities bringing the audience to laughter, anger, or tears. Behind the screen of her laptop, she took the world by storm with her penmanship that captured the attention of her adoring crowd across the world. What happens when Tom and this exquisite author find themselves communicating, yet somehow falling in love, without her ever discovering his true identity? What begins as friendship and sweet messages turns into both of them contemplating their every move, vying for the other’s hand. Their friends around them say they’re outlandish to do this, but when this young woman’s whispers are so loud within the shadows of her pages, that the echoes of her screams can be heard through every line she writes, Tom has to do something about it. But when their identities are uncovered at an unexpected event and the revelation is made…Can they find the fairytale ending that they both had been longing for, for so long?
Love made you see the best in people when they could oftentimes be the worst.
Love blinded the eyes but unveiled the heart.
Love, from the wrong person, is bitter. It’s chaotic. It’s tragic. It’s obsessive. It’s toxic.
Love, from the right person, it’s splendor. It’s beautiful. It’s lively. It’s adoration. It’s healthy.
When could I find a love like that?
Those words from Whisper in the Shadows by this author, annavixen92, had Tom’s head swirling. From the moment he clicked on the first chapter, he was suddenly pulled into a world unknown to him, a world that featured Serenity Fields and Dawson Brewington.
Tom was used to Shakespeare, those classic romance novels, the Jane Austen kind, the ones that when it sucked him into an alternate universe, he could spend hours reading with no end in sight. Normally, discovering a modern story such as Whisper in the Shadows would cause him to step away. But this writing – there was something so different about it.
Whoeverannavixen92 was, she was a mastermind and her words had Tom wrapped up. Tom was so enthused with reading this love story that centered on Serenity’s life slipping through her fingertips as she encounters a rough divorce before she uncovered the likes of Dawson, this daring and abject man with a turbulent past who sometimes pushed Serenity out of his path, only to uncover a passionate love unlike neither had ever experienced before. Tom had been woken up by Luke shaking him and discovered his phone was screen-first against his chest.
“Geez, Tom. Did you stay up all night?” The publicist laughed at the sight of his best friend’s blonde curls a mess and his blue orbs filled with sleep.
“What time is it?” Tom asked, rubbing his eyes and quickly untangling his frame from the sheets.
“Just after 7:30,” Luke responded.
Tom nodded and pressed on with a yawn. “I’ll go ahead and get ready,” He assured Luke who showed him a generous smile. Leaving him alone, Tom looked around the room and scratched his face. Unlocking his phone, he saw that he was on chapter five of twenty-five. Part of him wished he didn’t have to handle meetings this morning. He would love nothing more than to stay inside all day and soak his crystalline eyes on the screen of his phone as annavixen92 submerged him in her world that was Serenity and Dawson.
But he knew that was useless to contemplate. He had work to take care of, with leisure time following after his duties were completed. Heading for the bathroom after putting his phone on charge, he couldn’t help but reflect on Serenity’s description of love. Whomever this author was, Tom realized they spoke nothing but the truth, even if it came out in a twisted and heart-wrenching manner. But that was sometimes the best way to expose oneself.
As Tom washed his hair, he recalled the beautiful detail of Serenity. A sweet and young woman who had her lively nature snatched from her through the lies of her ex-husband, Tristan. Serenity was in the midst of a battle with this putrid ex-husband as they went through the motions of a messy divorce, until Tristan’s best friend, Dawson Brewington entered the picture. A dark-haired male with tattoos and a tragic past of his own. He despised the man who he claimed as a ‘best friend’ for so many years once he stumbles across the beloved Serenity.
Dawson understood he wasn’t to interfere with a husband and wife who were separated and undergoing a divorce, but there was something so crystal clear about Serenity, that Dawson couldn’t stay away. Tom could feel the strength that resonated from Dawson’s dominant character and his heartfelt feelings toward Serenity, although he was skeptical of binding himself to a woman who shouldn’t be touched by him.
It was all Tom could think about, from the moment he finished his shower, to the second he got dressed, and all the way downstairs when he made it to the waiting car that came to pick him and Luke up.
While he was on his way to conduct business, little did he know that the gorgeous author was halfway across the world in Tennessee, struggling to breathe.
“Can you do anythingright?”Your boss, a disgusting gentleman by the name of Pierce asked you as he spat in your face. “There are three tables waiting for your lousy service! Geez, you go through a divorce, and suddenly, you’re damaged goods. No wonder Trent left. I would’ve run a longtime ago, too!” He pushed past you, knocking the things out of your hands.
A gasp cut from your throat as you stood there, tears threatening to spill. It was another night at Mallory’s, and of course, you were thrown to the wolves. Everything in your world seemed to flip upside down. Struggling to find balance, you bit down on your lip until you nearly drew blood.
Across the room tucked away in the corner was Stephanie Wilson. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and glanced at you. “I’ve got you,” She looked at you. “Go to the walk-in, take a breather,”
Your eyes cut up at her.
“Stephanie, I can’t ask you to,” – “This isn’t you asking me, this is me telling you,” She hurriedly reached up and grabbed your shoulders. She could see the panic written on your face. “You’re seconds away from a breakdown. Your mental health? Far more important than pleasing Pierce’s ass,”
You sniffled, your chest tightening. Stephanie pulled you in for a quick hug. “Go,”She told you again. You nodded and hurried out of the kitchen and toward the back where the walk-in fridge was. Pulling the door open and sealing yourself in, the cold air hit your lungs and you gasped at the feel.
Immediately, your shoulders started to shake as the cry exploded. Leaning against the wired racks of the inside, your forehead rested against your arm as your tears flowed freely down your cheeks. Everything seemed to be getting worse.While Trent was trying to plaster you as the cheating one in your marriage, it was never you. It was always him. He played his cards to make you out to be the abusive wife who hurt him, whereas the story was turned the other way around.
