all i wanted was you. // t.r

-4-

july 1945, Preston

"Remember, if anything happens, your dad and I will be back as soon as possible. Otherwise, please keep the house clean and if your friends come, please don't make a mess. Okay dear?" her mother asked as she hugged her one last time.

"Yes, I know. I will, don't worry mother." she smiled slightly as she let go and stood next to her father.

"And you young man will hopefully protect her if something happens, am I right?" her father asked emphatically as he shook hands with Tom. He smiled slightly.

It wasn't real, it didn't reach his eyes. It rarely did.

"Of course sir." her father gave him another pat on the shoulder before apparating away with her mother.

When they were gone, Tom stared at the spot they were just standing on. "Why are they so worried about something happening?" she had to laugh a little.

"What? Are you scared?" he raised an eyebrow while looking at her questioningly. "That was a joke." she whispered and rolled her eyes when there was no reaction, as usual.

"Don't roll your eyes at me and answer my question Becca." she walked out of the room to get into the garden. He followed her.

"Will you stop? They're always worried when they're gone a little longer. It's nothing."she said putting her hand on his chest as she realized how close he was standing. He put his hand over it to pull her hand away from there. But he didn't let go.

"Was that that hard? That's all I wanted to know." he said a little softer and squeezed her hand once more before he went back inside. Probably to hide under hundreds of books and sink into them for hours.

As the evening broke in she was lying in her bed when there was a knock on the door. "Come in." she said as she sat up.

"Can I ask you something?" he had a book in his hand as he closed the door behind him. "Yes, of course." he sat down on her bed and turned the book towards her.

"Don't you find it funny that all characters in any book always have tragic stories?" he asked as he pointed to a paragraph. Rebecca had to laugh.

He drew his eyebrows together. "What's so funny?" he asked confused and looked at the book. She shook her head. "Nothing. I just thought it was something important. Hard to tell when you always speak in such a serious tone." now he looked even more confused.

"I'm not speaking in a serious tone. What are you talking about?" she giggled and shook it off as she read through the paragraph Tom was about to show her.

"To answer your question, wouldn't books be really boring if they didn't have a bit of tragedy in them?" he looked at the spot again and shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe you're right. Anyways-" he said and closed the book.

"I've been thinking and yes." she looked at him expectantly. Was that all?

"Yes what?" he tilted his head slightly. "You asked me this morning if I was okay with your friends coming over. Yes."

"Well then, say that. I can't do much with a 'yes'. Besides, they are your friends too." he grimaced slightly.

She sighed at that. He would eventually understand.

"You could at least pretend. I can't be your only friend forever." he raised an eyebrow. "If you say so. Anyway, I'd be okay with that. I just wanted you to know."

As he tried to get up, she clicked her tongue. It was sometimes embarrassing how much she wanted him around.

"Hey wait, tell me more about the book. What is it about?" he sat down again and flipped it open.

"It's about a woman. She just moved to London and..." the explanation ended with him reading to her while she rested her head on his arm and slowly fell asleep.

It wasn't unusual. They did that fairly often. And as long as he didn't seem to have a problem with it, she was happy to experience such moments.

It made her feel good knowing that she was the only person who could be that close with him. And she appreciated that.

When he realized that she had fallen asleep, there was a hint of a smile. He put an arm around her and continued reading while occasionally running a hand through her hair.

The proximity to her didn't bother him at all. There have been some moments where they've been even closer.

And even though he sometimes wondered why it didn't bother him. He valued her. And even then, he didn't know why.

All he knew was that she was more important to him than anyone else.

And he would protect her from everything. Even from his self.