Secret Love

Rights and wrongs...

"Who the HELL do they think they are!" She screamed and threw her phone onto the sofa, hugging herself tightly.  White hot tears burned her eyes and cheeks, anger rose like a fire in her blood. "How DARE they call me out like that! Do they want me to be in mourning forever!?!"

Tom sat, helpless in the face of Flick's fury. It was, he thought, his fault....

When they'd arrived back at his place, he'd gone to make them a cuppa, and Flick had settled onto the sofa, remote in hand. "Remember the biscuits, love!" She called through. "After today, we deserve the good choccie ones!!"

"Naturally! Already on the case, sweetheart!" He appeared, mugs in one hand, said delicacies in the other, suspicious crumbs in his beard.  As he bent to put the mugs on the table, she squinted at him.

"You've already had one!" She laughed."I can see the evidence!"

Tom grinned, "Guilty, M'Lud! And delicious it was too!" He turned his head and caught her by surprise, kissing her firmly on the lips. "Not as delicious as you though..."

She slid her arms around his neck as he lowered himself onto the sofa next to her. "Really? You're such a smoothie, Hiddleston. No wonder everyone falls in love with you."

He stared at her for a second, then whispered, his mouth almost touching hers. "Everyone?"

Flick leaned forward and kissed him, her fingers finding their way into his hair. "Everyone," she repeated quietly, then pulled back, seemingly now in torment.

"Why do I feel there's a 'but' in there somewhere?" He cupped her cheek, she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and taking a shuddering breath. He knew this was a huge moment for her. "Just let it all out, darling. Doesn't need to make sense. We can do that together. I'm not afraid of anything you might have to say, and neither should you be." He kissed her forehead, and tears slipped from under her lashes.

"I... I just... this is so.... I mean, I loved John, and I still do in a way. I will always have a special place in my heart for him.... but now? I know what it is to live again.  Not just be Mum, or Mrs Wilks, be ME. You did that, Tom, all you. I can't - don't want - to forget, but I can't live in the past. I want to live - and love - again."

Now she paused and smiled softly, opening her eyes. "With you. I love you, Tom, and it scares me. The depth of feeling I have for you? Already? Is it even possible you might feel even half of that?" She looked up at him, fear in her eyes."

Tom smiled, his eyes crinkling gently, their ocean blueness emphasised by his beard and longer fluffier hair.

"You, my darling, worry too much." He kissed her gently. "I love you. I love you so very much." He kissed her again, this time pulling her gently down to lie in his arms on the sofa. "Thank you for telling me your fears, trusting me with your truth. Now, it's been a busy old day. Let's watch a movie and lie here. We can order in a takeaway and just be two lovers, watching rubbish tv if we want, eating junk food whenever we want...." he started to kiss her cheeks, then her lips, then her neck.... "and making love whenever we feel like it. "

She twisted in his arms, "How about we forget the tv and the food... for now at any rate.." Her voice was low. Her eyes no longer held fear. They burned with a passion he matched.

As his mouth descended on hers, she could feel his desire against her, and she moved against him, making him let out a deep breathy moan. "God, I love you Flick; let me show you..."

It wasn't until they lay, much later, very comfortably naked in each others arms, she remembered.

"Oh shit. I had a text from Etta." She slapped her forehead. "Sorry love, she never texts, so it must be important."

"It's ok, sweetheart, we have no time-limit. We can lie here until tomorrow, or I get cramp. Whichever comes first!" He kissed her shoulder and
moved just enough to let her sit up and reach over to the coffee table. Grabbing her phone, she returned to the warmth of Tom's body. Snuggling against his chest, she opened it.

For a second or two, there was silence as she read it.  Then, like a volcanic eruption, she lept from the sofa, shrieking.

"Who the HELL do they think they are!"

Tom picked up the phone, and as she began to grab her clothes, stuffing her legs into her jeans, he read.

'What the bloody hell are you playing at. You little whore, sneaking around with that man! Publicly defiling our son's memory. What will the girls think? You're not fit to be their mother. You're a married woman, Felicity. Act like it.  This is not over. Etta.'

Under the text was a screenshot from Twitter. Of Tom and Flick kissing in the park.  The hashtag was #tomhiddlestonlover.

Tom looked up at her, his heart heavy. "I'm so sorry, Flick. I did this to you. My stupid, rash, ill-considered affection has caused all sorts of problems." Now he sat up, gathering his clothes. "I think if it's on Twitter, we can safely say the entire fucking world will know within a few hours." He looked at her as she stood, fully dressed now, hugging herself and crying miserably.

"No. I should be allowed a life. I can't be a widow forever... I don't want to beeeeee...." she dissolved and Tom felt in every iota of his being that he wanted nothing more than to look after and protect her. To love - yes love her.

He walked over and put his arms around her, pulling her close. She let him hold her, sobbing into his chest. "It's n-not your f-fault. It's them. They d-dont w-want me to m-move on." He kissed the top of her head and rocked her gently.

"Darling its ok, I get it. As long as you and the girls want me around, I'll be there. As much or as little as you - and ONLY you - think is appropriate. I love you, darling. Remember that."

That Flick wanted him and would fight back, was a given. Unfortunately children, even bright and independent ones like hers, can sometimes be railroaded by adults and that, was a much bigger threat to their happiness....