You still had scars and fresh bruises to prove it. His nights when he returned home, absolutely drunk and ready to brawl. He slapped you, kicked you, punched you. He did everything and anything he could that brought you to the ground. It took everything you could just to get a restraining order against him as you two worked through the divorce, although you were assured he had moved on with the woman he cheated on you with.
The cries robbed you of your feelings, constant pain and agony coursing through your body to the point you felt like you were going to be sick.What felt like hours had only been a couple of minutes when the door to the walk-in opened. A waiter, Ben Carter, stopped in his tracks.
“O-oh, I’m sorry,” He said, closing the door, but you shook your head and wiped your eyes.
“No, Ben, it’s fine,” You sniffled and stepped out. “I’m the one who should be sorry,” You whispered and hurried away before any more questions could be asked. When you came around the corner, Pierce rolled his eyes.
“Hiding on the job? Keep that up, and you’re getting your check cut short again,” He snarled.
Hissing, you squeezed your eyes shut.
“Pierce, I think you’reway out of line here,” Stephanie cleared her throat. “Should I make a phone call to Samantha? I bet she would love to hear how awful her supposed favorite manager treats employees in her absence,”
Pierce’s eyes widened, his jaw falling open. “You wouldn’t dare,”He narrowed his eyes on Stephanie.
She cocked an eyebrow, clearly willing to test the theory.
Pierce glanced between you and Stephanie.
“If you can’t function here, then just go home,” He huffed under his breath and disappeared. Stephanie turned to look at you.
“Go home and get some sleep… Your bags are starting to get bags, sweetie,” She said, cracking a small smile, one that actually made youchuckle.
“Thank you,” You whispered. Stephanie smiled.
“I’ll be over later, okay? Maybe try and write. You always do best at this time anyway,” She laughed genuinely.
You offered her another softened, yet teary-eyed smile. Once you clocked out and grabbed a drink, you made the walk toward your car. The beat-up sedan was squealing as the brakes were in dire need of a change, you were positive the filters in the car needed to be checked, and you were nearly on E on the gas hand. But when money was tight because Trent ensured to clean everything out of your bank account before he left, you were living paycheck to paycheck, and even that wasn’t enough.
The drive to your apartment was filled with that same silence, but thankfully no rainstorm appeared. You were grateful to see the apartment for the first time.
When you made it inside and changed into more comfortable clothes that were not your black-on-black waitress outfit, you headed for your laptop.
The moment you opened it, a blank page for twenty-six of Serenity and Dawson’s story met your eyes.
Gulping, that’s when your fingers started to run freely.
“This rollercoaster that is my life has unexpectedly derailed and I’m not sure how much longer I can hang on before I hit the ground.”
➳summary: Behind the silver screen, he seized the world by storm with his crystalline blue orbs and adoring accent, his acting abilities bringing the audience to laughter, anger, or tears. Behind the screen of her laptop, she took the world by storm with her penmanship that captured the attention of her adoring crowd across the world. What happens when Tom and this exquisite author find themselves communicating, yet somehow falling in love, without her ever discovering his true identity? What begins as friendship and sweet messages turns into both of them contemplating their every move, vying for the other’s hand. Their friends around them say they’re outlandish to do this, but when this young woman’s whispers are so loud within the shadows of her pages, that the echoes of her screams can be heard through every line she writes, Tom has to do something about it. But when their identities are uncovered at an unexpected event and the revelation is made…Can they find the fairytale ending that they both had been longing for, for so long?
➳summary: Maddie Pine thought she had her life figured out. She was pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming an artist, she had her two best friends Tom and Elena, and she was set to marry her college on-again, off-again boyfriend, Drake. But like everything in Maddie’s life, it never came easy. As the thunder clouds build overhead, a hurricane erupts when Maddie catches her fiancé cheating on her. Devastated and forced to cancel her weekend getaway with her and Tom’s families, Maddie’s unsure if she can carry on with her life… Until six months later, she receives an invitation to her ex-fiancéandcousin’s wedding extravaganza. Tom, the only man in this world who knows her inside and out, devises a plan to throw it back in the enemy’s face. He suggests that he and Maddie fake date for the wedding. But the night of the rehearsal dinner, Tom suddenly pushes the envelope a little too far and informs everyone that he and Maddie aren’t just dating, but they’re engaged.With both families ecstatic, Maddie and Tom are caught in the lies they tell to make their story believable… It’s all fun and games until you’re suddenly falling head over heels in love with your best friend, a promise you vowed to keep so many years ago. Join Maddie and Tom as they ride the waves of the ocean they’ve created and hopefully succeed in their escapade. Because if not… they’ll never be the same.
Saturday. Sunny. Not a cloud in the sky. Work calls.
“Hey, Maddie, could you arrange the paints that came in this morning?” Elena Johnson, Maddie’s longtime best friend and current boss, requested of her with a smile. Quickly glancing up at her from the stack of bins in her small hands, Maddie nodded her head.
Maddie had been working at Michaels Arts and Crafts store since she turned fifteen. She was currently an art student attending an actual art school. Maddie was grateful enough to her beloved parents for helping out, but more so to herself that a full-ride scholarship was granted to her for her artistic abilities.
Always maintaining a gift for sketches, painting, and everything art-related, it truly was Maddie’s calling and passion. Despite her aunt and uncle’s critical spurts at Thanksgiving and Christmas when the relatives got together.
One question Maddie always heard from dear Grandma Stella was:
“Why don’t you do like your sweet cousin, Hannah, and become a nurse?”
