Forever and ever 2. The adventure starts now.

Part 34.

Y/N's pov~

"My lady.." Tom held the car door open for me, his hand waiting for mine. He gently held my fingertips as I sat down inside and he closed the door with a soft slam. Then he walked around the bonnet and opened his door only to poke his head in.
"I think I left my phone in the house. I'll be right back." And then he disappeared into the house, giving me enough time to take another deep breath. The silence did me good after all the loud music blasting through the streets and all the screams that were being shouted that night. Maybe I should have let Hero know that I was already gone. So I texted him a quick message asking him if he wanted to meet up some other time. I generally felt the need to do something more with our friends, from whom we have withdrawn quite a bit lately.

Maybe have a game night again, like in the old days. Or go out for dinner, that would be enough.
That's when my phone pinged with a new message, and the car lit up by the screen.

Tom:
Found it ;)

I giggled. Not a minute later he sat next to me and started the engine. I had no idea where he was going, but as happy as he looked, I didn't think I'd be getting any sleep anytime soon, and I really needed it right now... my eyes felt heavy, my body sank into the soft seat and I swear the air in the car was so pleasant, it was like a magical sleeping spell on me. Especially with the night sky, darkening the city we were passing through.
And before I knew it, I fell asleep. Only woke up again once I felt Tom's warm palm on my leg a good 15 minutes later.

He stroked his thumb over my thigh, very gently, taking in the silence. My eyes slowly fluttered open, groaning as I rubbed my eyes.

Then I looked over at him, his face not particularly recognisable because of the darkness, but with the moon in the background, was his side profile quite clear. Especially his little beard... I kind of liked it. It oddly suited him very well.

"Go back to sleep, princess. We don't have to get out..." he suggested, having watched me as I slept and now wanting me to get the rest I needed. But I shook my head, slowly gaining my mind back.
"Where are we?" I questioned. Couldn't make out anything of the surroundings. Maybe a few bushes around us, but apart from the small street lights behind us, it was pretty bloody dark.
He took another deep breath, looked out of the window and then answered.
"May I show you?"
"Please!"

It was a little scary, I could hardly see my feet when I got out. Only the outline of the landscape was visible, it was really difficult but I felt this certain comfort.

"I know the flower meadow looks a bit scary at night. But wait-" He came around the car to take my hand, and then led us a few steps away from the car. Only now did I start to get a better orientation, making out the tree in the middle of the meadow. The same one we sat under every time we had a picnic, and the same one we got the news under that Sam and Lea had broken up. Well, about that...

"Now look up." He said. I was confused, had no idea what he wanted, but when he started to stare up, so did I, and that's when I met the most beautiful starry sky I had ever seen in a long time. Each one of them shining on us as if we were standing in the centre of the earth. It was magical.

"Wow.." I marvelled, giggling softly. I never expected Tom to bring us here. Sure, maybe to a fast food place to grab some midnight snack, or for a walk in the park, even if it was icy. I even considered him taking me to the cinema rather than staring at the stars with me again.

I didn't think he could still show this side of himself, I had almost given up on seeing it again. But then I realised that the medication must probably work, and I started to smile while staring at him instead of the stars. Because in my eyes he was a dozen times more beautiful than the stars. And once he caught my gaze, he had to smile too.

"Prefer the view of me?" He smirked.
"Always." I answerd. My voice all soft.
He ran his tongue over his lips as we took the brief moment of silence, but then he brought his hand to my cheek and let it rest there. Caressing my jaw with his thumb. Brought back flashbacks I thought I would never feel again.

"I haven't told you, how beautiful you look tonight. Couldn't take my eyes off you all evening when you were talking to Ciara." He admitted, his voice in a rough whisper, eyes always shifting from my lips up to my eyes and back.
"I noticed." I answered. Amused at the retrospective.
"I figured.." He smirked, eyes lingering on my lips. His chest already so close, I put my hands on it as he leaned in.
His breath was hot when it hit my face, his mouth already a gap open, breathing heavily in and out as he considered whether or not to kiss me.

It was something he always did, ever since he hurt me back then. I assumed he just took the moment to think about it himself and wanted to give me all the time in the world to stop him if I didn't want him any closer. But I thought marrying him would have cleared up that I had enough trust for him to kiss me whenever he wanted to. And right now, I wanted nothing more than for him to press his lips against mine.
"Kiss me." I begged in a soft, desperate whisper, watching as his eyes darkened and he didn't waste a second to close the gap our mouths were having.

He slid his tongue over my lower lip, driving it into my mouth with ease. In contrast to mine, his lips were warm and soft. Not cold and shaky. Pressed up very gently against mine, without any pressure. He sucked on my tongue, making them dance with his palm still on my jaw for better hold. Skilled and knowing exactly what to do.

My breath quickened with every second, until the last one where I was out of breath.

Only slowly and with swollen lips, trying to deepen the kiss, I ended up pulling back, even though I hadn't had enough yet. But enough to leave a big smile on my lips.
"Someone has had more than one martini." He commented, made me slap his chest playfully lightly.
"Shut up." The aftertaste of the vodka, definitely sharp on my tongue.

Then it was quiet, a good 30 seconds, but when it's as quiet as it was, 30 seconds can quickly feel like several hours. Thoughts going through all the places. Wondering what he was thinking about, or if he was just as happy as I felt right now. But then he broke eye contact to look down at the floor, clearing his throat before looking up again. Something was definitely off...The happy expression on his face having turned into a worried frown in the blink of an eye.

"There's something I have to tell you." He stated. I swallowed a thick lump in my throat. Waiting for him continue without needing my consent. "And I'm sorry it's so sudden, I really am, but-"He paused- at the worst moment! My nerves couldn't have hit my stomach any harder.
"But what Thomas?" I asked, eyebrows already in a scared scowl.
"We will have to move to Cape Town because of my role. Not for long, just a few months. I promise, we'll be back before you know it." He looked for more excuses to make it not sound so bad, and to be honest it wasn't the moving that made me look scared, but rather the fact that I hadn't told Tom about my role yet. The role I am going to have to travel a lot too. He has no idea about anything, and the courage to tell him now was gone.
Completely. Utterly. Gone!
"When?"
"In... five weeks?.."
"Wow.." I stumbled out.
"I know.. It's a lot to take in. But I have already found a preschool that Parker can attend, and it's really not as bad as it sounds..." I'm sure it wouldn't be. Cape Town is extremely beautiful, as far as I know. But that didn't help any of my worries. I would not be able to come. Because I, too, would have to move to Los Angeles, and from there, to other places where we would shoot. Not quite literally moving of course, but it would for sure take several months. And that was several months in which I would not see Tom. Not to mention my son. Who would get to take care of Parker?

"Tom that's... wow..."
"You don't have to say anything, I just wanted you to know. I am sure you will be able to come to terms with the idea. I mean, imagine our little family... walking on the beach in the evening... and Parker with new friends! Y/N- our little rockstar will make tons of friends!"

I was on the verge of tears, trying to suppress every little drop. The imaginings sounded beautiful. Yes indeed! No doubt that Parker wouldn't make tons of friends. I saw it right before my eyes. Our life in Cape Town, even if only for a few months, but... I could see it and knew it couldn't happen as long as we were needed in different places in the world. Tom in Cape Town, and me- me wherever.
"I..." I spoke up, needing to tell my truth. But he stared so deeply into my soul, I couldn't bear, tear the smile off his lips. No, I didn't want to take away his joy. The only joy I haven't seen in his eyes for a long time.
"I can't wait!"

~Oh oh👀~
~Also, putting both pictures together, now finally makes sense for you.~