Best Friends

80 You're Beautiful

"morning darlin'" Tom whispered making me squirm a little because of the way it felt against my ear "It's half eleven you gotta wake up." He said evidently trying to contain a laugh
"I don't want to."
"But if you don't wake up soon we won't be able to go on that picnic." I pulled away and collapsed flat on my back beside him "We can just not go. It would be safer."
"I know it freaked you out Tom but I can't just not go outside."
"I wish I could stop you. Keep you safe from anything like that happening." I reached out for his hand and he held it tight in mine "I know I'm crazy."
"A little. But you just are. It's nothing to do with this." I sighed and instead of making an effort to get up I cuddled back up to him, resting my face in the side of his neck "I wanna do this picnic. But I also want to spend a little longer here. Because our house is chaos. And the girls are gonna hound me because they wanna know if I'm okay."
"Stay a bit longer. If you'd like."
"Dom didn't mean what he said to you."
"Im not worried about what Dom says. But I just wish that everyone would make up. Because I hate seeing you like this"
"What? All cuddly and soft?"
"Yeah. Because it's not you. It's you when you need support. And that scares me so fucking much because I am that support."
"Let's just stay here for a bit longer yeah?" He reached his other hand over and gently stroked the side of my face
"Okay" I mumbled, smiling as he kept doing it "I like that. Makes me feel safe"
"That's what I'm supposed to do yeah. And I will"

We eventually got up and, as predicted, everyone and their dog crowded round to see if I was okay
"Guys I'm alright. The baby is fine and I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry."
"I couldn't sleep last night after they left." Izzy spoke up after remaining quiet for the whole time "Was worried you were going to lose the baby"
"Cmere" I offered opening up my arms. She slowly walked over and I pulled her into a hug to calm her down "That's a perfectly valid fear. But don't lose no sleep over me. I'm alright. And you'll meet your niece or nephew soon."  I looked up at tom who gestured for the rest of them to disperse leaving just us three alone in the kitchen as Izzy let go "Iz? How was Jem?"
"She was stressed out. But she fell asleep eventually."
"Okay. Well I'm glad you both know I'm okay. I didn't know you were awake or I'd have come and talked to you."
"At least I got to see you now. Are you staying here for a while?"
"Looks like it. Look I'm going out with tom today but we can talk when I get back okay?"
"Okay."
"Love you"
"I love you too. I'm gonna go talk to Dom. He said he'd call later." She seemed nervous to mention him. Almost as if I'd scold her
"Dont let me get between you and your brother. Besides, there's no real bad blood. We will make up soon"
"I hope you do. I hate it when you fight. It used to really upset you. I remember it." She looked like she was about to cry. I remembered it too. I guess I used to resent her a lot when me and Dom fought because he'd always make sure she was alright. We'd always make up but I didn't think about the impact it had on her, especially since she was so young "I'm gonna go or I'll miss his call."
"Okay. I'll see you later yeah?" She nodded and then walked off out of the kitchen presumably to go upstairs "I need to get Dom down here."
"What? I thought-"
"I know what you're gonna say. But it's not fair. Neither of us have any bad feelings to hang onto and if I don't make up with him it's just gonna fuck Izzy up even more."
"It'll take him a while"
"He's probably still in Donny. Or at least nearby. Please?" He looked at me and my wide eyes and sighed
"Okay. For you and the girls call him. And for the record you don't need my permission to do that. Or anything."
"I know. But I also know that if you say not to do something there's usually good reason behind it."
"It's always to keep you safe. And happy."
"Well let's go get the picnic stuff and I'll call him while I'm out." He nodded "Unless you wanna wait for when I'm on my own? I could text him instead"
"Can you do that?"
"Alright. I'll text him then. And hopefully he will be here by the time I get back" he nodded again "Tom I can meet him somewhere else. You don't have to be there if it's gonna bother you that much."
"He just...he hurt you. And what if he does it again. And I know it's stupid because he loves you but I don't care. I'm always gonna be scared. He's not taking you away." I hugged him tight and he hugged me back with just as much force "Let's go. I need to get out of here."

"It's not that hard. Just pick one and go"
"It's a tough decision though" I whined
"We've been stood in the cake aisle for ten minutes. Just pick one and go. It's the last thing we need."
"You pick one." He reached onto the shelf blind and put his hand on one
"This one" he picked it up and put it into the basket
"But-"
"This one" he said a little more firm with his tone this time "Now come on. I got the perfect place to go but it's a little drive away"
"Where?"
"You'll have to wait and see" he offered his hand out as we bag walking back to the checkout so I took it. We got a few stares and somehow I knew that the people staring knew who we were. I didn't care though
"You think Dom brought the boys?"
"I think you think too much. Don't worry. You know they'll all be excited to see you. And anyways one of ems gotta come to drive him."
"Suppose so. Just wanna make everything better."
"Don't you worry that pretty little head of yours about it. Maybe it will all get sorted at once maybe it wont. But work on you and Dom first."
"Okay." I said quietly not really knowing what else to say "You think I'm pretty?"
"Yeah. You're beautiful." He stopped where we were despite being in the middle of an aisle "Do you not think so?"
"Not really" I shrugged. He looked either side and then quickly kissed my forehead smiling
"You're pretty. And you trust what I say don't you?" I nodded and he returned to the way we were walking, taking hold of my hand again "I don't ever want you to question that. And if you do I'll always tell you. You're beautiful inside and out."
"Thanks. I didn't know I needed to hear that today"
"Well I'm here to tell ya. Shall we get Sam a drink or something. To say thanks" he said gesturing to the aisle we had found ourselves on
"She likes a nice bottle of wine."