The most straightforward answer without causing a war: Maddie liked to paint.
Hannah didn’t have one innovative bone in her body. Her voice croaked as though she had a frog lodged in it, she believed Shakespeare was the name of a vessel that sailed across America, and she stumbles over her own feet.
She was gifted with good looks and nice hair, but again, nothing else.
So how she got into nursing school was beyond Maddie’s understanding.
There was no way in hell Maddie would allow Hannah Lucas to stick her with a needle.
Placing her things to the side, Maddie rescued her iPod Touch out of the pocket of her blue skinny jeans, soon scrambling to gather her earbuds.
“You were not tangled when I put you in my pocket!” Maddie hissed under her breath. It was as though they came alive in the darkness of her pocket, tangling their wires together into a tiny little knot. Maddie wondered if gremlins lived within the depths of her pockets and generated this distress. Toiling, Maddie persisted to unravel them as she made her way toward the back of the store that held the unorganized paints.
By the time Maddie reached her destination, she let out an “Aha!”to which a customer heard her, quickly peeking at the young worker. Maddie glanced back at her, seeing the artificial arrangement of flowers cradled in her hands. Lilies. Quick, what goes good with fake lilies?
“Those would look great paired with roses,” Maddie relaxed her hands on her hips in an endeavor to appear somewhat experienced. The woman averted her eyes to the flowers in hand, clearly not wanting to associate herself with an eighteen-year-old female who was held victorious untwisting her earbuds…
Folding her head down in humiliation, her cheeks burned red. Maddie quickly pushed the earbuds inside her ears and pressed shuffle on the iPod.
InstantlyDONTTRUSTMEby 3OH!3 came on. Maddie was suddenly grinning to herself, observing as the customer who scrutinized her amusingly darted down another aisle. Pushing her hips in circles, Maddie dropped herself to the ground and started sorting through the container of paints. It was a box full of acrylics, varying in a rainbow of colors.
As the music wafted through her ears, Maddie found herself humming. Gathering up a few bottles at a time, she wandered over to the shelves and lined them in neatly. The song played through and she was awkwardly dancing back and forth to it. It reminded her of all those cheesy dances she went to in junior high, which normally ended with someone getting drunk because their parents weren’t home and the party was moved there.
Elena had no issue with Maddie listening to music when it came to stocking, so long as it didn’t interfere with her helping customers.
Yet Maddie wasn’t anticipating being caught red-handed and ultimately mortified. Her dark hair flowed in its messy ponytail as she exploded with the raunchy lyrics.
Maddie piped the explicit words under her breath, not acknowledging her voice was carrying its way across the store. Her salacious dance had begun to transform into swaying hip gestures that would have her mother’s jaw striking the ground every time she trekked over to gather acrylic paints from the box. With that being said, she never saw himcoming.
Rotating into a circle, she shut her eyes and resumed the ill-sounding verse that was so freeing to sing, until she opened her eyes to see someone standing there.
“AHHHHH!”Maddie unexpectedly found herself colliding into someone’s chest. A hard chest at that.
Maddie yanked the earbuds out, the music still playing rather loudly.
“I am so sorry,” The voice said. It was velvety, delicate, and belonged to a guy. “But 3OH!3?”
And he had an accent?
Pause.
Did he just scorn her music selection?
Gradually, Maddie peeled her eyes away from the floor and peeked up. Clothed in a t-shirt and jeans, he had the curliest blonde hair and a pair of lovely eyes.
“Are you alright?” He asked Maddie, catching her bottles of acrylic paint on the floor to which he quickly bent down and helped her to pick up. Once they had them all nestled back into the box, Maddie breathed out a sigh.
“Yeah, curls. Thanks,” Maddie suppressed a laugh, his eyes flickering when she referred to him as curls. “Also, don’t hate on 3OH!3.” She pointed an index finger at him before continuing. “Um, is there something I can help you with?”
He grinned softly, licking his lips.
“I assume you also belt out the lyrics to My First Kiss, don’t you? But yeah, I was actually going to see if you could point me in the direction of painting. I’ve decided to participate in the activity.” He looked at Maddie who studied his face, pondering where his accent hailed from.
“Ireland?” Maddie questioned.
He narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“Australia, wait, no. Hold on, I have to run through my countries.”
The man tipped his head to the side. “What are you - Wait. You seriously can’t tell from the accent?” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“England!” Maddie cried.
“Atta girl,” He chuckled.
“Do you really love tea and is the weather the only thing you like to talk about?” Maddie threw out stereotypes. “And why do you call fries chips? A chip comes in a Lays bag.” She jabbered on to the stranger. That was her character trait. Maddie could befriend anyone, but something about the way he looked at her deliriously only added a comical element to the plain.
“Darling, if I’m not mistaken, you just stereotyped me. Hard.” He breathed out.
Maddie inhaled sharply. “Whoa, ‘darling’, already? I don’t even know your name.” She laughed. “But no, I’m just picking fun at you… Except for the chips and fries debate, that one still confuses me.”
He persisted to look at Maddie, blinking a few times as he analyzed her face.
“I’mTom, by the way. Hiddleston.” He presented her with his largehand.
Maddie beamed. “Who names their kid Tom by the way Hiddleston?” She blinked.
Tom gazed at this beautiful woman and that was when the two of them began laughing.
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m Madelyn Pine, but please never call me Madelyn, unless I’m in trouble. Stick to Maddie if you want to see another day. Now really, I need to act like I’m doing my job. What can I do for you, Tom?”
He looked back at the painting supplies. “As I said, I want to try my hand at painting. I can act, somewhat sing, might as well add to the list… and maybe I’m trying to come up with an idea for a Christmas gift for my mom.”
