Just in Time (A Tom Hiddleston Fan Fic)

Chapter 8: Tea or Something Stronger

A/N: Hi all! Just a short chapter to keep things going along between Tom and Kenni. I'm on vacation this week, so I'll try to squeeze in another chapter or two before it ends. I hope you enjoy it!

DG4L

The meeting with the team went well. Sandy is the principle writer in the UK, and the remaining writers (Kay and Hector) are LA-based, so they joined us by conference call. We bounced around ideas, and I can tell this will be a good group to work with.

After the meeting, Tom and I had a quick working lunch with the legal types to sign the agreements. Along with the writing contract, there was the typical non-disclosure agreement. As I read through them, I found words that have the "proper" English spelling like "honour".

"This word is misspelled," I leaned and whispered to Tom. We've had an ongoing battle about English and American spellings and pronunciations. Don't even get me started about how to say "aluminum".

"Stop it," Tom admonishes me, but I see a smile forming at the corner of his lips.

I shrug as if to say, "Okay, but don't say I didn't point it out," then I begin signing my life away.

Once we've finished with the lawyer types, we take the elevator to the car park (Tom corrected me earlier when I called it a parking garage.). When the doors close, Tom turns to me and takes me into a fierce hug.

It catches me a bit off guard, and I respond by sinking into him a bit more than I usually would. Tom seems to notice, and he pulls me closer, folding me into his body.

I come to my senses because, though Aerosmith sang about Love in an Elevator, I think it may be frowned upon, and pull back from the hug.

"What was that for?" I ask, looking away from Tom's eyes. Tom pauses and clears his throat. "It was to say thank you for signing up," he says. When I finally look at him, he's smiling softly and it makes my heart melt. Then the smile turns into a smirk. There's the Tom I know and love.

We turn from each other and continue the ride like normal elevator passengers.

"What was up with your response to that hug?" Tom asks.

Shit! Think of something, Kenni!

"I was...cold," I say. "And you were warm, so it just felt good. That's all," I finish with a shrug.

"And the moan?"

"What moan??" I ask, looking suddenly at Tom.

"When I pulled you closer, I could swear you moaned."

"Well, you were probably just hearing things. You know, this awful elevator music can do weird things," I say, looking anywhere but at Tom. "Besides, if I did moan, it's probably only because it's such a pain in the ass to hug you, Hiddleston. After all, it's like hugging a giraffe," I smile at him and body-check him with my hip. He smiles back and offers the gentlemanly "After you" when the doors open. "I'm telling Ben," is all I say.

When we get into his car (with Tom opening the door for me, of course), he says, "Let's celebrate!"

"Okay, but no tequila," I say.

Tom laughs and starts to drive to some unknown destination.

We drive for some time and end up in a residential neighborhood.

"Wow, this looks like an unusual place for a restaurant or bar," I say. "That's because it's not," Tom says as he exits the car after parking in one of the home's driveways.

I eyeball him as I step from the car, not waiting for him to open my door. "Tom...where are we?"

"Just stopping in for a visit."

"Who are we visiting? A sick, homebound friend? A reclusive supermodel?"

Tom hesitates then says, "My mum."

I stop in my tracks and glare at him. Then, I turn, heading back toward the car. Tom chases after me and grabs my hand which I rip from his grasp.

"No, no, fucking no, Tom!" I growl.

"It'll be okay. She just wants to meet you. I promise that all manner of weaponry has been put away...mostly for Mum and my sake, mind you."

I stop at the car and sigh. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because my mum wants to meet a person who has become very important to me," he says, giving me a pleading look.

I stare at him for a moment. "Okay...but I won't be held responsible for my actions."

"I never do, Darling," Tom says with a grin.

As we turn back toward the house, I feel butterflies start in my stomach. They're not the good kind, like 'I'm in love' or 'I'm super excited.' They're more the 'I think I'm going to throw up' kind. I think I'd rather let Tom punch me in the gut than meet his mom. I mean, I'm sure she's a lovely person; I just know I'm going to screw this up. After all, I don't know how to family! I can barely adult!!

Tom must sense my misgivings. "It's going to be okay, Darling. Mum is a nice person."  "I'm sure she is. I'm the one who's fucked up," I say. Tom stops and turns toward me, taking me by the shoulders. "You are an amazing woman, Kendall, and my mum is going to see you as I do," he says, kissing my forehead when he finishes. I sigh and let him lead me the rest of the way toward the front door.

As we reach the door, it swings open and there stands a woman who can be none other than Tom's mom. There's no doubt about it; Tom looks just like her, except for her height and the fact that she's a woman.

"Tom, sweetheart, I'm so glad you could stop by," she says taking him into a hug. So that's where he gets it, I think. Then she turns to me. "And this must be Kenni." I just nod because I don't know what to say. She steps toward me and clasps one of my hands in both of hers. "I'm Diana. Welcome to my home. It is such a pleasure to finally meet you. Tom talks about you so much, I had to wonder if you were real or imagined," she says with a small laugh. "Told you," Tom says, whispering in my ear.

I choose not to respond to Tom and continue to hold Diana's hands. "It is wonderful to meet you, Diana. Thank you for welcoming me to your home. I see where Tom gets his kindness from." I look to Tom who now has a smug grin on his face. "Well, what little bit of kindness he has," I say with a shrug. Tom's grin drops from his face. "Yes, well, a mum can only do so much," Diana says with a wink at me. She and I start to walk into her home. "I'm right here, you know," Tom says under his breath as he follows us in.

Diana ushers us to the living room. "Sit, sit," she says, motioning me toward a love seat. Tom takes a seat in an adjoining chair. "Would you like some tea?" I'm about to respond, but Tom beats me to it. "Actually, Mom, Kenni and I are celebrating."

"Really? And what would you be celebrating, Dear?" Diana asks. There's a twinkle in her eye that I don't understand, and Tom seems to blush a bit. He clears his throat. "Kenni has agreed to write a film script with me," he says with a small smile spreading across his face.

"Well, that is something to celebrate. I believe we'll need something stronger than tea," she says.