Backup Girl [Tom Hiddleston] {EBT book 2/4}

Auld lang syne

When Tom arrived home everything was quiet. It was unusual for Kate to not wait up for him and although he didn't mind, he wondered if she had gone to bed without him. He switched off the lights and crept upstairs, finding Kate asleep in the middle of the bed with a book next to her head. She looked so sweet he admired her for a few minutes from the doorway, before removing the book and slipping in gently next to her, wrapping her in his arms.

Kate woke to the grey sunlight struggling to make it in to the window. It wasn't doing anything to light the room and she wondered for a moment if it was still night. Hearing Tom breathing softly behind her, she lifted her head just enough to see the clock. It was almost 8am. Definitely morning, then. She stretched her stiff ribs and back and flexed her fingers before rolling to face Tom and snuggle in, breathing in his familiar comforting scent.
It was new year's eve, at midnight she would begin a new year with Tom by her side. A new job, a new city in a new country. A new life.

Kate decided not to wake Tom, instead she got up and showered, dressing in leggings and a chunky sweater. He was still sleeping so she went to the kitchen to make breakfast. She laid out fruit, muesli, yoghurt and tea, waiting for Tom to wake up. She knew he must have come in after midnight as always but she hadn't heard him come to bed.
A few minutes later Tom came in to the kitchen. "Good morning beautiful," he kissed her lips and wrapped his arms tight around her. "Mmm you're so nice and warm." He was wearing long pajama pants but his chest was bare and she ran her hands over his naked back.
"Excited about tonight?" He asked in to the top of her head.
"Yes!" Kate squeaked.
"I can't wait for you to meet some of my friends. Ben and Sophie are really dear to me, I think they'll love you. Gwyneth and Chris are going as well."
Kate gaped at him. "Hold on, I thought they split?"
He laughed. "They did, a few times. So many it stopped being news. I believe they've been back together for a while now though. Last I heard they decided long distance was the best thing for them. If they live together all the time it all falls apart."
"Did you know Chris before?"
"Before Gwyn? Yes. I've known him for years, although we're not particularly close we just seem to end up at the same events. Then Gwyn was in Avengers and at all the Marvel events."
"I'm going to a new years party with Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow." Kate said absent mindedly.
"Yes, and you'll still be the most spectacular person there."
"Ha! Eat your breakfast Thomas you're delirious."

"Do you want to drive to the hospital today?"
"Why, are you unwell?"
"Hehehe no, I just thought you might like to drive."
"The Jag and I are on strictly 'emergency situation only' terms, Tom."
"You don't like it?"
"It's beautiful, but it's not my thing. I'm perfectly happy in the passenger seat, thanks. Or the tube."
"I think you're getting used to being driven around."
"There's also that."
Tom gave Kate a warm smile as he opened the passenger door. He got in and drove them to the hospital for her appointment.
On arrival Kate was whisked away for a ct scan while Tom parked the car, and when Tom got back she was waiting outside the surgeon's office. She had seen Dr Evans only once since arriving in London. He was warm and kind, in his late 40s she had guessed.
"How's it all feeling?"
"Good. My ribs are still a little stiff in the morning but that's all. Can I go back to the gym yet?"
He laughed. "Not that you're impatient. You can, under the supervision of a physiotherapist. We need to review your wrist first though. The scans look good, it's healing very nicely, but the next phase of recovery will be critical. You must not push yourself. It's going to be painful and frustrating but if you want to play again and make all this time in a cast worthwhile, you'll do as we say, ok?" Kate nodded.
"Good," he stood and opened the door, letting a tall and well built man in to the room. "This is Lachlan, he's going to be your physiotherapist."
"Good to meet you Kate," Lachlan shook her hand.
"Let's get that very festive looking cast off, shall we?"
He cut it off and asked her to move up and down, side to side and wiggle her fingers. Tears filled her eyes as she compared it to her right. There was absolutely no strength there at all, she couldn't even hold a pencil let alone play a piano. Tom squeezed her right hand. "Hey," he said gently. "We knew this would be a long road. It will get stronger, you'll see."
"I'm going to work with you daily for the next couple of weeks," Lachlan said. "Just on your wrist. You'll notice a big improvement by then."
"OK," Kate sniffed. "Sorry, I feel like a big baby, it's just been such a long time and I didn't realise the wastage would be so bad."
Dr Evans left the room momentarily and returned with a silver coloured brace. "These are fairly new, but they're fantastic. I can fit it so it has just a bit of give in it, and you can remove it for your sessions with Lachlan without having to readjust it."
She held out her wrist and he fitted the brace tightly around it. Kate moved her fingers in it easily and grinned.
"There are rules though. It's almost the opposite to before where it was protected from damage. You must not lift anything with that hand, and you can't do any sort of dextrous activity for more than 10 minutes every hour. You can try the piano, but slow and short is the key. If it's painful during or afterwards don't do anything more until Lachlan has assessed it. Got it?"
"I think so," Kate sighed.
"We'll give it a day to settle in to the new brace and then start the day after tomorrow," Lachlan said as she stood up to leave.