“Christmas gift in September?” Maddie giggled.
Tom stared at her with his own chuckle. “If I’m horrible at it, I need to get some practice in beforehand.” He told her with a small smile.
Nodding, Maddie understood. “Do you want me to show you the supplies or would you like lessons?”
Tom’s eyes flickered wildly with curiosity at her suggestion.
“Lessons sound intriguing.”
Maddie bit her lip. “Here,” She smiled and pulled a pen out of her pocket. Grabbing Tom’s hand, she scribbled her number down on his palm. “This is my number… And this is what time my class starts tomorrow.”
Tom looked at Maddie and she smiled softly. “I’m an art student at the New York School of Art. I’ve been painting since I was six. Might I add, I’m pretty good. So I can show you a thing or two. Quite possibly, I could have you ready to paint a gift for Mumbefore Christmas.” She winked, bringing Tom to roll his eyes at the pronunciation of ‘mom’.
“You don’t rest, do you?” He asked her.
Maddie shook her head. “Nope, and if you want these lessons, you’ll have to deal with it.”
His smile spread wide across his face. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”
Maddie nodded, giving back the smile. “Wait, did I hear you say you act? I swear you have a face that’s reallyfamiliar.”
Tom chuckled. “A few things here and there, yeah. Now just waiting for the breakthrough, I presume.” He sighed.
Maddie smiled. “With those curls? You should get something.” She giggled. “How old are you?” Suddenly she asked.
Tom narrowed his eyes. “How old do I look?”
Contemplating, Maddie made a noise with her mouth as she surveyed him. Walking around him, Tom let out a laugh.
“Twenty…” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Three.”
Tom smirked. “Five years off, Love… Do better,”
Ten-year age difference. Not too bad. Her mother may be a little wary, but that’s only if she found out. Until then, Maddie wouldn’t let him think it was okay.
“That is disgusting. You are ancient.” Maddie stuck her tongue out at him.
He gasped. “How old are you?!”
“Eighteen!”
“A child!” Tom cried out.
Maddie and Tom exchanged a stare before they both busted into a fit of giggles.
He checked the time on his watch and sighed. “Alright, Maddie. I’ll let you get back to work. But I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?”
Maddie smiled and nodded her head.
“See you tomorrow, Curly Fry.” She sighed, already pinning him with a nickname that had him blushing.
MAY 21, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
The wind whipped through Maddie’s dark curls, the top down on the newly purchased Jaguar. With a grey exterior with red-hot seats, she felt like a primetime babe sitting behind the wheel of the convertible. Sunglasses covered her green eyes, Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC blasting. Weaving in and out of traffic, she watched as he grabbed the door handle.
“Darling,do you even know how fast you’re going?!” Maddie’s best friend of twelve years, Tom Hiddleston, exclaimed from the passenger’s seat of the car. Maddie let out a bellowing laugh, watching as his short and dirty blonde hair wafted along with the wind, the collar of his button-up nearly flapping.
“Oh, Hiddleston, you LOVE this!” Maddie exclaimed, pulling up at a light. “It was your idea for me to buy a Jag… you did this.” She pointed at him. She gazed down at the engagement ring on her left hand, watching as it dazzled underneath the sunlight.
“Yeah, but I’d also like to make it back to London in one piece.” He looked over at Maddie.
Smiling, Maddie reached out and grabbed his hand, tangling it through hers. “I’ll buy you a drink after this, alright?” She nudged him, knowing the man would never turn down the chance to drink with her.
“Make it a double… or a triple if we make it out of this car alive,” Tom smirked at her gorgeous face.
The duo’s next destination was the wedding dress shop. Maddie’s dress had its final alterations made and she wanted to have it picked up before she flew out to New York.
The time had come again for Maddie and Tom’s families to get together for a small, two-week getaway trip to a location that was randomly chosen… from a hat.
Thrilling, right? Each family member attending would write down their choice and toss it into a hat. Once it came time to plan the trip, the destination would be chosen and everyone would pitch in to pay.
This time, Tom’s mother, Diana, and Maddie’s mother, Amanda, picked together. The two became best friend’s nearly a year after Maddie and Tom did when Diana was adamant about meeting some of the young girl’s family upon her son bringing her home for a weekend in London right as Tom’s first movie, Thor took off, where he played the evil brother of a highly-acclaimed hero with superpowers, whose throne Tom’s character, Loki, was threatening to take over.
Once the two women were in the same room together, they were inseparable.
The destination chosen by Diana and Amanda was Hawaii.
Maddie was very much excited but desperately wanted to get to the bridal shop.
When the light turned green, Tom nearly gripped the sides of the red seats as Maddie lurched forward, practically bypassing everyone.
“Youstill scare the shit out of me,” Tom whispered.
“Hey!Language, Mr. Prim, and Proper!” She smacked his arm.
Tom shook his head. “You do! Love, we need to make it in one piece.Notseveral pieces.”
Giggling, Maddie soon pulled into the parking lot of the dress shop. Closing the top on the grey Jaguar, she and Tom both piled out. But of course, him being dramatic, he bent himself over with his hands on his knees.
“I think I’m going to throw up, darling.” He announced to her.
Maddie walked over to him, rubbing his back. “Aww, poor baby Hiddleston!” She said in a baby voice, making him playfully shove her. “Straighten yourself up. We’ve got work to do.” She winked.
Pushing her way inside, Maddie went up to the desk and was greeted with a friendly smile.
“Hi, I’m Maddie Pine. I’m here to pick up my wedding dress.” She informed her. The receptionist looked between Maddie and Tom, smirking to herself.
“I thought it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride’s dress?”
