In His Eyes

Dining in style

"So this is Beth?" The smile familiar, the voice charming, the welcome warm. Beth smiled and blushed as she was welcomed by the tall, elegant brunette.

"I'm Sophie, and I am SO pleased to meet you." She paused, then grabbed Beth and hugged her. "Tom," she released and turned to him, "you are most definitely punching WAY above your weight!" She laughed and drew him into a hug as he kissed her on the cheek.

"You're telling me!" He grinned at Beth over Sophie's shoulder then, as he too was released, reached over to pull Beth to his side. "She's..." he looked down, and Beth thought she might expire under the look of utter devotion he gave her. "She's just..."

"Blind? Desperate? A sucker for a sad story?" The second - male - voice broke into the conversation from behind them. Beth's heart raced. This could NOT be real, surely?

Tom and Beth turned as Sophie walked over to join her husband. "I'm Ben, it's a joy to meet you." He held out his hand, and she shook it tentatively. "Anyone willing to take on this man and his God complex deserves a medal! Come on through. We've got dinner on the go. I hope you're not one of these stick insect women who just look at a plate and claim they're full!?"

Beth laughed, feeling more relaxed than she ever thought possible. Tom interjected before she had a chance,

"No way! It's one of the many things I love about her. I don't cut my hands on her ribs!"

For a second, there was a stunned silence, and then all four of them laughed.

"One thing I've never been accused of is not eating, Mr... Ben." She flushed.

"Mr Ben? Can't imagine him as an Avenger, can you?" Tom laughed and winked at her to cover her blushes.

"Ahhh, but what memento would he take to remember it by?" Ben wondered. It seemed they were all on the same wavelength, and Beth instantly relaxed. Tom smiled, holding her hand gently. This was everything he'd hoped it would be. And so much more. She was, quite simply, perfect.

They sat in a comfortably large but welcoming living room. Two big, soft sofas. A beautiful wooden coffee table, currently burdened with it's own glorious purpose of their glasses and a selection of nibbles as well as some books and a couple of newspapers. There was , despite it being a nice day, a fire burning in the grate and some low music in the background. Ben and Sophie sat on one sofa, his arm comfortably round her shoulder as she relaxed back into him.

Tom and Beth sat on the other, slightly less relaxed. It still seemed there was a little part of them that wasn't quite ready to admit they'd fallen head over heels to anyone else.

Sophie wasn't going to let them away with it.

"Awww, look at them. So cute!" She nudged her husband. "Pretending they don't want to cuddle up." She winked at them, "it's ok, we won't tell anyone. Well. Hardly anyone. Just Robert and Chris and Scarlett..." she dissolved into giggles as Tom leaned back and laughed too. Beth wasn't entirely sure what to do, so she looked at her hands and smiled.

Her blushes were saved by the sound of a timer ringing in the kitchen.

"Saved by the bell, eh?" Ben laughed and stood up. You three go through, I'll dish up. Sophie, can you open the wine? I forgot, sorry."

"One job! You had one job!" She shook her head and laughed. "Come on through."

The meal was delicious, the company hilarious, and the evening flew by. Before any of them knew it, it was time for coffee. They all retreated back to the living room, and this time, there was no question of whether anyone was comfortable. Sophie sat on one sofa, Ben, between her knees on the floor, sipping his coffee and stretching his legs out towards the fire. The glow making them look like some Renaissance painting.

Beth sat on the other, Tom lying at 90 degrees to her, his head in her lap, eyes closed just relaxing. She stroked his hair gently, his silky soft curls running between her fingers. He smiled without opening his eyes.

"Keep doing that and I might just fall asleep darling." He murmured and she smiled. The firelight made his hair like spun gold, his beard dotted with ginger highlights that shone. He looked like some Roman or Greek God, or, indeed a variant of his own personal deity of choice.

"There's always a bed here if you want it." Sophie said quietly, looking at Beth carefully.

"Thanks." Was all she replied, neither confirming nor denying anything. Part of her was dying to say yes, to spend the night wrapped in Tom's arms. To feel his body next to hers. To ... and there lay the contradiction. The other part of her wanted their first night together to be something else. Not wild, or raucous, no. But theirs and theirs alone. In the end Tom took the decision out of her hands.

"Sorry Soph, lovely thought, very lovely thought, but no." He raised his hand and looked at his watch. Going on 10.30pm. With a groan, he sat up, Beth's hands trailing down his back. "We should really get going. Early start tomorrow. Another day, another dollar. Got an interview with Empire to do at 10am. Sorry love. " he faced Beth as he said this and she nodded.

"No apologies. Comes with the territory." She squeezed his hand ans turned to her hosts. Ben was now standing, arm round Sophie's waist.

"You really are a lucky bugger!" He commented as they walked to the front door. "Now, don't be a stranger... either of you ok?" This time there was no handshake, this time it was a full blown hug and a kiss on the cheek. Sophie said goodbye in a similar fashion.

"Maybe you'd like to meet for lunch soon?" She asked Beth with a gentle smile. "All this can be a bit... daunting." She held Beth's hand, "and I think, " she paused and looked over to where Tom and Ben were chatting quietly, "I think it's all going to get much MUCH more daunting before long. Hearts are breaking all over the world tonight Beth." She looked back at her, "He's head over heels in love. Never seen him like this before. You're a very special woman Beth. Never forget that."

"Thanks Sophie, I'm just taking it day by day. No assumptions, no expectations. And..." she took a breath, "He's not the only one in love." She felt her cheeks burn at saying out loud. Sophie smiled and hugged her again before they got into the taxi.

"Tell him. Don't leave it too long. It's too precious, too important." She pulled back and waved.

Ben pulled her to his side. "They're well matched. Almost as well matched as us eh?" He looked down at the wife he would sell his soul for and smiled as they went back inside.

Tom snuggled Beth into his side as they drove home. "You... you don't mind? You're not annoyed are you love?" He kissed the top of her head.

"At what sweetheart?" She looked up.

"Coming home? I feel bad at denying you a night away. Even if it was just at Ben's."

"Darling, I understand completely and," she smiled and blushed in the way he'd come to love so much. "If I'm truly honest? I'd like our first night together to be somewhere a little more private?"

"Me too darling... me too." He held her to him and closed his eyes. He couldn't wait to make that dream come true.