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

Part 24: Protective Instincts

A/N: Hi All! First, thank you so much for your comments and votes. I can't believe that this little story has already garnered 1,000 reads!  From the bottom of my heart, I thank you!

Here's just a short chapter to keep things moving for Tom and Mia. Look for another update soon, and thanks again!

That's a Wrap

We're back in Tom's Jag on the way to my small apartment. As filming of Wonder Woman is expected to take several months, and we're about half way through, it made more sense for the studio to rent apartments for the principle cast.

It takes about an hour from Tom's flat to get there. As it's Sunday evening, traffic is fairly light. During a workday, the drive could take as much as two hours. It's pretty clear that Tom won't be able to come visit regularly if at all.

On top of this, Tom is leaving town on a promotional tour for two weeks in Germany, France, Spain, and elsewhere, so seeing each other would not be possible anyway.

"I'll text and call you everyday," Tom says, taking and squeezing my hand as he drives.

"I bet you say that to all the girls," I say, trying to make light of the situation.

"Well, not all the girls. Only the ones I think I need to keep an eye on," he says with a quick wink in my direction.

We pull up outside my apartment and Tom parks next to the curb. "May I walk you up?" Tom asks. "Of course you may," I reply.we grab my bags and head toward the elevator to the second floor.

I give my key to Tom to unlock my door, and he steps just out of the way to let me enter first. He follows closely behind, so much so that he runs into the back of me when I stop suddenly. "Sorry, it's just that I wanted to make sure everything is alright in here. With you being away for a few days, someone could have entered or even still be here," Tom says.

With that, Tom is making short work of looking around the tiny one-bedroom apartment, turning on lights as he goes. I look at Tom when he returns to me. "Right. It looks like everything's in order, though I can't believe one woman can have so many different body lotions," he says with a little smile. "I couldn't make up my mind, and they all smelled good," I say returning his smile.

Tom's protective instinct in searching the apartment makes me realize how protective he is of me, but it also reminds me that we're about to be apart. In fact, if this relationship works out, it's likely that this would be the norm - one or both of us constantly on the move, nomads who periodically end up in the same place. I don't think I ever truly considered this aspect of an actor's life, and I suddenly wonder if Tom had considered it before his fame.

Bringing myself back to reality, I ask, "Would you like some tea?" "I would, Love, but I really should be heading back to my flat. You have an early day on set tomorrow, and I still need to pack for my trip," Tom says, turning to me and taking me by my shoulders to face him.

"Be good, in every way that statements entails. I'll call and text you everyday," Tom says. "You already said that," I say, pulling him closer to wrap my arms around his waist. Tom rests his chin on the top of my head. "It's going to be so hard to be apart from you, Darling. I miss you already."

With this, Tom pulls slightly back to look in my eyes. "I love you, Mia," he says. "I love you more," I say as Tom leans in to kiss me, and there's a part of me that fears it's true.