The Pickle Chronicles (Celebrity One Shots)

Make Time (Tom Hiddleston)

A/n: This is dedicated and written for @KathrynEdwards. A commission made by one of her lovely friends, and requested for her birthday. Happy Birthday Kathryn! I hope you have a wonderful day, and hope this little one shot makes it even better!

Kathryn sat back, feeling truly relaxed for the first time in...well...she couldn't quite remember.  Life had been stressful lately—between work, and moving and caring for Kaylee.  Things weren't always easy, but she made do.  And then there was this trip.  The trip she'd been planning for over two years.  It had started out as a glimmer, a vague idea, but then it had morphed into something quite different when her doctor had told her she needed to relax, she needed to find ways to de-stress or health was going to pay for it.

And then there was Kaylee.  One day, after one particularly tough, anxious day, her smart, lovely little daughter had urged her to take care of herself, for once.  And so Kathryn had made the decision then and there, that she would go to London.  She would take the vacation.  A far fetched idea that was just a wish for a long time, finally came to fruition when a rather surprisingly fruitful tax return, and a bit of help from a new job and a raise had kicked everything into gear.

So here she was.  Sitting in a quiet café, in the middle of London, sipping tea and eating biscuits.  All alone.  And it was wonderful. Not that she didn't love her daughter, cherish every moment she had with her and miss her when she wasn't there, but part of her dream had been to do this independently.  Kathryn had always wanted to be able to walk around the beautiful, historic streets, chat with the locals, get lost on a rainy night and have some time to just herself.  That dream was finally coming true. 

She brushed back her shoulder length hair, and reached up, absentmindedly rubbing the large heart shaped stone at her throat.  A present from a friend.  A reminder of one of the best things in the world. Love.  All forms of it, in fact.  The romantic kind—the kind that left you breathless and aching, searching for a feeling and a place you've never quite been but know it's where you belong.  The sweet kind—like first love, first kisses, first touch after a shy glance, moments that don't necessarily mean the physical in the sexual sense, but the physical in that there is someone else there that understands you.  It could be a powerful thing.  And then there was the sensual kind—the kind that hit you low and slow, or fast and like a punch in the gut.  An instinctual feeling more than anything else.  Like animals who know where to go, how to migrate, year after year, decade after decade, generation after generation.  It's just in your bones, your marrow, and you'd do whatever you can to follow that instinct home.

She wasn't necessarily looking for love.  Not really. 

She was looking for an adventure though.  And whatever came along with it.

Sighing softly, Kathryn stood up, stretching slightly as she felt her thighs and back ache from sitting so long.  People watching in this city was fascinating, and it was hard not to lose yourself in the fashion, the conversations, the accents.  She cleaned up her table a bit, throwing away her paper cup and the frilly little paper plate that had held a few wonderful, dark chocolate biscuits.  It had been a lovely afternoon, quiet and rejuvenating in it's own way.  Perfect for getting over the slight jet lag she felt.

It was rainy outside, and she had a feeling that it was weather she would get used to.  Still, she enjoyed it.  Coming from sunny California, she'd had all the sunshine she could stand.  For once, she wanted to walk happily through puddles, and foggy, cool misty mornings.  She'd even bought Wellies for the trip—bright purple ones that somehow went with everything.

Pulling her jacket hood up over her head, covering her dark reddish hair, she stepped out into the light rain.  Nothing too terrible.  And her hotel was only a few blocks away.  She figured she would go back, perhaps take a long, hot shower, and then get herself ready for the night.  She had a ticket to a play in the West End, was excited to see the show.