Maddie and Tom immediately shared a glance. “We’re not together.” They both said at the same time.
The woman glanced at the pair again, quickly laughing. In her mind, she thought of them to be quite adorable. A gentleman with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes paired up with a chestnut beauty with sparkling emeralds. “I’ll let Grace know you’re here, Ms. Pine,”
Maddie quietly thanked her as she turned back around, Tom and she made their way over to the bay window that showcased the glimmering downtown of Hollywood. “Tell me again why you dragged me along to pick up your wedding dress?” He leaned over her shoulder with a whisper.
Laughing, Maddie turned around to face him. “Because someone called and said they were in town… I figured it’d give us some time to catch up. We’ve still got to plan to sit down and watch the first season of Loki together. I’m very excited.” She nudged his side. She was proud of him for everything he had accomplished
Tom chuckled. “Don’t let Drake find out you’re with me,” He whispered.
Scoffing, Maddie rolled her eyes at the mention of her fiancé’s name. “Drake can kiss my ass. He’s just a fiancé, you’re my best friend.”
Tom smiled. “You did meet me first, didn’t you? Anyway, are you sure you want to marry him? Based on that comment, you could care less.”
Heloved giving Maddie hell, not just for Drake, but any guy she had ever dated. It’s how the two functioned. When either of them got themselves tangled up in a relationship, they nitpicked the other’s significant other… Until there were certain ones that they found no flaws in.
“At least my ass didn’t get a song written about them.” Maddie looked up at him, Tom’s mouth falling open.
“You’renever going to let the Swift comments go… are you?”
Maddie shook her head. “I’ll tell your kids about it too.”
Tom rolled his eyes and shoved her.
“You’re just upset I didn’t take you as my date to the Met Gala,” He narrowed his gaze.
Maddie turned around, arms crossed over her chest. “Yeah? If you would’ve taken me, your ass wouldn’t have a hit on the radio,”
Tom glared meanwhile Maddie’s lips pressed into a tight line. But then Maddie snickered, not able to keep a straight face. He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her to his side.
“Darling, I would’ve taken you, had you not been showcasing your newest art piece.”
Sighing, Maddie nodded. “…Which my best friend thought wasn’t as important as the Met Gala”
“Darling!” He groaned. “I was invited!”
Just as Maddie was about to say something more snarky just to irk his nerves, Grace appeared. “Maddie! Hi!” She smiled, then looked at Tom briefly. “Is this the darling groom?”
“Best friend,” Maddie and Tom again said in unison.
Grace quickly nodded, glancing between the two, ushering them back. Maddie reached her hand out and wiggled her fingers, motioning Tom to follow. Once they were nestled in the back, Tom took a seat in the waiting portion while Grace helped Maddie into the gown.
“This dress is stunning, Maddie. The day you purchased it, I had four other brides want the same one.” She informed the bride with a glimmering smile. Maddie giggled lightly, watching as she unzipped the bag. She removed her clothes and was soon placed back into the wedding dress.
Fitting her frame perfectly, it was solid white with beads of lace running across it. The veil Maddie had chosen was long and sparkly. The dress itself was strapless and pushed her chest upwards, giving her an encouraging lift. It hugged her small waist and was a mermaid style at the bottom. Looking at herself in the mirror, Maddie gasped, covering her mouth.
“You look gorgeous,” Grace grasped her shoulders. “Are you going to let the gentleman outside look?”
Nodding, she helped Maddie off of the step.
Making her way out of the small room, Tom’s head picked up. His eyes grew wide, his smile stretching out across his face. Pressing his index finger to his pursed lips, he watched as the gown moved elegantly with each step Maddie took. Stepping onto the platform, she looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
“Darling, you look breathtaking,”Tom announced, standing up. Maddie smiled and watched him come closer, his hands reaching out to grab hers.
Sniffling, Maddie wiped her eyes.
“I figured since you and my dad are giving me away, it was only fitting if my best friend saw it,” Maddie whispered. It was a decision that her father was certainly a part of. Jake Pine encouraged Maddie to ask Tom to walk her down the aisle alongside him, as he and Tom both had been steady men in her life.
The small pain that coursed through Tom’s chest when Maddie mentioned him walking her down the aisle was evident, but he tried to mask it with another smile. He wanted Maddie happy, and if walking her down the aisle to the prick he couldn’t stand made her happy, he’d do it with pride.
“You look gorgeous, love. It’s you in a dress, extra as ever.” Tom laughed, causing Maddie to grin. For a moment, the two of them stared at one another longingly before she ultimately cleared her throat.
“I’m going to take it off… if I don’t, I’ll never want to.” She sighed, turning around to disappear into the back. Tom walked back over to the seat and plopped down, his head falling into his hands.
He was more than ready to get this vacation in Hawaii started, so he could be around everyone. Although he’d have to deal with Maddie’s nuisance of a fiancé, so long as he could see her smile, he would be pleased.
Tom had been told countless times, whether it was from Diana, Emma, Sarah, Chris, or even Ben or Sophie, that he was a fool if he let Maddie get married on December 4th.
But Tom wasn’t about to bust up a relationship that she seemed happy with, all because sometimes he laid in his bed at night, wishing she were there.
Then again, Tom fought himself constantly over the idea of whether or not he and Maddie were meant to be together. Part of him screamed yes, they were a match made from above. Yet the other part of him yelled no. Why? Because their friendship had stood through the test of time, his crazy life, her swirling world, and many scandalous ups and downs that nearly broke them. Maddie adored his life, the liveliness of it, the satisfaction of the fame. She ate up any chance he gave her to be in the spotlight alongside him.
Could they really be together?
Tom was pulled out of his thoughts when Maddie reemerged, the dress in hand.
