A Fighting Chance

Viva Las Vegas

The wedding was everything you wouldn't have expected of Las Vegas. It was intimate, meaningful and low key. We definitely didn't have an Elvis impersonator - thankfully, but we did have a pretty little wedding chapel, a bride in sparkling green with a cream rose bouquet, and despite the ever present temptation to rent a Loki Cosplay, a groom in a dark blue Tux with a rose button hole. We purchased wedding rings the day we arrived and thanks to where we were, we could get them engraved that day. Mine said "more than yesterday" and the date, Tom's "Less than tomorrow" and the date. It had become our mantra.

Now, 24 hours later we stood in the chapel, facing each other and the most important 20minutes of our lives. The celebrant had been a little shocked when she realised who was getting married but like so many before her, was sweet and kind and helped us to arrange the video link. Everyone we had already told was on the link, including Chris and Elsa who were in pyjamas and bowties to mark the occasion!

The ceremony was brief and we had a member of staff as our witness. When it came to vows, we decided not to write any in advance, just say what we felt. A big mistake on my part. I was so overwhelmed I couldn't actually speak and for a couple of minutes there was silence interrupted by me just sniffing loudly getting more and more agitated. Tom gazed down at me smiling and whispered,

"if you need a minute I can wait, I promise" I shook my head, even now he was the perfect gent.

"Tom, " I took a deep breath, holding his hands tightly and began "I do not love you more than the stars, I do not love you more than anyone I've ever met." his eyes twinkled as we heard the gasps from the video link, he knew me well enough by now. I paused and smiled at him, everything now falling into place. "I do swear to be your friend, your confidante, your backup when things get tough and your refuge in times of sorrow. I do not love you more than the stars because that isn't enough. I will not love you more than anyone I have ever met because there aren't enough people in the world. Thomas Hiddleston, you have been many people and I have loved them all, but now they are replaced forever in my affections - no matter where we go and what you do, the one role I will always love you for is being my husband. For the rest of my life, I will love you more than I did yesterday and less than I will tomorrow. " I felt a tear drip onto the back of my hand and realised it was not mine. I winked at him, "except maybe Loki, I might hang onto Loki" and there was a round of applause all the way from Australia!

The celebrant then asked Tom to say something. I waited with baited breath, his mastery of speech and his eloquence was one of the things I had originally admired about him, that and his perfectly formed bum. In my mind, I prayed he would quote some Shakespeare or a classic poem. He did neither but I was to be far from disappointed.

"Katherine" I'd never heard him use my full name and it surprise me so much I gave a little 'oh!' making him smile. "Kate, when I first met you we were miles from anywhere in the middle of the night. We were random strangers in a wilderness, alone and trying to find our way home. But from the moment I saw you, from the moment you looked at me as you do now, eyes sparkling with tears and a smile full of hope, I knew my journey was over. I was - and am - home. With you I can take on the world. With you I can forget the world. You, my darling girl, are and always will be, my world. Without end. Like you, the stars are not enough, like you there are not enough souls in the world to meet that will justify how much I love you. And, just like you - for there is no finer example of the type of person I should ever be, from now on I promise every day to love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow." he smiled at me and I lost whatever composure I had left. Then the killer blow "Oh and if you think Loki was ever going to let you leave him..."

"By the authority vested in me by the State of Nevada......"

We didn't wait to hear the rest, with the applause from our family around the world ringing in our ears, Tom swept me into his arms and we kissed, salt from our tears mingling with the taste of our lips. Then we broke off and waved at everyone back home, it was, as was most of my life now the most surreal moment I could have ever imagined.

Dinner that night was amazing. Kevin had arranged for us to stay in one of the best suites at the Bellagio as a present and we dined on our own private balcony overlooking the fountains as they gave their display. We were high enough to be away from prying eyes so could relax and enjoy the spectacle. My dream of a romantic dinner for two from Atlanta had finally come true.

As we finished the meal, Tom poured us some more champagne and lifted his glass.

"To the world's worst coffee machine!" he said with a smile. I looked at him as if he had lost him mind for a second and then the penny dropped. I laughed and clinked my glass. We drank and looked over the rim of the glasses at each other, I could see his wedding ring in the low light, its shine reflecting the fireworks now piercing the night sky. It's presence gave me a little electric shock as I realised that the world would now know what we had done. Was I ready? For the scrutiny? For the reaction? Hell yes. I could take on the world now.

"Penny for them darling?" he asked as he put his glass down and stood up coming to my side of the small table. He pulled out my chair as I stood, wrapping the cashmere stole he bought me earlier around my shoulders. He undid his bowtie, leaving it draped down his shirt, now open necked under his waistcoat. A small fire ignited somewhere deep inside me.

"Oh, just thinking how lucky I am sweetheart, I can face whatever the future has in store now. You are with me, that's all that matters." I smiled as we stood, him behind me with his arms wrapped round me.

He kissed the side of my neck, looking over my shoulder at the dancing waters below then said "I'm the lucky one my darling, truly."

As I looked up, his face bathed in the changing lights, his eyes sparkling with the colours, I knew I completely and utterly loved this wonderful man and he completely and utterly loved me back. I made up my mind that I was going to be well, I had only just married him. It was unthinkable I wouldn't get to celebrate a hundred anniversaries with him. Well, at least 50 would be nice.

We had to go home tomorrow, start the process of married life by spending the next 3 months apart. I felt my heart clench at the thought. That and the fact I had a battery of tests to go through. We would make it though. And that was tomorrow. Tonight was for us.

"I've seen enough darling, I think I would like to go in now" I said quietly, breaking free of his hug. "Come with me?" I held out a hand and he smiled, grasping it gently.

"Anywhere with you my love" he said, and followed me back inside. I walked straight through to the bedroom. I stopped by the side of the bed, laying my wrap on the chair and turning to him as he stood beside me, just looking down at me.

"I think I need a hand with my dress please Loki" I smirked at him coyly, looking up through my lashes then turning my back to him, moving my hair aside.

"Do you now my Pet" he said from somewhere deep inside, and my insides turned to jelly. "And what do you think that Midgardian Oaf would say? If he could see you now, offering yourself to me, your Prince?" His eyes sparked with the desire I was feeling as he drew the zip down, the dress slipping to pool at my feet. His mouth followed it to the base of my spine. I tipped my head back, a low moan escaping instead of words, his hands moving from behind where he stood, instinctively to my throat and down over my body. The dress was so well made I had felt no need of underwear and his eyes glowed as he took in the fact I was completely naked save my high heels and stockings. I could feel his physical reaction before I saw it.

"Oh I don't think he will mind, after all, he can always watch from the background" I whispered. I turned and started to unbutton his shirt as he watched, his mouth open, his chest heaving, breath ragged. My fingers tracing the muscles in his chest and abdomen, I slipped it and his waistcoat off. My mouth soon followed my fingers, all the way to his navel. He groaned loudly, as at the same time, I undid his trousers and they fell to his feet.

"Dear GODS woman" he growled as I knelt in front of him, "he better be quiet then, because I want nothing to disturb us now!"