Somebody That I Used To Know

The Party

"Happy birthday to you, happy to you, happy birthday to Lillian, happy birthday to you." Everyone sings.

Lily smiles as she blows out the candles on her cake. Today, she was 5 years old.

Most of Tom's costars attended, some with their children. Lily was most excited to see Uncle Hemmy and Auntie Elsa. 

The guests cheer and Tom places a hand on Lily's shoulder. "What did you wish for, darling?"

"I can't tell you, Daddy... it's a secret."

Tom chuckles and Molly dishes out the 3 layer cake. They made events for Lily very extravagant. She was incredibly spoiled, but her parents taught her good manners and she was always very appreciative of what she got.

They weren't sure if they'd have kids because of Tom's trauma, so Molly finding out that she was pregnant was the best thing that happened to her.

"Tom!" Chris calls out. "Come here!"

"I'll be right back," Tom winks to his wife and walks over to Chris Hemsworth. Next to him, was Chris Evans, Paul Bettany, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, and Jeremy Renner.

Chris poured them each a large shot of whiskey. "You have to join us."

Chris didn't know about Tom's problem in the past, he didn't like to tell anyone, it was embarrassing to him.

"Well... I..."

One drink can't hurt. Just don't go overboard.

"Alright," Tom shrugs and takes the shot glass in his hand. "Three, two-"

On one, they all bring their heads back and take the shot.

The liquid burns Tom's throat, filling him with a feeling of relief. Everyone looks to Tom, and then he says, "Well, who wants another one?"

"Grayson," Emma yells, watching her son running around the yard.

"Yes, Mum?" he sighs.

"You're gonna destroy Uncle Tom and Auntie Molly's nice setup. Calm down, understand?"

"Oh, it's fine." Molly smiles. "He's alright."

"Are you sure? This is all so pretty."

"It's going to come down in two hours anyway, what does it matter? Let them run around."

"Thank you, Mols."

"Oh, don't thank me."

Molly looks over to see Tom standing with the guys, his arm around Chris Hemsworth. 

"You know," Tom says and swirls the glass in his hand. "This is... this is really good. It's really good."

"Cut him off," Jeremy chuckles. "He's getting hammered."

"No, no," he groans like a child and takes his glass back from Jeremy's grasp. "This is good."

"Let's get you some pizza, Tom." Chris says. "You should eat something, this is your 4th drink."

Tom holds the glass in his two hands like a baby with a bottle. He takes a sip of his drink and looks around protectively.

Tom hadn't drank a sip of alcohol in two years and he hadn't eaten very much today because they were preparing for the party. Therefore, he got buzzed very fast.

"Here you go," Chris says and hands him a piece of sausage pizza.

"I'm not hungry." he responds and takes another sip of his drink.

"Tom," Mark says. "How about you have some water and pizza?"

"I don't want any pizza."

"Just have one piece. It's really good for you."

Tom hesitantly takes the plate and takes a bite of his slice. "It's good," Tom mumbles, his mouth full with pizza.

"I know. Do you want more?"

Tom holds up his glass. "I want more of whatever you guys gave me."

"Well have some more pizza first and then you can have more."

Mark looks over at Chris with worried eyes.

"I'll add pretty much all water." Chris whispers, causing Mark to nod.

"Tom?" Molly calls out and walks towards them. Immediately, she notices that something is wrong. "Thomas."

Tom puts down his glass and walks over to his wife, trying to find something to hold onto. "Hello, l... love."

"What did you do?"

"What do you mean? Chris gave me this really good drink and it was really good."

"I... I can tell. What was in this said drink?"

"I don't know." he shrugs and takes the glass from the table, sipping it again. "Have some."

Molly knew that she couldn't flip out in front of their family and friends, so she takes the glass and dumps it into the grass.

"No! Molly-"

"Sit down." Molly snaps, her teeth clenched.

"Why are you upset with me?"

"Sit down, Thomas."

Tom walks over to the table and pulls out his chair. He plops down onto the chair, misses, and falls into the grass. "Whoopise," he laughs and sits on the ground.

Molly keeps looking around to see if anyone is watching them. "Go inside."

"It's my daughter's birthday, Molly, I'm going to be outside with her."

"You're drunk. Get inside."

"Lillian?" Tom yells to his daughter. She looks over to his direction and runs towards him.

"Yes, Daddy?"

Tom picks her up in his arms. "I love you so so much, you're my sweet little girl."

"I love you too, Daddy."

"Lillian, go play." Molly says and takes her daughter from Tom's arms. "Your cousins will want to play more."

"I was telling her how much I love her, Molly."

"And you're going inside."

"No," Tom snaps. "I'm staying out here with you and my daughter."

"Tom, stop fighting me on this."

Molly has a grip in Tom's arm, trying to get him inside. When she tries to guide him towards the door, she pulls too hard and falls into one of the foldable tables.

Tom starts to laugh as she wipes the soda from her face. His knees buckle, sending him hunched over, tears running down his face in laughter.

"Get. In. Side. Right. Now."

He quickly tries to stifle his laughter and kneels down next to her to wipe the drink from her face.

"Don't." Molly snaps. "Everyone go, party's over."

"Mummy-" Lily quietly says.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience but please go home or back to your hotel. We'll be sending thank you cards to show our appreciation for coming and Lily's appreciation for the wonderful wishes."

Everyone eyes, once fixed in Molly, go down to the grass as they start to clean up their space.

Embarrassed, Molly smiles at everyone as they leave, feeling guilty for canceling her daughter's party.

Tom "cleaned" up the tables by finishing people's unfinished drinks.

Even before, this wasn't a thing of desperation, but the alcohol went right through him. Without eating anything, there was nothing to absorb the constant in-flow that his body was receiving.

Tom sits on the couch as Molly cleans outside. He had offered to help but she didn't want it. Rage fills her body with each alcoholic beverage hitting the side of the can... he'd hear it.