“Ready?” Maddie smiled at her best friend, the man who had essentially watched her grow up. She was all but eighteen, spunkier than ever, while he was four years away from entering his thirties.
The two balanced the other out, everything falling into place. Tom knew he was hooked on Maddie the moment she made fun of him for being British in that small aisle inside Michaels twelve years ago.
He couldn’t afford to lose her. If he did, he would lose a piece of himself. The woman who has kept him practically grounded. His closest confidant, the person who knew his deepest and darkest secrets, never once passed judgment.
“Yeah,” He smiled, the two of them soon making their way out of the dress shop. Tom grabbed the dress from Maddie’s hands and was headed to put it into the car until she made a sour face.
“What?” He asked, then he realized.
The damn dress wasn’t going to fit.
“You are a dumbass for driving the two seated convertible to get your wedding dress!” Tom exclaimed, making Maddie bust out laughing.
“But I’m the dumbass you love, Hiddleston!.”
Tom felt his heart clench at the word love.
“Oh… you are.” Tom sighed, the two of them soon figuring out how to travel with the dress inside of its bag.
The drive back to Maddie’s Hollywood home was filled with her shrieking, “Thomas William, if you crease my dress, I’m throwing you into a volcano as soon as we get to Hawaii!”
“Just shut up and keep driving, I’ve got it!” He said back to Maddie through a laugh.
T-Minus two days until Maddie’s flight to New York before she leaves for Hawaii…
➳ summary: Two years after you and Tom say ’I do’, the decision has been made that Ella deserves to become a big sister. But when struggles are faced with a jealous two-year-old who doesn’t want to share her parents, plus hideous parts of your past come back to greet you, can you really build this darling family with your husband and get out in one piece?
➳ summary: Two years after you and Tom say ’I do’, the decision has been made that Ella deserves to become a big sister. But when struggles are faced with a jealous two-year-old who doesn’t want to share her parents, plus hideous parts of your past come back to greet you, can you really build this darling family with your husband and get out in one piece?
➳ summary: Two years after you and Tom say ’I do’, the decision has been made that Ella deserves to become a big sister. But when struggles are faced with a jealous two-year-old who doesn’t want to share her parents, plus hideous parts of your past come back to greet you, can you really build this darling family with your husband and get out in one piece?
“How are you?” Your mother asked over the line when silence had brewed. A surge of anger coursed through your veins as you swallowed hard.
“How can you even ask me that?” You shot out.
Tom was rubbing his fingers into your skin. Your eyes flickered up at him as you motioned for him to go ahead and start driving home.
“What? Honey, it’s… It’s been a while,” Your mother who was named Cassandra, responded.
“Exactly,Cassandra.It’s been more than a while,” You spat.
“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?” She shot back at you.
“A woman who deserted me when I NEEDED her, that’s freaking who!” You screamed. “The moment I told you I was pregnant, you and Dad cast me aside as if I were trash!A used-up whore is what I recall you telling me,” You seethed.
Tom’s face flickered with anger at the revelation of your mother’s harsh words.
“Y/N, that was…”
“THREE YEARS AGO!” You informed her. “My daughter is TWO. TWO!”Your voice wavered and Tom felt the need to calm you down.
“Baby, shh,” He reached over and ghosted his hand over your stomach. You clutched your fingertips through his knuckles as tears threatened to build.
“…I’ve made some mistakes, I know,” Cassandra breathed out. “I’ve regretted everything I’ve told you. When you left, and I never heard from you again – it hurt me,”
Scoffing, you ran your hand over your face. “Really? You’re the one who was hurt? You don’t know how much HELL I’ve been through the last three years,” You griped.
“Then let me be a part of your and my granddaughter’s life. We can start over,” You heard the breaking in her voice.
Rolling your eyes, you shook your head. “No, that’s not a good idea… I’m not sure whether Ican forgive you. And there’s no point in letting my daughter know somebody who didn’t even want her. And newsflash, Cassandra.She’s the best child I could have ever asked for. When you and Dad shut the door on me, she was the only light I had and NO ONE is going to take that AWAY from me. Do you hear me? So, listen clearly. I don’t want you a part of mine, my daughter’s, OR my husband’s lives. You got that?” You knew you were coming off short-tempered, but how could she? Cassandra hadn’t spoken a word to you since she and your father kicked you out of their house.
“Y-you’re married? You and Ian are married?” She asked.
Clenching your jaw, you closed your eyes. “No,” You answered. “I married my daughter’s father,”
Andthat opened the door to your mother’s ridicule. “So you cheated on poor Ian?”
“SCREW. YOU.” You screamed and hung up the phone before quickly blocking it. Tears streamed down your cheeks as your face fell into your hands, the phone dropping into the floorboard beneath you. Tom was thankful he arrived at the house just moments after.
“Baby,”He cooed. You sobbed as he hurried his way out of the car after cutting the engine. He raced to the passenger’s side and yanked the door open before pulling you into his arms. You cried with your face buried into the crook of his neck, arms tossed over his shoulders.
“I hate her so much, Tom,” You sobbed. “S-she deserted me, she never cared,”
Tom ran his hands through your hair and quickly pulled you into his arms. He carried you bridal style toward the front door, he unlocked it and whisked you inside.
“I know, Darling, I know,” Tom kissed your cheeks that were wet with tears. As he got you inside the house, he carried you toward the couch and sat down, feeling as you curled up into his lap. Undergoing this kind of stress certainly wasn’t beneficial for you, especially this early on in the pregnancy. Deep down, Tom hoped that Cassandra wouldn’t make a return, as he wasn’t sure what he would do if you were face-to-face with your mother again.
