When I Met Tom (A Tom Hiddleston Fan Fiction)

Chapter Thirty One

Six months had passed since the night I returned home from the hospital. The dance studio was reopened the following week after police had finished their investigations and the place had been fully bleached from top to bottom.

Tom originally offered to sell that studio and move us into a new building because he thought the place would bring back too many bad memories but I was determined to keep it and carry on as normal.

We were back in the apartment, which immediately made me feel safer and happier. Tom insisted on staying with me for a time after the incident, so he had cancelled all of his pre-booked television show appearances, radio show chats, readings at events, and award presentations. It got to the point though where I eventually sat Tom down and told him that he needed to get back to work. It wasn't that I was sick of having him around because I loved it, but I wanted him to know that I didn't need him to stop doing what he loved to do just to watch over me.

It took a long time to convince him that I could survive a day or two at a time without him attached to me, but eventually he took it and went off to Manchester for an event he had been contacted about a week before. So he left for his little trip and I kept myself busy with the usual things such as housework and baking, and obviously I was in the dance studio most of the day with my Aunt there to support me. I was sure that Tom had been in contact with her to come and keep an eye on me.

I had a phone call from Tom on the afternoon he was due to travel back to tell me that he was going to be staying there an extra night. I felt a little bit sad that I would have to wait an extra day to see him but I was glad that he was back to working so I told him it was no problem at all and that I would just see him when he got home.

I took the opportunity of an extra night without Tom to see Dani. She had finished her chemotherapy and was up and about a lot more now. I had called her and said that I would come back to visit her but she insisted that she come up to London. Her reason being that she hadn't done 'anything fun' in a long time and 'wanted to see the city'.

I didn't really want her travelling on her own and she told me not to come back to get her. So I didn't. I asked James to collect her instead. Luckily Tom had left James with me to take me places – so still I was never really on my own and not being watched by someone Tom had probably warned to do so – and he drove back to bring her to meet me.

'Charlotte!' Dani practically squealed at me as she walked into the restaurant.

I stood up to embrace her, taking her in as I thought about how long it had been since I'd seen her properly and looking like her old, healthier self again. She wore a dark brunette wig, but you wouldn't know it was a wig if you didn't know she had been ill. She glowed as she walked into the room, with her make-up done and wearing a mid-length navy lace dress. She was stunning.

'It's so good to see you,' I said as I let go of her. 'I've missed you so much.'

'I've missed you too.'

We sat down together and ordered a bottle of white wine.

'Well, what a year this has been for both of us, hey?' Dani started. 'I can't believe it all.'

'I know, it's been a journey.' I replied as the waiter came back with our wine. 'So how are you now?'

'I'm alright. I mean, I have no hair but I'm cancer-free and back at home with the kids so really I can't complain.'

'Well you still look beautiful, and I bet the kids are glad you're back home with them.'

'They are. My Mum has been amazing looking after the girls while I've been in hospital.'