Life Is What You Make It (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic)

Part 6: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Until We Meet Again

Tom and I dance a few more times, and I even get to see his notorious dance moves in person when I pull him on the floor for an old school song, 1999 by Prince.

Most of our dances are to slow songs, though, during which I feel that Tom and I are in some kind of bubble. We look briefly into each other's eyes and smile a bit, but it seems we're both too shy to act like more than a couple of teenagers at our first dance. He whispers to me a few times, mostly asking if I'm enjoying the party, or if I need to take a break or get something to drink.

One of the songs, Never Quit Loving You by Jill Barber, is one of my favorites. I look at Tom and say, "I love this song. I think it would be perfect for the first dance at a wedding. It seems so sweet yet sexy... It's just how I think a newly married couple should feel about one another."

I look away and blush slightly at this confession. I look at Tom again, and he gives me his sweet smile as I've come to think of it, and he pulls me closer. I think for a moment that he's sniffing my hair, and then he brushes his lips softly against my temple.

That small gesture shoots a feeling of giddy pleasure all the way to my toes, and I remove my hand from his and drape both hands around his neck.

Our eyes lock, and he moves his face slowly toward mine. Our lips almost touch, and...

"Uhem!" Bob clears his throat loudly as he is now dancing beside us with his wife, Susan. "You know you're still on your probationary period with the Avengers, Miss DC," Bob says sternly.

"So?" I ask.

"So that means no PDAs, especially with another honorary Avenger. We can't have you two becoming cosy and plotting the overthrow of our group," Bob continues.

Bob lets out an "Ouch!" as Susan pinches him on the arm. "Baby, I've got to keep her in line! You know the kind of spell Loki puts on women!" Bob says in a harsh whisper just loud enough for Tom and I to hear.

"Leave them alone or you'll be sleeping on the floor tonight," Susan says, then she winks at me.

The song ends, and Bob follows Susan off the dance floor, saying "But I'm Iron Man. It's my job to be on the lookout for villainy..."

Until We Meet Again (For Real)

The party winds down about 1:00 a.m., and those of us remaining (RDJ and Susan, the Pratts, Evans and Emma, and Tom and I) start heading for the exit.

Emma whispers something to Tom as we leave the restaurant. I see Tom stand a bit taller and give Evans a once over with his eyes. Evans seems to read it as, 'Take care of my baby sister,' then the two of them sneak off into the night.

RDJ still seems amped up, but Susan reminds him about the floor option, so he obediently gets into the car that arrives for them. Pratt and Anna are both drunk and threatening to find Tom's flat so they can TP it; I remind them that I have a key to their room, so they obediently get into the car that arrives for them and me.

"Well, this looks like where I leave you," I say to Tom as he takes my hands in his.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow," Tom whispers in my ear.

"Technically, I think it is morrow," I whisper back.

He pulls away slightly from me so I see the quizzical eyebrow look on his face, then he laughs his classic 'eheheh'.

His face turns soft with just a hint of humor remaining, and he asks, "When do you return to filming?"

"I have two days off for good behavior," I say.

"Well, we'll have to see about remedying that... the good behavior, I mean," Tom says in a voice that I swear is just a bit of Loki's. Maybe RDJ was right about his spell? I think as a shiver runs up my spine.

Tom takes off his jacket and wraps it around my shoulders without breaking eye contact.

"Can I see you tomorrow... or rather, later this morning?" He asks.

"You better. I have your jacket, and I'm holding it for ransom." I say, playfully pushing my hand against his chest. What has got into me? I don't flirt like a smitten school girl! Or maybe I do now...

It's about this time that Pratt and Anna start acting like pre-pubescent 3rd graders, making kissing noises. They start snorting in laughter, until one of them screams, "Stop! I gotta pee!!"

"Well, that's my cue," I say, mentally reminding myself to pour a bucket of ice water on them in bed in about two hours as payback.

Tom takes my phone and types in his number. "Call me when you wake, Darling. No matter the time." He then softly kisses my hand, and starts toward his car.

As I join Pratt and Anna, I prepare for the ribbing that I know they've been saving up. First, I glance at my phone to see where Tom listed his number, and I see he is listed under 'Romeo'.