Half Full (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic)

Chapter 2

"Tom, you cannot be seriously thinking of marrying that girl," Mum says.

"I am, and by the way, she is a woman, Mum, not a teenage," I respond with a huff.

Mum rarely gets involved in my personal life, especially since I'm 37. I guess this is different, though, since I've just asked Mum for my grand mum's ring.

Mum scowls at me which, honestly, makes me feel like I'm five years old again. "I know that, Thomas, and I would appreciate if you would not sass me."

She turns back to retrieve the kettle to make our tea, which she does slowly. I know this means she is considering her next words before speaking.

"You know I love you, Thomas," she says. I swallow the lump in my throat at her words, nodding.

"I just can't help but wonder if there's something else...someone else out there for you. Cyd seems like a lovely girl. It's just...something seems off. Not with her or with you, but the two of you together. I'm sorry, son...I just don't see it," she says, and I can't hold my cool any longer.

"That's just it, Mum. It's not for you to see! It's for Cyd and I to grow and cultivate...to build our love for each other through the years. No one else has to see it!" I know my anger is flashing in my eyes though I'm trying to control my tone. Mum is staring at me, and I see she's also trying to keep her ire in check. People often think that my rare streaks of anger come from my Scottish heritage, but make no mistake about it...an angry Diana Hiddleston is a force to be reckoned with.

She finally breaks her stare and walks out of the kitchen. When she returns, she's carrying a small jewelry bag. She opens it to reveal my grand mum's engagement ring - it's a small sapphire solitaire surrounded by seed pearls in a yellow gold Edwardian setting.

"It is yours to take and do with as you please, Thomas. Just know once it's done, it's forever. Even if it should end, it will still be with you..."

I snap from my rumination as the makeup artist arrives, slamming the door when she enters the trailer.

"Good morning, Tom. How are you this morning?" Tristan asks as she starts laying out her supplies.

"Splendid," I reply, though I'm actually not. Luke had made me promise that I'd stay on the straight and narrow until he could check in on me in a few weeks, but I managed to break that promise and pick up a fifth of vodka on my way back to the hotel last night. A fifth is not that much, really. I've been known to drink a whole bottle during the course of a day, with a nap midway through, of course. It appears there was no harm no foul in my little escapade last night. I had simply drunk until I was able to sleep soundly, no one the wiser, though I am quite parched this morning.

"Tom, would you like some tea?" Tristan asks.  "I'd much prefer a bottle of water," I say, trying to keep my lips from sticking to my teeth.

Tristan fulfills my request by bringing a cold bottle to me. As she turns back to her task at hand, I guzzle the water greedily as if it may be my last. Suddenly, I can hear Luke in my head: It could be your last water if you keeping drinking as you have in the past, his voice says. I grumble internally. If Luke had seen fit to spend time with me instead of his up and comers, I wouldn't be in this state!

Tristan makes quick work of my makeup, thankfully covering the dark circles under my eyes. As I leave the makeup trailer, I run into Alexandra.