Tom put his arm around Kate's shoulders as they walked back to the car. "It's not a set back darling, you're out of the cast. Remember what he said, 2 weeks and you'll see an improvement."
"Yeah," Kate sighed, looking down at her hand.
"We'll get some sushi on the way home, and then we need to get ready. We're being picked up at 5:30."

As Kate walked to the waiting white limo she felt like a princess with her prince charming on her arm. Tom looked gorgeous in his black suit, clean white shirt and bow tie, and his new cufflinks. Tom couldn't help but stare at Kate, he didn't know how he'd got so lucky. The blue gown she had chosen fit her form perfectly, hugging every curve and accentuating her small waist and full breasts. Not only that, she stood confidently, like she had done this all her life. Only Tom knew a few months ago she would have been petrified going to an event like this. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, only matched by the diamond necklace and bracelet he had given her and the diamond studs in her ears. Her hair was swept up but the curls flowed down her back, making him want to run his fingers through it.
The car drove to the other side of London where Ben and Sophie were waiting. "Katherine," Benedict reached across and took her hand. "It's an absolute pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."
"Kate, please. It's lovely to meet you and Sophie as well."
Ben turned to Sophie. "Do you think now we've seen in the flesh how great she is, he might shut up about her for a while?" He grinned and she laughed back.
"Probably not, no."
"Never," Tom said. "It's so good to see you, we've all been far too busy."
"We have, but we're coming to see what all the Coriolanus buzz is about next week."
"Excellent, I'd love to hear what you think."
They talked about a bit of everything, Ben and Sophie's upcoming wedding, Christmas, work. Kate relaxed almost immediately, they were both so easy to talk to.
Arriving at the Lanesborough Kate started to feel butterflies of excitement and anxiety. There were so many people out in London for the evening the streets were packed, and there was a large crowd outside the hotel. Ben and Sophie got out first, amid a blinding sea of camera flashes. There was a barricaded area that also appeared to be full of fans. Tom grabbed Kate's arm. "I'm not signing autographs tonight darling. This is about us, it's not an official event. I'm happy to stop for photos, because you need to be photographed in that dress," he paused to look her up and down and lick his lips for emphasis, making her shiver. "But no autographs tonight."
They stepped out of the limo and Tom kept an arm firmly around Kate's waist. They insisted on a few of Kate with Sophie and Ben with Tom and then they went inside. "Tom said you were handling the attention like a pro. I'm impressed." Sophie said behind her and they walked in to the foyer. Kate didn't know where to look first, it was all just so beautiful. She felt like she might be in a movie.
The evening was simply amazing. The food, the drinks, the dancing, the company. Just before dessert Tom took her across the room to meet Gwyn and Chris. They talked for a few moments before Chris recognised her name. "I knew Ed was up to something, he's always performed without anyone else and he's been hiring additional musos. Actually, if he doesn't take up all of your time, our regular female vocalist is finishing up shortly to have a baby so we're looking for someone. And there might be a solo album on the cards soon." Kate was speechless, the mere idea of working with Chris had her head spinning.
"I would love to, that would be fantastic if the schedules work out."
"I'll give Luke a call in a couple of weeks and see if we can arrange something. It must be killing you, not being able to play," he gestured to her wrist.
"Believe me it is. I'm allowed 10 minutes max at a time from next week and I'm going crazy."

After dessert Tom insisted on dancing, something Kate normally avoided. It made him so happy it was infectious and they didn't stop until they were both desperately needing a drink. "You're a woman of many talents miss Allen," he smiled.
"Yes I am. Dancing is not one of them though! I do have admit that was fun. You make it fun."
It was almost midnight and the champagne was flowing. They watched the count down and kissed slowly at midnight for what seemed like hours. With her hands around his neck Kate looked in to his blue eyes, fireworks exploding above them. "Got any resolutions?"
"Just one," he said kissing her mouth again. "Keep you."