Stroking his fingers through your hair, he held you in silence while ensuring you were calming down. “Hey, look at me,” He said, grabbing your chin and tilting your head backward. Your eyes were glassy, his heart-shattering at the sight of you crying. “It’s okay. I’m here, Carrie and Ben are here, we’ve got Ella, not to mention another addition on the way,” He rested his hand on the nonexistent bump. “You’ve got us all surrounding you, and I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to you, Ella, or this baby,”
Sniffling, you nodded your head. Tom offered you a kind smile.
“Now, come here, Love,” He pulled you forward for a sweet kiss. “Do you want to go with me to get Ella from daycare, or will you be okay here by yourself?”
You sighed, knowing you should start dinner. “Go ahead, I’ll get started on dinner,” You rubbed his chest. He nodded and left a lingering kiss on your forehead that made you smile.
Tom grabbed his keys for the second time and left the house. While you went into the kitchen to start dinner for the three of you, your husband was gripping the leather-wrapped steering wheel as he focused on the situation from earlier. His knuckles flushed white at the raging thought of your mother and how she spoke to you. He found solace in the fact that his mother, sweet Diana, accepted you as her own daughter. He wished that Ella would’ve had both grandparents on either side of the family in her life, but according to your mother’s actions… Tom never wanted his little girl to face those hardships.
The drive to Ella’s daycare was filled with the soft hum of the radio, but Tom’s mind was echoing. He was grateful when he arrived and stepped out, sunshades thrown over his eyes as he approached the door leading into the daycare. Immediately, Ella’s head which was full of precious blonde locks popped up.
“DADDY!”She squealed, her toddler feet rushing her forward. He smiled and admired the outfit he had dressed her in. The baby blue shirt was paired with a coral pair of shorts and her white sandals.
“Ella-Bella!”Tom said, moving to the floor as Ella raced forward. He picked his baby girl up, feeling as she immediately pulled the sunglasses off his face so she could see his eyes. She squeezed his cheeks together and kissed him, Tom laughing.
“How’s my darling girl? Did you have fun today, sweetheart?” He asked her, tickling her belly.
“Mmhmm!” Ella folded her hands together before dropping her head onto her father’s shoulder.
“Hi, Tom,” Mary, the head of the daycare spoke with a kind smile. She was a younger woman who had a love for all children around her. “Ella has been asking me constantly when daddy was coming to get her,”
Tom’s face brightened with a smile as he looked at Mary. “Thanks for all you do, Mary,” He sighed.
Mary smiled, dipping her head. The brunette flashed Ella a smile, her blue eyes sparkling. “Don’t tell the others… But Ella is certainly a favorite of mine,” She said as Ella beamed at her. “How’s Y/N?”
Tom sighed. Mary had become a good friend to the two of you since enrolling Ella in her daycare. “Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but,” He licked his lips. “She’s pregnant,”
Mary’s eyes widened as she reached out to grab Tom’s arm.
“Really?! Oh my God, Tom, congratulations!I know how hard you two have been trying,” She covered her mouth with a wide smile.
Tom laughed, nodding. “I didn’t realize how hard it would be. The first time around… Well, neither of us remembered it, but…” He trailed with a blush, Mary laughing with him. She knew the back story to your and Tom’s crazy journey, a story that seemed it was only fitting for a bookor crazy drama show.
“Sometimes it’s a hit or miss,” Mary breathed out. “But please, if you two need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I adore Y/N. And if you two ever need a babysitter on the weekends when Carrie isn’t available, don’t hesitate to call. Keeping Ms. Ella Hiddleston is a treasure,”
“That’s me!” Ella piped up at the mention of her name.
Tom chuckled and kissed his little girl’s cheek. “Indeed it is, love bug. Are you ready to go see Mommy? She’s missed you so much,”
“Mommy!”Ella nodded with a beautiful smile. Mary laughed and grabbed the bag Ella was given earlier this morning before waving goodbye to the toddler.
“Bye, Ella!” Mary waved.
“Bye, May-May!” Ella blew her a kiss. She was certainly a charismatic little girl, something she got from Tom entirely.
The car ride home featured Ella and Tom blaring the radio, each of them singing random songs that both recognized. Ella’s voice squealed when she saw the familiar home appear in her eyesight. As he unbuckled Ella from her seat, Bobby was already barking on the other side of the door, immediately bringing excitement to course through the toddler’s already wired veins. She rushed to the door and stood on her tip-toes to reach the doorknob, almost able to get it.
“Dada! Help!” She cried.
“Hold on, princess,” Tom laughed. “Daddy’s coming,” He twisted the doorknob, the chocolate Cocker-Spaniel dashing forward at the sight of his favorite tiny human. Licking Ella in the face as she fell to her knees, she giggled excitedly as Bobby smothered her in love. Ella gently held his head.
You smiled at the sight of them as dinner cooked on the stove. “Do you remember when she first learned to say, Bobby?” You looked at Tom.
Tom scoffed. “Yeah, she called him Booby for the longest time. You should’ve seen the looks I got on walks with her and him. I had to swear his name was Bobby and showed the tag for proof,”
You giggled at the memory. “Ella-Bella!” You called your daughter’s name.
“MOMMY!”Ella screeched as she pushed off Bobby and rushed for you. You picked the baby girl up in your arms and felt as she began to smother you in kisses. She ran her hands over your hair and gave you a delightful smile, one that replicated Tom’s perfectly.
“Did you have fun with Mary today at daycare?” You asked her.
Ella nodded and held up her wrist to show a bracelet that she was given.
“Oooh! It’s so pretty, baby,” You gasped. “Mommy may have to get one too so we can match!”
