Making Jane Proud

Chapter 10 - Birthday Bombs

"Tom! Wait!" Ellie raced down the stairs in her stockinged feet, hanging on to the rails for fear her haste would trip her, desperate to catch Tom. She heard the outer door bang shut with a crash. "Shit!" She flung herself down the last flight and grabbed the door handle, wrenching it open with a strength fuelled by panic.

"Tom!" His long legs gave him a distinct advantage and she didn't know if she'd even be able to catch up with him, but she was damn well going to try. She wished now she had put something on her feet, but the cold was the least of her worries as she ran, thankful for years of playing netball so that she wasn't completely out of shape.

He was heading through a crowd of people now and had to slow down to move around them, so she put on a burst of speed, lungs protesting at the cold air and unexpected dash. "Tom!" she called, knowing he was close enough to hear her. "He's my brother!" His steps faltered and she called again through the people surrounding her. "It's Johnny. He's my big brother Tom. Please stop."

A few strangers had paused to look now, searching to see who she was calling to. Tom came to a stop and she finally caught him up, panting as she stood in front of him, looking into his eyes. His own breathing was rapid but the stricken look was slowly fading from his features. "Brother?" he managed in a jagged breath.

"Yes." She gulped for air. "Johnny. I didn't know he was here. I still don't know why he's here, but ... " She reached a hand out to him and he took it but didn't pull her closer.

His other hand raked through his hair and in a strangled voice he said, "Well, I look like a total fuckwit now, don't I?" Crimson stained his cheeks and his head hung down.

"No." She moved closer, cupping his cheek in her palm and lifting his face, wanting to ease his embarrassment. "You look like a ... jealous lover. It's ... kind of flattering, actually." She smiled at him, wanting him to see the sincerity of her words and reassure him. He looked into her eyes and she stood on tiptoe and kissed him, relieved when his arms came around her and he deepened the kiss until she was once more short of breath.

"I'm sorry." He murmured as they stood with foreheads touching. "God, I'm such an idiot!"

"It's okay." She murmured back. "Can we go back now? My feet are freezing!"

Tom looked down and gasped when he saw she had no shoes on, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her back towards her building while she occasionally pressed little kisses to his face and neck. When they reached the flat she made him put her down then hesitated before turning the knob, looking at him to make sure he was ready to face her brother. "Okay?" She asked. He took a deep breath and nodded and they went in.

"Tom, this is my brother John. Johnny, this is Tom Hiddleston." The two men looked at each other for a moment, sizing each other up in the way men seemed to do, then Tom extended his hand and John took it, shaking it firmly. "What on earth are you doing in England Johnny? You didn't tell me you were here when you rang this morning!" Ellie challenged her brother, threading her arm through his and giving him a side hug.

John smiled at her and hugged back. "We thought it would be fun to surprise you for your birthday."

"We? Oh, of course! Mum and dad and the others were in on it too?"

John nodded, grinning. Just then Maggie noticed Ellie's feet and over the next few minutes rushed around getting a bucket of warm water for Ellie to thaw them in. She stood in it stockings and all, as they were ruined anyway by her flight down the street, and after ten minutes regained enough feeling to go and put on a fresh pair, pleased to see that Tom, Maggie and her brother were all getting along. They'd found out that John would be in the UK and Europe for a two-week cultural excursion with his high school and only had tonight free as the group were heading for Bath the next day. He was naturally invited to join the birthday celebrations and once Ellie was ready they all set off, Maggie texting the others to let them know they were on their way.