Tom Holland Imagines: Volume 2

"Daddy"

A/N: This was requested by the lovely @sometwoone! And no, it's not what you think, you naughty little sausages! Remember, we keep it PG.

Y/N/N = your nickname

Sometimes I felt guilty that the twins never really had a father figure growing up. Their dad had abandoned me once he'd found out I was pregnant and I hadn't spoken to him since, so there I was: a single mother of 25 raising two 6-year-olds on my own. I had sacrificed my future, but for my babies, it was worth it.

"I still think Pluto could beat Scooby-Doo in a fight," Tom commented from beside me, startling me out of my thoughts. I looked up, just catching him as he slurped up a bead of melting ice cream from the waffle cone in his hand. The sun was beginning to set and I'd nearly forgotten I was on a date with him...a walk through the park. 

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Definitely," I said absently, covering up the fact that I hadn't really been listening. Suddenly, Tom stopped walking and cocked an eyebrow at me waggishly. "What?" I asked through a mouthful of ice cream as I urged us onward.

"Y/N/N, we had this argument last week and you told me repeatedly that you thought it was Scooby hands-down."

"Oh yeah, I must've changed my mind," I replied flatly.

"Y/N, what's going on?" Tom asked, dragging you over to a nearby bench to sit. "You're clearly bothered by something."

He's right. I was. I spent all day working from home trying to support my kids at my dead-end job. It was hard not to think "what might've been" if I'd been able to go to university. And then, of course, I felt guilty thinking that every time I sat down to play dolls with Evie and I got to be the princess and every time Michael asked me to be the bad-guy in his pretend superhero adventures. I loved them more than anything, but it was hard to let my life feel normal every once in a while.

Because of course, despite my deluge of responsibilities, I was still just a 25-year-old girl. And being with Tom allowed me to feel somewhat normal.

"It's just...the kids, that's all," I sighed, rubbing my temples. 

"What about them, love?"

What about them? Everything. "I just can't help getting a little bit nervous about the relationship, that's all."

"What do you mean, darling? Whatever it is, you can talk to me." Tom looked at me with true concern in his eyes and I loved him for it. We'd been dating a year and he'd stuck with me through every little doubt I had at three in the morning, every end I didn't think I could meet. 

"It's just...I can't pretend our situation is normal. I feel like a bad mother for trying to live a normal life and I feel like a burden for you because....because you shouldn't have to be tied down like this. You shouldn't have to feel like you're holding me together. And besides, most guys aren't comfortable dating a...a mom." A sudden lump of emotion formed in my throat. I loved Tom almost as much as I loved my kids...so much it split my heart open. But dating never worked out in my favor.

"Oh, Y/N," Tom breathed. He reached out and brushed a tear from my cheek. "You're right. Our situation isn't normal. But you're not a bad mother for living your life and you are most certainly not a burden to me." I sniffed. "The entire time I've been with you I have never felt like I'm 'holding you together' and that's because you are such an incredibly strong person. Everyone needs support and sometimes you just happen to need a little extra. And my darling, I'm honored to be able to help you lighten the load." I was full-on sobbing now and Tom dug into his pocket for a paper napkin from the ice cream shop. He dabbed at my nose and gently kissed my tears away from each cheek. "And as far as the kids go, I'm honored to know Evie and Michael. They're two of the most wonderful people I know."