Tom smiled and put Ella’s things away. “Here, you go ahead and settle in with her, I’ll finish up dinner,” He whispered as he planted a kiss on your forehead. Nowadays, Ella didn’t try to shove your face away in jealously. She allowed you two to share kisses and adorably would yell, “Awww!”every time.
You placed Ella down and laughed. “Let’s go ahead and get your bath, okay?” You asked her.
“Okay!”Ella agreed before rushing toward the staircase. You hurried in behind her, watching as she mastered the stairs with crawling, her laughter echoing off the walls and bringing utter joy to your husband’s ears as he tended to your unfinished dinner.
While you bathed Ella though, your mind was running with an instant replay of your conversation from earlier. You still couldn’t believe your mother had the audacity to call you, after all this time.
And while you shouldn’t stress over it, there was a part of you that feared the worst;
➳ this is for a hundred kissing details prompts. if you want to see me write a fic from this prompt list, let me know! :) sorry for any mistakes!
➳a/n: welp this turned a little spicy and i wasn’t even intending it to note to self; listening to Rob Zombie doesn’t help. :))))
➳pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Female!Reader
➳summary: Choosing not to kiss you because he doesn’t want to make you both late to an appointment with your wedding planner, you aren’t happy with that.
➳warnings: def allude to smut, choking, dom!reader/sub!Tom, switch relationships?? i think that’s it
➳prompts:“i’m not going to kiss you.”+ “why?” + “because if i do, i don’t think we’re getting out of bed today.”
The sunlight poured into the window, bringing you to squint your eyes. You could feel strong arms wrapping around you, a bed of scruff nuzzling into the crook of your neck which made you giggle.
“Morning, handsome,” You called out, knowing that Tom was already smiling against your back.
“Morning, Darling,” His sleepy voice called out to you. You sighed and happily snuggled further into him. “We’ve got a long day ahead of ourselves…” He sighed. Your eyes were bright yet full of sleep. Looking down, you saw his large hands wrapped around your midsection. The sparkle of your diamond ring made you remember that you were meeting with the wedding planner today.
“Ah, that is right,” You whispered. “Wedding planning… Can you believe in just four more months, I’ll be taking your last name?” You couldn’t help but still feel as though you were living in a dream. After having dated Tom since 2017, you were wondering when wedding bells would ring. It came before you knew it, when he proposed to you a few months ago.
“I cannot wait,”Tom laughed, kissing the back of your neck lightly. “It’ll be the happiest day of my life, Darling,” He whispered.
You smiled. “Mine too, babe…”
As you started to turn around in his grasp, you saw his pretty face staring back into yours. You giggled, reaching up to caress his cheeks with a heartfelt smile that made Tom’s heart start to beat a little faster. But he knew if he caved in, if he even brushed his lips across yours in the slightest, the wedding planner would never see your faces.
Tom inhaled, rubbing your shoulders.
“I’m not going to kiss you.” He announced, closing his eyes. Your eyebrows furrowed, your face nuzzling into the crook of his neck as you inhaled his cologne left over from last night.
“Why?”You asked, grazing his chest with your nails that automatically sent his eyes into a roll. Tom’s face broke out into a grin as he caressed your back with his fingertips, earning a soft hum to fall from your pretty lips that looked so inviting, so tempting… So delicious.
"Because if I do, I don’t think we’re getting out of bed today.“ Tom answered with honesty dripping from his voice. You tilted your head to the side, smiling widely.
“Awh, are you afraid we’re going to get so caught up in bed together, that we’ll miss our meeting with Stella?” You started to climb over your fiancé’s body. He hissed, feeling as your hips straddled his. Squeezing your thighs around his waist, you slowly began to grind down on top of him.
“Love,”Tom hissed, the slight prick of your teeth on his chest driving him crazy. His hands drifted until he was cupping your ass in his hands. You jumped lightly, but continued to push your hips into his hands. He groped the flesh in his hands, feeling as you slowly brought your tongue up his chest to dance across his throat.
Gently wrapping your hand around his neck, the feel of your skin aaginst his made Tom’s erection grow bigger underneath your bottom. Wiggling your hips for an extra pop of desire, Tom’s eyes rolled into the back of his head as he felt you lightly grip his throat, delicately choking him.
“C’mon, Hiddleston,” Your voice turned husky, a darkening note of lust lacing your tone.
He watched you, seeing this bittersweet game you played with him. Holding his eyes, he felt your hips continuously grind down against his. “I know you want to touch me,” You whispered, grabbing his hand and forcing it in between your thighs.
Tom connected his fingers with the wetness hidden beneath your panties and it was game over. Flipping the two of you over, you squeaked as your fiancé pinned you underneath him, wrists above your head. Hooking a leg around his hips, you guided him down for a searing kiss that left both of you breathless. Your hands came out of his clutch, only to rake your nails into his skin that was on fire for you, a deep emotion of lust overtaking his body.
He was already ripping your panties away, tiny gasps eliciting from your swollen lips as you tasted Tom’s tongue pressing to yours. He growled against your mouth, teeth nipping your throat as he lowered his head, the strands of dark hair tickling your chest.
“Just like that, Tommy,” You coaxed him in a sweetheart tone that made him moan loudly. “Give me exactly what you want…” Your voice made him quiver, his submissive side showing through as he tried to remain dominant.
It was the whimper that fell from his mouth. He started this war by choosing not to kiss you. He knew he was marrying one of the most hardheaded, dominant women he had ever come across who could lay on her back and be submissive shortly after. The perks of you both being switches. You had the best of both worlds.
Tom kissed you deeper, hand wrapping around your throat to choke you as he stared at you. “One round, that’s it,” He said.
You smiled.“Yes Sir,” You hissed, begging him to take you.
