A Twist In Time

A Little Overwhelmed

Hi.

Did I really just say hi to him?

What the fuck was wrong with me.

"Mama," Thomas-J said excitedly when he heard my voice. His eyes were wide, those same eyes as the man that was holding him. "Dada," he said, smacking his hand on Tommy's cheek as if he thought I didn't know who he was talking about.

"Oh." Was I meant to call Tommy daddy? Did he want that? Had he written back saying that was fine? Why couldn't I remember? "Well ... erm."

"Come here, love," Polly said, taking a reluctant Thomas-J from Tommy's arms. "Let your daddy go give mummy a proper greeting."

My eyes widened as Tommy took a step towards me. What was I meant to do?

"Well I ... er," I was mumbling like an idiot as he came towards me. Was I moving away from him? Was that my back hitting the wall?

My eyes roamed over the worn outfit, no it wasn't an outfit. Umm, what did they call those things? Suits? No, that didn't sound right. There was a patch of dust on his shoulder. I only noticed it as he got closer. Would it be weird if I reached out and shook it off? What if he didn't want me to touch him?

Oh.

Merlin's beard.

He just touched me. Why did I have to jump back from his touch? What if he thought I didn't like him and was repelled by his touch.

"Eek." That was definitely my back against the wall.

My fingers trembled as his rough ones brushed over mine and slowly moved up the back of my hand. They tickled at the inside of my wrist before disappearing. Where did they go? My eyes blinked rapidly as his face grew closer.

His eyes were so blue.

Were John's eyes this blue? Wait, why would I know that? I never got this close to John.

Why was I even thinking about John?

My lips parted as his fingers brushed against my cheeks before sliding into my hair. His nose brushed against mine and I had to stop myself from jumping in surprise. When had he gotten that close?

I felt his lips tilt up in a smirk before he placed them softly against mine. I was quick to press my lips against his, but I didn't know what to do with my arms. They were sort of flapping about in the air before I hesitantly rested then on his shoulders and then slid them up to his neck.

The butterflies were gone. That horrible sick feeling I had vanished and I sighed contently as I pulled myself closer to Tommy.

Why had I worried about seeing him so much?

"Oi!" I was unfamiliar with the voice that shouted and pulled away from Tommy to glance at the man over his shoulder. I smiled lightly as I recognised him to be Arthur, the eldest of the Shelby children. "Not in front of the kids," he joked, nodding to the door behind me.

I turned my head to see all the children and Ada giggling at us.

"Fuck off, Arthur," Tommy muttered and I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth and slightly gruff tone of his voice. Don't ask me how it could be smooth and gruff, it just was. And it really worked. It sent a shiver up my spine and I knew I was going to be captivated by his voice.

"Dada!" Thomas-J shouted, his face growing red as he tried to fling himself out of Polly's arms. "Da!"

"Alright, shh," Tommy muttered, removing his arms from around me and taking Thomas-J into his hold. "You be good for your Aunt Pol."