Across the Fence

Part 13 (New Chapter)

Tom's POV

I pace back and forth in the stuffy, crowded waiting room outside the ER.  It's been at least two hours since I arrived here with Ashley, and I haven't heard a word from anyone about her condition. I find an empty seat way in the back of the room, I sit down not realizing the toll the emotional stress has taken on me. My head hurts so much I fear it might explode, not to mention my mind is racing with thoughts of possibly losing Ashley. Just then a Doctor stands in the middle of the room and calls my name.

"Mr. Hiddleston?" I stand up and make my way to him. Even though he gives me a warm smile I can see the worry in his eyes as he asks me to follow him. We walk into a small office, with a desk and two chairs. "Please have a seat." I politely nod my head and sit down on the cold, hard, metal chair. " My name is Dr. Walker I'm Ashley's primary doctor. So let me start by saying, Ashely has given me her consent to discuss her medical file with you. That being said, The good news is we were able to stop the bleeding that was coming from her uterus, the bad news is we are going to have to perform a complete hysterectomy."

I stare at the doctor in disbelief, all I can think about is I wonder how Ashley is taking this news.  Then as if the doctor was reading my mind. "As you can imagine, Ashley's very distraught by this news. As her friend, you will need to be very supportive, having this  kind of surgery is very traumatic for a woman, especially for a women who has no children of her own." I nod, even though I can't fully grasp the information I just received. I don't want to make this about me, but if Ashley and I work things out, and possibly get married one day, I do want kids, and this will put a huge damper on things. Dr. Walker pulls me out of my thoughts when he moves his chair back and stands up. "Would you like to see her for a few minutes?" I quickly answer yes, and the Doctor leads me out of the room and down a long hallway to a group of elevators. "Ok, ride up to the fourth floor and go to the nurses station and they will show you the way to her room." I thank Dr. Walker and proceed to walk into the open elevator.

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Ashley's POV

Three months later

I hit a milestone today, I'm one month cancer free. My hair is starting to grow back, I'm looking more like a 1990's Nothing Compares to you, Sinéad O'Connor. I have gained some healthy weight back, and most importantly my strength is returning. It still might be a month or two before I can get back to work, which I'm looking forward to. Tom's still sticking around, even though I keep telling him to move on, why should he waste his time on a woman who can't give him any children. Even though we haven't discussed it, I know he would love to be a father one day and I would be short changing him.

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Ashley POV

"Tom, you don't have to be with me 24/7 anymore, I'm better, my strength has returned for the most part. Go live your life you're a celebrity for God's sake, you should be living the high life and jet setting around the world." Tom plops down on the couch and puts his bare feet up on the coffee table. "I like being here with you, why can't you get that through that thick skull of yours?" I walk over to where he is sitting and stand over him. I grab the tv remote he has in his hand before he is able to hit the power button. "Tom, we need to talk ." A playful grin appears across his thin pink lips. "Oh no, am I in trouble? What ever have I done?" I smack his rather big hand as I take a seat next to him on the couch. "Tom, I'm not kidding, this is serious." Tom's smile disappears and his face contorts into a concerned look. "Are you okay, Ash? What's wrong darling?"

I lean back into the couch frowning slightly. "Well Tom, I know you want to work things out between us, but I think it's best if you move on. You don't need to be stuck with a half a women. I can never make you complete and give you an offspring." Tom sits up and places his elbows on his knees and cradles his face in his hands. "Ash, do you really think I would want you any less because you can't me a child from your womb? This is 2017 darling, not 1817. We can adopt, we can have a surrogate, hell we don't have to have kids at all." He turns to me and places his warm hand tenderly against my cheek. "I want you just the way you are, Ashley you're still a whole women in my eyes." Tears start to fill my eyes as I listen to his heartfelt confession. He smiles lovingly at me and cups both sides of my face with his hands and places his lips softly over mine. I return the kiss with a little more passion than I intended, a soft moan escapes from Tom's throat as he moves back so he can look into my eyes. "I love you, Ash, please tell me you feel the same way." I nod silently and take his hand in mine. Yes, Tom I do" He steals another kiss, "Then say it, I want to hear you say the words." I look into his beautiful sky blue eyes and smile brightly. "I love You."