In Duffs We Trust

Part 10 Crashing Cloud 9

"No" she said softly.

"What do you mean love? Tom asked sitting up and taking Claire with him.

"Tom you know how I feel about you and it's the sweetest thing that you are asking but I need my space. If this doesn't work out then where would I go if I said yes? I am the worst house guest, sometimes I don't do dishes or even clean. I work a lot and sometimes bring my work home with me. I snore, I'm messy the list is endless. I appreciate the sweet gesture" she said meeting his eyes.

Tom was silent for a moment and then started laughing. Claire looked at him as if he was insane.

Tom stood leaving Claire on the sofa. He picked up his pants pulling them on. He grabbed his shirt and did the same before slipping his feet into his shoes.

"Tom? Where are you going?" she asked as she watched him gather his things.

"I'm going back to my hotel" he spoke firmly and moved to go upstairs and gather his bag.

Claire sat frozen. Was Tom really that mad at her? He had to know where she was coming from right? Claire watched as he came down the steps and grabbed her shirt throwing it on as well as her underwear. She moved standing in front of him.

"Tom wait, talk to me" she asked him softly.

"Claire, you still don't understand me at all. The fact is you have never told me how you felt. I've spilled my heart out to you and yet you say nothing. I offer you to move in with me and you turn me down. I know you don't keep house that often, and I've seen the dishes. I bring my work home as well. I leave the toilet seat up, i don't always place my rubbish where it needs to be. I like my space as well love, but I love being with you more. I want to come home to you after working all day. I want 4am wakeups, I want to sit with you and watch movies, drink tea and dance. I want you. All of you. Who you are is who I love" Tom spoke his words hitting Claire straight in the heart.

Claire couldn't help the tears that began to fall. He was right of course. She hadn't told him how she felt. Truth is she hadn't even told her self yet. If she let him leave with out telling him the truth then she would hate herself for ever. Claire wiped her eyes and took Tom's hand into hers.

"I hate that you are right" Claire began.

"I haven't told you how I felt. I don't care about the other things. I don't care that you have more money than god. I have loved you since the moment we met. It was the worst time but i fell for you. I tried to be a good friend and it failed. It was the beginning my career and so was yours. I knew you then as I know you now. I never stopped loving you Tom. I just pushed it aside. I kept track of all the things you did. I wrote to you so many times telling you how I felt but I never could send it. The truth is I love you and that scares the shit out of me. I do want to move in with you but what if we drift apart like before? Then what? Do you have a contingency plan in place?" Claire gasped as her words ran away with her.

"I'm just as scared as you Peach, but I'm taking a leap of faith. We won't drift as we have in the past. We were young and our priority's were elsewhere. You have to trust me and I you. It will be hard and we will get on each other's nerves from time to time but you are worth it. You have to let me in Claire."

Claire felt his words. He was right. She had to have faith. Faith that it would work if they put in the effort. She took a deep breath and pressed her body to his.

"I love you Hiddleston and I'll take that leap of faith just promise me that you won't break."

Tom let his bag fall to the floor and wrapped his arms around her before claiming her lips to his.