Just in Time (A Tom Hiddleston Fan Fic)

Chapter 27: The Carrot and the Stick

"Hi Ben. Fancy meeting you here," I say, plastering a smile on my face.

"Kenneth, I almost didn't recognize you. You're..." Ben looks from my face to my stomach. "...pregnant." Ben's eyes go wide at his words.

I chuckle. "Yes, it would seem I am," I say, looking down and rubbing my belly. I'm trying to get my mind to process quickly on how to handle this situation.

"How's Sophie?" I ask. I don't know what good asking that question will do. Maybe it will be a good diversion. I might as well pull my keys from my purse and try to distract him as you would a toddler.

"She's well," Ben responds, looking from my eyes to my bulging belly once again.

We're silent for a moment.

"Does Tom know?" he asks, still staring at my bump.

"Know what?"

Ben looks at me incredulously. "Know what? About this!" he says, moving his hands in the air around my belly without touching me.

I sigh. "It's complicated," I say.

"Well, I'm not sure what's complicated about it. You love Tom, Tom loves you. Tom wants children. You are pregnant with what I assume is Tom's child." Ben looks to me for affirmation, and I nod. "Okay, there you go. It's not complicated at all. Except for the part where you're driving my best friend fucking mad."

"Language!" I say to Ben while pointing at my bump. "Sorry," he mutters.

A few people have started to stare at us. "Are you here with anyone, Ben?"

"No. Well, yes. A director friend of mine. Why?"

"Can you make your excuses and then meet me out front? I think we need to go someplace less public to talk."

Ben nods and heads back to his table. I return to mine to find Hector paying the check. "Ready to go?"

"Um, Hector, can you take a taxi home?"

"I guess... Why, did you find a hot guy to take home with you?"

"As a matter of fact, I did."

Hector looks at me, waiting for the punch line. When I don't deliver one, his face screws into a shocked expression.

"I ran into Benedict Cumberbatch. He and I need to talk."

Hector realizes the gravity of my encounter with Ben, so he prepares to leave and find a taxi.

I walk to the valet at the entrance and request that my car be brought around. By the time it arrives and I'm safely ensconced in the driver's seat, Ben has walked out and is getting in the passenger side. "What happened to the 7 series?" he asks. "I needed a vehicle more suited for Champ," I saying, putting the SUV I'm driving into gear. "You know, great safety rating and easier to get a car seat in and out of."

"Who's Champ?"

I point at my belly. "Ben, this is a Champ. Champ, this is my annoying friend, Ben," I say, introducing them. Ben looks at me like I might be out of my mind, introducing him to my baby who's still in the womb.

"What? Am I supposed to start treating her like a person only once she's born?"

"Champ's a she?"