Because You're Mine (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic) #Wattys2016 #pfcc2k16

Chapter Twenty-Two: Meet The Hiddlestons (Part One)

To say that I'm nervous right now would be, without any shadow of a doubt, the biggest understatement in the history of human kind. We are driving through the city of Windsor, where Tom's mother lives, and I am trying to remember all the breathing exercises I have learned when I took yoga classes a few years ago.

I insisted on driving us there because I figured that focusing on the ride and making sure I got us there safely and without detours, would take off the edge but as I drive through the automatic gates and along the gravel road that leads to the front door, I am regretting that decision and I am thinking that it might have been a better choice to let Tom do the driving so I could stick to a very early drinking schedule. A little vodka before the big introduction would have been more than helpful.

"Steady, love" Tom whispers in my ear as we climb the four steps that separates the entrance garden to the main door. He lets go of my hand and he opens and closes his into a fist several times. I must have been squeezing it a little too hard and that tipped him off about my mental state. That, and the fact that I have been snapping at him for no reason since I woke up this morning.

"Don't you steadylove me! You're not the one being introduced to your boyfriend's entire family" I pout at him just before he finally opens the door.

The past week, after our quite eventful date night, went by with me practically trying to keep my nerves at a normal, not so hard to handle level; Wednesday was a quiet day and we spend most of it in his house, watching movies and engaging in various activities that kept us unclothed most of the time so I barely gave any thoughts to his birthday party. By the time Thursday rolled in and with Rose's condition being practically stable and without significant changes, I had decided to cut my leave of absence at work short, and I returned to the office.

The firm was as hectic and loud as I left it and I was pleased to find that I had an incredibly high amount of work to dive into. Anything that would keep my mind from all the other things going on outside the four walls of my modest but cozy office was most definitely welcomed and appreciated.

When he saw me sitting in my desk, Caleb practically threw himself at my feet and he couldn't contain his joy and relief to see me there. As much as he tried to be supportive and understanding about my situation, the truth is that, by the time I came back, he was desperately swimming -and sinking- into an ever growing pile of paperwork he both hated and miserably failed to deal with.

When I'd returned home from a long day at the office, I would have dinner with Tom most of the nights and whenever we would be hanging in my place, Joe would join us or we would go across the hall and have a meal with him.

It was adorable to see those two men interacting with each other. By Saturday night they were already best buds and they spend the entire evening chatting about the most various topics; Tennis was their favorite one and they went on and on about the latest Grand Slam and what a shame it was that their favorite player didn't win at the final.

Once the sports matter was depleted they moved on to Shakespeare. And when that was over too, the even talked about medicine. Joe used to be a doctor and since Tom is a rather curious man, he showed genuine interest in the stories Mr. Hendriks had to tell.

As to myself, I just snuggled next to my boyfriend and add a couple of bites to the conversation but, most of all, I would just sit there, staring at Joe and simply enjoying the big smile on his face. Seeing him so relaxed and distracted from everything that's going on, is really comforting.

The nerves about the party didn't make an appearance until this afternoon when I decided to take a lunch break to go shopping for something to wear at the occasion. They crushed me with full force when I was rumbling through the racks of the third store I went inside and I wasn't able to find the right thing.