Just Like a Movie.

Ta-daaaa!!

"Oh my God, it's madness..." she whispered, looking out of the SUV. The crowds were enormous, shouting and calling out. Phones recorded every second of their arrival. It was pandemonium.

"It's ok, love. We're here, we wont let anything happen to you. Look, Kevin is waiting at the door .." Tom spoke softly and calmly, holding her close in the back of the car.  "Welcome to the MCU kitten..." he kissed her cheek, and she nodded silent and white.

All their months together, all the photos in the park, snooping at the supermarket, hadn't prepared her for this.  This was on a whole new level.

The car stopped, and Luke turned. "Ready folks?" He smiled at Alice. "You'll do just fine. Hold onto Tom and remember.... eyes and teeth!"

Despite her nerves, Alice laughed and nodded. "Eyes and teeth!"

The wall of sound erupted like a volcano over them as they made their way inside.  Even though it was a back door, even though it was hours until the panel, there was what seemed like a whole city full of people out to meet them.

Tom worked the crowd like a pro. A smile here, a wave there, and a selfie grabbed on the sly now and again. All the while, she walked a couple of steps away, shepherded by Luke. Some even shouted to her for a photo and, with Tom by her side, nervously obliged.  Before she could get too overwhelmed, it was over.  The doors opened, and they were inside. 

"Hi Alice. You made it then? Well done out there. It's a bit fierce today! Good to see you both again."  The smooth voice of Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, was like a cool balm to her flustered soul.  He hugged her and shook hands with Tom.

"Welcome back, buddy. Are you ready for this?"

Tom smiled broadly. "Always!"  Turning to Alice, he slipped an arm around her waist. "Come on coffee and pastries time, we got a couple of hours to kill."

Alice, relaxed again, laughed. "Do you NEVER stop thinking about food, Hiddleston?" He shrugged.

"Only when Im thinking about you, darling...." he smiled and gave a half bow, a cheeky glint in his eye.

Kevin, Luke, and Alice all groaned. "Dear Lord, that was cheesy.  Even for YOU!" Luke shook his head.

"But you wouldn't change me for the world!" Tom held out his hands to the side in an all too familiar gesture, and Alice grinned.  No, she never would.

Backstage was like a Marvel staff meeting. People she'd previously only ever seen on screen now chatted to her over a coffee. Chris and Scarlett, who'd been in on the ground floor of their relationship, welcomed her like the old friend she now was.

Scarlett hugged her, then walked her away to sit in the corner, on a couple of incredibly comfy arm chairs.

Once they'd got themselves settled, she sipped her coffee. "So how you doing, sweetie? It's been too long, when was it... oh yeah, when I came to London."she smiled at the memory. The two women had bonded over a mutual love trawling antique shops and vintage clothes shops.

"You look so cute in that green dress. I seem to remember it being a no-brainer when we saw it - Loki's princess for sure." She looked at her over the rim of her cup, eyes narrowed for a second. "You're up to something.... "

Alice's face was a picture of innocence. "Don't know WHAT you mean? I'm barely functioning as a human being today, never mind up to something. Have you SEEN the crowds?"

Scarlett put her cup down and faced her. "You've hardly spoken, your white as a sheet, and if you fidget with that bracelet once more...." she grinned and leaned forward."It's not this. I know you, Al, with Tom beside you, you're fearless. This... this is...." she paused. "Does this involve Tom?"

"Might do." Alice was desperately trying not to just blurt it all out.

"Oh my god, you're pregnant!" Scarlett hissed, looking across the room to where Tom was busy speaking to one of the new series' writers that they were about to introduce.

Alice looked horrified. "Jesus Christ! Scarlett, does this dress make me look..." Suddenly, she felt the world fall out from under her feet. "No. I am not pregnant. Not yet."

"Not for the want of practice, I'll bet!" Her companion sniggered as she munched a croissant.

Alice flushed and looked away for a second at the man she knew one day, she'd help become the father he was born to be.

"Well, it hasn't happened yet. We're just taking it as it comes. No, that's not it." She looked back at Scarlett with a smile. "Not it at all."

Before she could say any more, there was a flurry of activity, and Tom bounded over. "Scarlett? Time to, we're on." He turned to Alice, "you watching from here love or do you want to listen at the back?"  He put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Alice leaned her head over and touched her lips to the back of his hand. "I'll watch from here, love.  Im expecting a call anyway, the time difference and all that. Sorry."

Tom stroked her cheek, his eyes crinkled into a loving smile. "Ok, plenty of time to show the world my beautiful kitten later." He took a step away then turned and bent, kissing her softly.

"I love you." He whispered, his eyes glittering. "I hope you're ready for a day - and night - to remember." With that, he was gone.

Alice sat back and smiled. Oh Thomas, you have NO idea. As she watched him walk away, she saw him pull out his phone and take a call.  Without pausing, he turned grinned and waved to her, then disappeared.

Just as he did so, her own phone rang.
As she saw the contact details flash up, she grinned and picked it up.

"Sarah! You're here! Yeah, he's in the panel... yeah, not a clue... Did you have any hassles? Great! Ok. See you tonight. He's going to be so surprised! I'll text you when we're on our way. 8pm. Better go, don't want to spoil the surprise."

She put the phone down with a smile.  Tom had been so disappointed when his older sister hadn't been able to make it home for his birthday.  He'd made out he understood, and he did, but he hadn't seen her for several years with one thing and another, so this was supposed to have been a special reunion.

Alice, with Emma's help, had got in touch with Sarah, and now? Tonight? Tom was having dinner with her. He just didn't know it yet.

The panel ended, eventually, and the Marvel Bunch reappeared. Smiling, joking, and congratulating themselves on a job well done.

"It'll never live up to 2013 Tom, but it'll do!" Kevin laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. 

"Quiet mewling quim!" Tom called back to him as he held out his hands for Alice. "Did you hear any of that love?" He kissed her softly. " Miss you." His eyes told her he actually had.

"You big softie!" She stroked his cheek, her hand resting on his beard, its feeling under her fingers as thrilling as always.

"Come on, time to go for dinner...." he said softly, "we don't want to be late."

Luke appeared at their side, whispered something to Tom, who nodded without comment. "Thanks."

Alice looked from one to the other in a panic. It was only 6 pm.  Sarah was due at 8 pm. This was a disaster! "Werent we supposed to go at 8 Tom?" She tried not to sound panicky.

He looked at her and shrugged. "Hungry now. Don't mind, do you kitten? We're both dressed, you looking more beautiful by the minute too," he winked, and she laughed, shaking ger head.

"No, I guess not.  Let me go to the ladies then we can go." She patted his arm and almost ran out of the room.

Standing in the bathroom, she dialled Sarah. It rang out. And again. Then voicemail kicked in. Leaving a message to say things had gone south and she should come as soon as possible, Alice hung up. Dammit. Of all the times for Sarah to go off grid.

Looking in the mirror, she took a breath. Ok, this could still work. It just needed a small miracle.  Plastering on a smile, she walked back out.

Eyes and teeth Alice, she repeated in her head as the camera flashes began. Eyes and teeth....